Activity Ideas: Periscopes

Here is another set of ideas for making periscopes. Periscopes are a fun and educational craft. This is a device we will make in cubs that will allow you to spy around the corner into another room or area of your yard. You never know how much fun you will have with a periscope.

Periscopes help us with the following badge work:

• Tawny Star #7

Cub Activity Ideas

This post is probably more for my reference, but when I am going through the Cub book I get ideas for things we can do. Of course I have to pick only one or two per week and I am finding that sometimes I am forgetting the ideas I come across and which badges they help with. I thought this would be a great way to share those ideas and let the Cubs get some input as to what they would love to do. Be sure to comment and tell me the things that look the most exciting.

These are the activities I found as I planned this week:

Bird feeders will help us with the following badge requirements:

• Black star 2B
• Observer Badge #2
• Tawny Star 2B

Birdfeeders:
Plastic Bottle Birdfeeder:

Milk jug bird feeder:

Pinecone birdfeeder:

Cub Scout Den Meeting: January 30, 2013

DATE: January 30, 2013

Theme:    Mystery and Magic                                                    

TIME	ACTIVITY	EQUIPMENT NEEDED	BADGE REQUIRMENTS MET
3:45	Gathering Activity: Build an Obstacle Course -           Enlist the help of the Cubs building the obstacle course.	Using chairs, tables, rope, etc put together an obstacle course for the boys to run.	Red Star 3B
4:00	Opening Ceremony      - Opening Prayer: _____________      - Grand Howl      -Attendance: ________________	Attendance Book Stamp and Ink
4:05	GAME: Run for the Money -          Teach boys how to take their pulse	Stopwatch, objects for markers	Athlete Badge #1
4:15	BADGEWORK: Pocket Knife Safety	Ask a guest to teach this skill	Tawny Star A1
4:20	THEME ACTIVITY: BUILD A KINGDOM Create a small scale version or model of a castle and the surrounding kingdom. -           Finish houses	Paint Glue/Tape Tiny Popsicle sticks & rocks Scissors Craft foam for windows and trim Models of buildings – cut out	Handicraft #3
4:40	GAME: Obstacle Course Run	Rope, hula hoops, boards, etc Stopwatch	Red Star 3B
5:00	THEME ACTIVITY: BUILD A KINGDOM Create a small scale version or model of a castle and the surrounding kingdom. -          Focus on the surrounding area including forest, village roads and people.	Modeling clay for horses, wagons, people moss for grass Twigs and sticks for trees	Handicraft #3
5:10	BADGE WORK:  Use this time to finish up any part of the activity you would like to spend more time on.
5:15	SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP      -Spiritual Thought: ____________	Assignment:
5:20	Closing Ceremony      -Cub Promise (review line 2)      -Closing Prayer      -Badge worksheets or other information
5:30	Dismiss and Go Home

GATHERING ACTIVITY:  Build an Obstacle Course

Instructions:

•        Use whatever is available to you in your cultural hall. Ensure that you keep things safe. If time permits before the meeting begins allow the Cubs to try out sections of the obstacle course.

 GAMES: One for the Money

Materials:

•        Stopwatch

•        Markers for corners

•        Paper cards or puzzle pieces

•        Prize

How to Play:

·         Divide cultural hall in half. Place a chair or other marker in each corner of each half. On each chair place a card or puzzle piece.

·         Determine the start/end point and set up a ribbon or piece of monopoly money for the runners to grab. The first cub to grab the ribbon or monopoly money wins the race.

GAMES: Obstacle Course Run

Materials:

•        Stopwatch

•        Obstacle course

How to Play:

·         Allow the boys to take turns running the obstacle course. Time them and see if they can beat their best score.

BADGEWORK: Pocket Knife Safety

Materials:

•        Pocketknife

·         Go over the rules for using a pocket knife safely.

THEME ACTIVITY:

Materials Needed:

q  Cardstock building printouts – cut out ahead of time

q  Paint

q  Glue/tape

q  12x12 foam board

q  Tiny popsicle sticks

q  Scissors

q  Craft foam for windows / doors / flags etc

q  Pencils

q  Modeling clay for horses, wagons, people

q  Moss for grass

q  Twigs and sticks for trees

Assist boys in building a kings kingdom complete with castle, village, moat, and forest. Add people and wagons etc.

Cub Scout Den Meeting: January 23, 2013

    DATE: January 23, 2013    

Theme:    Mystery and Magic                                                    

TIME	ACTIVITY	EQUIPMENT NEEDED	BADGE REQUIRMENTS MET
3:45	Gathering Activity: Planet Word Search
4:00	Opening Ceremony      - Opening Prayer: _____________      - Grand Howl      -Attendance: ________________	Attendance Book Stamp and Ink
4:05	GAME:  Amazing Gravity	2 chairs
4:15	BADGEWORK: Define and Describe Aurora Borealis		Astronomer Badge #4 Observer #7 Winter Cubbing #4
4:20	THEME ACTIVITY: Make a Planet	CD’s, Styrofoam Balls, Toothpicks, Paint and brushes	Astronomer Badge #4 Observer #7 Winter Cubbing #4
4:40	GAME: Solar Search	Tin foil and paper bags
5:00	THEME ACTIVITY: Constellation Wall Art [Briefly discuss how the sun moon and north star can help you find directions as you do this activity.]	Boards, Template, Nails, Hammers, Paint and Brushes, Glitter, Metallic  thread, hanging hardware.	Astronomer Badge #4 Observer #7 Black Star A11 [Green Star B3] Winter Cubbing #4
5:10	BADGE WORK:  Define and Describe Milky Way		Astronomer Badge #4 Observer #7 Winter Cubbing #4
5:15	SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP      -Spiritual Thought: ____________	Assignment:
5:20	Closing Ceremony      -Cub Promise (review line 2)      -Closing Prayer      -Badge worksheets or other information
5:30	Dismiss and Go Home

GATHERING ACTIVITY:  Word Search Planet Activity

Materials:

•         Word search copies
•         Pencils

How to Play:

Have puzzles ready to do as the pack gathers. See who can find all the words before you start the meeting.

GAMES: Amazing Gravity

Materials:

•        2 chairs

How to Play:

1.       Set up two chairs back-to-back with about 2' - 4' of space in between them.

2.       During this activity, the children will take turns standing between the chairs with their arms extended slightly to the sides (i.e. approximately 10" from their waists). The backs of their hands will touch the backs of the chairs; there should be just enough space in between the chairs so that the children can do this.

3.       Have a guest sit in each chair to secure it, and then have the other children take turns standing between the chairs with their palms facing inward toward their bodies.

4.       Tell them to push their arms outward against the chairs, keeping both arms straight as you count to 30.

5.       Once you've finished counting, have the child whose turn it is step forward, away from the chairs, and relax his/her arms.

6.       The child's arms should raise up very slowly on their own, without any effort by the child. The children will be completely amazed at this phenomenon!

7.       You and your older guests can try this exercise, too; just stand inside of a doorway rather than using chairs.

 GAMES: Solar Search

Preparation:

Roll up several balls of tin foil to create "planets;" each ball should be somewhere between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball.

Create at least 2–3 planets for every cub that will be participating.

Hide the planets throughout the meeting area.

How to Play:

Divide the cubs into 2- or 3-person teams, and give each team a bag. For small groups send each cub out with a bag.

When you say, "Go," the boys have 5 minutes to find as many planets as possible.

The team/person with the most planets in their bag at the end of 5 minutes wins!

THEME ACTIVITY: Make a Planet

Materials Needed:

q  CD’s

q  Styrofoam Balls

q  Toothpicks

q  Paint

q  Paint brushes

q  Water

q  Knife for cutting Styrofoam

q  Hot glue and glue gun

q  Wire so finished planet will hang.

Paint the Styrofoam ball and let dry. Cut the Styrofoam ball in half.  Put a toothpick in the cut center of one half.  Put the CD over the toothpick. Push the toothpick into the other half of the Styrofoam ball. Secure the stryrofoam to the CD on both sides.

THEME ACTIVITY: Constellation Wall Art

Materials Needed:

q  6x6 wood board

q  Black paint

q  Hair dryer

q  Glue

q  Hammers

q  Nails

q  Metallic string

q  Glitter glue

q  Constellation templates (below)

Paint the wood surface and sides black. Dry with a hair dryer if desired. Place template over board and using a push pin poke a hole through the template to mark the location of each start in the constellation. Hammer a nail into each star leaving about ¼” above the board. Using Metallic string create the picture the constellation makes. Place a drop of silver or gold glitter glue on the tip of each nail to make it sparkle like a star. Cut out and mount the name of the constellation on either the front or back of your board. Add a piece of hanging hardware to complete the project.

BADGEWORK: Define and Describe

Materials Needed:

q  Milky Way

q  Aurora Borealis

Prepare to define and teach the features of the night sky listed above using the following material.

MILKY WAY:

Definition: A glowing band visible in the night sky on a really dark night. It is also the name of our galaxy.

Use pictures and books to help the pack understand what the Milky Way is and how to find it in the night sky.

AURORA BOREALIS

Definition: A glow seen in the sky, mostly in the polar regions. It is caused by charged particles from outer space interacting with air molecules. Also known as the northern lights.

Use pictures and books to help the pack understand what the Aurora Borealis is and how to identify it when they see it.

Cub Scout Den Meeting: January 16, 2013

    DATE: January 16, 2013    

Theme:    Mystery and Magic                                                    

TIME	ACTIVITY	EQUIPMENT NEEDED	BADGE REQUIRMENTS MET
3:45	Gathering Activity: Duck on a Rock	Tin cans or pop bottles Balls or beanbags
4:00	Opening Ceremony      - Opening Prayer: _____________      - Grand Howl      -Attendance: ________________	Attendance Book Stamp and Ink
4:05	GAME: Dizzy Izzy Tag
4:15	BADGEWORK: Hamper Rules		Red Star 9A
4:20	THEME ACTIVITY: Magic Show	Invite a guest to show the Pack a number of magic tricks
4:40	GAME: Red Light! Green Light!
5:00	THEME ACTIVITY: Learning magic tricks		Entertainer Badge #7
5:10	BADGE WORK:  How to Fold and/or Hang Clothing		Red Star 9A
5:15	SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP      -Spiritual Thought: ____________	Assignment:
5:20	Closing Ceremony      -Cub Promise (review line 2)      -Closing Prayer      -Badge worksheets or other information
5:30	Dismiss and Go Home

GATHERING ACTIVITY:  Duck on a Rock

Materials:

•        3 Tin Cans or Pop Bottles

•        Bean Bags or tennis balls

How to Play:

Set up the cans/bottles on a board spanning the backs of two chairs or on a table. You can make it even more interesting by placing the bottles not only on top of the table, but under and beside it. Allow each cub 3 balls and a turn to try to knock the bottles down by hitting them. You may wish to shorten the throwing disctance or give them more turns as skill dictates. 

GAMES:  DIZZY IZZY TAG

How to Play:

"It" must point finger to within six inches from ground and turn around three times before attempting to tag another. The other players cannot run, but must hop away in effort to prevent being tagged.

 GAMES: Red Light! Green Light!

How to Play:

Leader at the center is the ‘Caller’. He turns his back and calls either ‘Red Light’, which means that players must stop moving, or ‘Green Light’, which means that players may move to the opposite end.

Ass soon as a caller gives the instruction ‘Red Light’, he turns around. Anyone that he sees moving, must return to the starting line.

The first player to pass the ‘Caller’ becomes the new ‘caller’.

VARIATION: In an indoor setting consider having the boys roll, run backwards, hop, skip, or march to move forward.

THEME ACTIVITY: Learning Magic Tricks

Ask a guest to visit Cubs and do a magic show. Have him or her teach them two simple tricks.

BADGEWORK: Taking Care of Clothing

Materials Needed:

q  Laundry hamper rules worksheet

q  Clothing Items to practice folding

q  Hangers to practice hanging shirts

Prepare to discuss how to take care of laundry before it is done and after it is clean. Teach Cubs how to fold clothes, towels and socks