Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Positive Attitude/Yes I Can

Core Value: Positive Attitude
Theme: Yes I Can!

Gathering Activity
Easy Tortoise & Hare Racers

In the famous fable, the tortoise agreed to race the hare. Even though the tortoise was much slower, he stuck to the task, while the hare got sidetracked. With a “Yes, I Can” attitude, the tortoise DID HIS BEST and won the race! Find the fable online and, if there is time, read it to the pack before the activity. If time is limited, give them a short summary.
Materials: separated egg carton cups; markers; paper for hares’ ears and cotton for the tails; marbles; a piece of wood or other material for a racing ramp.
Craft: Decorate the egg carton cups to resemble tortoises and rabbits, and put initials inside (in case the cups look alike!). Bring these to the race location.
Game: Place a marble under each tortoise cup and hare cup. Put the critters at the top of the ramp. On the signal, release them and watch them race. The ramp can be any length; it just has to go
downhill. See which animal wins the most times!

Opening Flag Ceremony
Quick Words of Wisdom


Materials: words of wisdom on individual, numbered slips of paper. (Maybe pick 10 or so of these; it will take too long to do them all.)
Hand out the slips of paper to parents as they come in to the pack meeting. When the meeting starts, tell everyone that there are parents in the audience with “words of wisdom” to share to help everyone have a positive attitude. Ask them to stand in place and read their slip of paper in number order.

1. If you see someone without a smile, give him one of yours!
2. True happiness is not having what you want; it’s wanting what you have!
3. Where the loser sees barriers, the winner sees hurdles.
4. We cannot control the wind, but we can adjust the sails.
5. V ery often a change of attitude is needed more than a change of scene.
6. Surrounded by people who love life, you love it too; surrounded by people who don’t, you don’t.
7. Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.
8. Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.
9. It isn’t our position but our disposition that makes us happy.
10. A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.
11. Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?
12. Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
13. Believe you can, and you’re half way there.
14. If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right.
15. Nothing can stop the man with a positive attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with a negative attitude.
16. Take charge of your attitude. Don’t let someone else choose it for you.
17. We each shape our own lives, and the shape is determined largely by our attitudes.
18. More than any other quality, optimism is the one most associated with success and happiness.
19. A happy person is not someone in a certain set of circumstances, but rather, someone with a certain set of attitudes.
20. When you choose to be pleasant and positive in the way you treat others, you have also chosen, in most cases, how you are going to be treated BY others.
21. People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
22. Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
23. A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.
24. When everything seems to be going against you, remember the airplane takes off AGAINST the wind, not WITH it.

Training Topic
“Preventing Leader Burnout” (begins on p. 32):

 

Audience Participation Activity
CHRISTMAS WITH THE RIGHT FAMILY

Christmas was almost here, and Mother RIGHT was finishing the Christmas baking. Father RIGHT, Susan RIGHT, and Billy RIGHT returned from their last minute Christmas errands. “There’s not much LEFT to be done,” said Father RIGHT, as he came into the kitchen. “Did you leave the basket of food at church?” asked Mother RIGHT. “I LEFT it RIGHT where you told me to,” said Father RIGHT. “I’m glad my shopping is done,” said Billy RIGHT, “I don’t have any money LEFT.” The hall telephone rang, and Susan RIGHT LEFT to answer it. She rushed back and told the family, “Aunt Tillie RIGHT LEFT a package for us RIGHT on Grandma RIGHT’S porch.” “I’ll go over there RIGHT now and get it,” she said as she LEFT in a rush. Father RIGHT LEFT the kitchen and brought in the Christmas tree. By the time Susan RIGHT returned, Mother RIGHT, father RIGHT and Billy RIGHT had begun to trim this year’s family RIGHT’S Christmas tree. The entire RIGHT family sang carols as they finished the decorating. Then they LEFT all the presents arranged under the tree and went RIGHT up to bed, hoping they had LEFT all the gifts in the RIGHT place and had selected the RIGHT gift for each member of the RIGHT family. Now I hope you have the RIGHT present for yourself, because that’s all that’s LEFT of our story, except to wish you a Merry Christmas. Isn’t that RIGHT?

 

Cheers

Winner: Put two thumbs up and yell, “You’re a winner!”
Yes I Can!: On the count of 3, everyone shout, “Yes, I Can!”
Big Sneeze: Cup hands in front of nose and sneeze in hands. Having nowhere to put it, wipe your hands on your shirt.
Clam: Fold hands together, interlocking fingers. Make noise by clapping palms together.
Shovel: For those who dig right in and do their best. Make a motion of shoveling snow or dirt three times.
Spring: For those who spring into action. Everyone stands and jumps in place, saying “Boing, boing, boing!” 







Friday, October 17, 2014

#1 Responsibility/Dollars and Sense


Core Value: Responsibility
Theme: Dollars and Sense

October Pack Meeting Plans: “Responsibility” AND “Dollars and Sense




Gathering Activity
How Much Does It Cost



Have participants work in teams (or as individuals). Cut out pictures of different items of interest to Cub Scouts, and have these mounted around the room. Using your greatest diligence (searching high and low) try to come up with real, advertised best prices for those items. Ask the teams to guesstimate the price of each item, and then compare their guesses to the prices you found. Winner is the guess that comes closest without going over the correct price.


Alternate: Post several prices below each picture and ask people to choose the correct price.


Opening Flag Ceremony
Freedom



Personnel: Cub Scouts enter, each holding posters with pictures of the United States flag on front and their lines on the back in large print. The narrator (Cubmaster or den leader) begins:


CM (DL): This month’s theme deals with dollars and sense, and the price we have to pay for things. In our country, we are privileged to experience the joy of freedom. But let us always remember that this privilege was not gained without a cost.

Cub #1: Stand up for the flag of America, wherever you may be.

Cub #2: Respect it and protect it, for it shall keep you free.

Cub #3: Free to do what you want to do, and say what you want to say.

Cub #4: Free to go where you want to go, and pray the way you want to pray.

Cub #5: Stand up for the flag of America, for all the world to see.

Cub #6: Stand up for the flag, that star-spangled flag, that stands for you and me.

ALL (or CM/DL): And now stand and all together say the Pledge of Allegiance.






Training Topic 


“Bobcat Badge” (begins on p. 48):


Audience Participation Activity
Skit:
The Trade


Materials: 5 different toys (e.g., small boat, small truck, small teddy bear, small book, ball).

Personnel: 5 participants and a den chief. When the scene opens, each participant is playing with a toy.

Den chief: Long ago, before there was any money, everyone traded or bartered the things they didn’t need for the things they wanted.

Boy #1 (with boat): Hey, want to trade me for that truck?

Boy #2 (with truck): No way! But I might trade for a book.

Boy #1 goes to find #3, who has a book.

Boy #1: Hey, want to trade that book for a boat?

Boy #3 (with book): No way! But I might trade for a bear.

Boy #1 goes to find #4, who has a bear.

Boy #1: Hey, want to trade that bear for a boat?

Boy #4 (with bear): No way! But I might trade for a ball.

Boy #1 goes to find #5, who has a ball.

Boy #1: Hey, want to trade that ball for a boat?

Boy #5 (with ball): Sure! I always wanted a boat.

Boy #1 leaves the boat, takes the ball, and returns to #4.

Boy #1 (now with ball): Hey, want to trade that bear for a ball?

Boy #4 (with bear): Sure! I always wanted a ball.

Boy #1 leaves the ball, takes the bear, and returns to Boy #3.

Boy #1 (now with bear): Hey, want to trade that book for a bear?

Boy #3 (with book): Sure! I always wanted a bear.

Boy #1 leaves the bear, takes the book, and returns to Boy #2.

Boy #1 (now with book): Hey, I’ve got a book. Want to trade for the truck?

Boy #2 (with truck): No, but have you got a boat?

Boy #1 runs off, screaming for his boat.





Cheers


Nickel’s Worth: Flip your thumb as though flipping a coin, and then catch it and slap it on the back of your hand. Then yell “Heads, a winner!”

Flip a Coin: If it’s heads everyone cheers. If it’s tails everyone claps.

Dollar Bill: Toss a dollar bill into the air. The audience claps while it is falling. Vary how long it takes to fall by catching it midair at different stages.

Heads and Tails: Divide the audience into two groups. One yells “Heads.”The other yells “Tails.” Point to one group and then the other, varying the speed until both groups are shouting in unison.

How to Clean Pennies


Edible Campfires:





Monday, October 13, 2014

#2 Citizenship/Give Goodwill & Respect/Stars and Stipes


November's Core Value: Citizenship
November's Theme: Give Goodwill
December's Core Value: Respect
December's Theme: Stars and Stripes

November Pack Meeting Plans:Citizenship” AND “Give Goodwill

December Pack Meeting Plans: Respect” AND “Stars and Stripes



Gathering Activtity
Five-Pointed Stars in One Snip


Materials: 8½” x 10” (not 11”) pieces of paper; scissors.

Background: George Washington’s original pencil sketch for our country’s flag indicated six-pointed stars, a form he apparently preferred. Betsy Ross, however, recommended a five-pointed star. When the committee protested that it was too difficult to make, she took a piece of paper, folded it deftly, and with a single snip of her scissors, produced a symmetrical five-pointed star. This seeming feat of magic so impressed her audience that they readily agreed to her suggestion.


To you, we pass along the secret: Take a piece of paper, 8½” x 10” (or an exact multiple), fold it as indicated, and cut a perfect five-pointed star. For more detailed instructions, visit http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagstar.html.


Step #1: Fold the paper vertically and horizontally into 4-inch squares as shown.

Step #2: Fold corner A and crease.

Step #3: Fold corner B to touch corner A, and crease.

Step #4: Fold corner C over the other folds, and crease.

Step #5: With scissors, snip across the folds on dotted line, as shown.

Step #6: Unfold the small triangle, and you have a five-pointed star.


Opening Flag Ceremony
It’s Just a Piece of Cloth



Post a United States flag in the front of the room. Dim the lights and place a spotlight on the flag. If possible, have a fan blowing on it, causing it to flutter. Then ask one or several Cub Scouts to solemnly read aloud the following poem:


It’s just a piece of cloth, that’s all it is.

Just a piece of cloth.

But when a little breeze comes along, it stirs and comes to life.

It flutters and snaps in the wind, all red and white and blue.

Then you realize that no other piece of cloth could be like it.

It has your whole life wrapped up in it …

The meals you eat, the time you spend with your family.

The things you learn at school.

The strange and wonderful thoughts you get at church.

Those stars on it: They make you feel just as free as the stars in the wide, deep night.

And the stripes; they are the bars of blood to any dictator that would try to change this way of life.

Just a piece of cloth, that’s all it is.

Until you put your soul into it, and give it meaning.

Then it is the symbol of liberty and decency and fair dealing for everyone.

It is just a piece of cloth, until we breathe life into it.

Until we make it stand for everything we believe in, and refuse to live without it.


Training Topic
“Community Service” (begins on p. 34):


http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-410_wb.pdf

Opening Flag Ceremony #2
Prisoner of War Flag Ceremony



Equipment: American flag mounted to a blanket

Personnel: Two Scouts to hold flag, and a reader


READER: On a summer day in a prison camp during World War II, the prisoners were just completing a talent show when, without any announcement, two soldiers stood up in front of the group holding a rolled-up blanket. They looked quickly but carefully in all directions to make sure no guards were watching. Then, holding the blanket high, they let it unroll. Fastened to the inside of the blanket was the beautiful Stars and Stripes of the flag of the United States. (Scouts match their actions to the story.)


At the time of their surrender, one of the soldiers had taken down the flag and somehow managed to wrap it around his body. Covered by his uniform, it had not been discovered during the inspection of his personal belongings. He had been able to keep it hidden until he had arrived at the prison camp. As the blanket was unrolled, the other prisoners saw the flag. A ripple of wonder and amazement ran through the group, followed by a deep silence that comes only when the heart is too full to permit words to be spoken. With their eyes still gazing upon this beautiful banner, the soldiers rose to their feet and began to sing softly, but with pride. They sang our national anthem. Will the audience please rise, salute our flag, and join in singing our national anthem.


Cheers


Do a Good Turn #1: Everyone stand up, turn around, and sit back down.

Do a Good Turn #2: Have the group stand up to applaud. They clap once, and then make a quarter turn and clap again. They repeat this three times in the same direction, so everyone comes full circle.

Fireworks: Make a fist and raise it up in front of you and over your head.  Then open your fist and let your fingers flutter as your hand goes downward and you say, “ooooh, ahhhh.”

Constitution: “We the People, approve!”


Liberty Bell: Divide the group into two parts: the Dings and the Dongs. Alternate yelling “Ding---Dong---Ding---Dong---Ding---Dong!” Then all yell, “Let Freedom Ring!”

Firework  Neckerchief Slide


Materials: 18 inches of doorbell wire (or other wire that has multiple wires inside—the more colors inside, the better). **I used sprinkler wire.


Strip the wire apart so you now have a bunch of individual strands. Tie a square knot in the middle around either a dowel or a broomstick. Then curl the wires, using a pencil.




 Remember to come to the District Awards Night instead of Roundtable on December 4th. The attendance bead will be this clear one:




Thursday, August 14, 2014

Cooperation/Under the Big Top

Core Value: Cooperation
Theme: Under the Big Top

September Pack Meeting Plans:Cooperation” AND “Under the Big Top

Gathering Activity
Circus Photo Booth






Opening Ceremony
Under the Big Top



Personnel:
 10 Cub Scouts in circus costumes. (Or if you are short on boys, use 5 and double the parts.)

Materials:
Cards with circus pictures facing the audience. Parts are written on the back in large print.

Cub #1:
Under the Big Top is the theme for tonight. We love circuses and think it is a dilly;

Cub #2:
Both circuses and little boys can sometimes be quite silly.

Cub #3:
Den leaders find it a natural to do this kind of show.

Cub #4:
They run a three-ring circus every single week, you know.

Cub #5:
At a circus there is shouting, roaring, stamping, whistles tooting;

Cub #6:
Tumbling, pushing, falling, wrestling, and a rolling and a-rooting.

Cub #7:
At den meetings things keep moving, constant motion, constant noise.

Cub #8:
There are lots of things in common between circuses and boys.

Cub #9:
We’ve put all the dens together; it’s not Ringling Brothers, you know.

Cub #10:
But we think you will enjoy it, so let's get on with the show.

Training Topic
Join Scouting Night” (begins on p. 45):




Circus Ideas For Handing Out Awards


1) Put slips of paper telling which award the Scout is getting inside blown up balloons and have them throw darts to pop the balloons.
2) Have the boys walk a pretend tightrope holding an umbrella. If they make it to the other side they receive their award.
3) Make a cardboard cutout of a lion’s mouth. They boys receive their awards if they are brave enough to put their heads in the lion’s mouth.
4) Have the boys wear a clown costume and ride a mini-bike through an obstacle course to receive an award.
5) Attach awards to the inside of a blow-out noisemaker and when the boys blow the paper to unroll it they will see the award.
6) Have the boys perform a feat of strength by lifting a “heavy” barbell to receive their award.

Cooperation Run-Ons


All during the meeting, boys suddenly appear and demonstrate working together to do something – choose activities that require more than one person – in other words cooperation.  Here are some possibilities:
1)  Folding a Flag – one boy comes out, tries to fold the flag, then says, “Hey I need another set of hands”   Another boy or boys appears, and together, they get the job done.
2)  Playing catch – one boy comes out, says “Wish I had someone to play catch with!”  Another boy joins him, and they toss the ball back and forth a couple of times.
3)  A boy comes out with a big stack of newspapers, which he drops so they scatter all over the floor.  “Oh, no – look at this mess.  Wish I had some help!”  Another boy or boys appear and they get the papers stacked in no time and leave.
4)  A boy comes out with a paint can and a paint brush – he pretends to look at a very LONG fence.  “I’ll never get this fence painted in time to play ball” he says,  “Wish I had some help!”  Out comes another boy or even several boys with a brush – together they make motions of painting the whole length of the fence.
After each run on, either the boy or a Leader says, “Great. Now that’s what I call Cooperation!”

Cheers


Ferris Wheel (Swing your arm in a large circle. When you go up, everyone says “oooh!” and when you go down, everyone says “ahhh!”)

Strongman (Pretend to lift a barbell, straining with all your might. Grunt “ah, ah, ahhh” as you lift and “THUD” when you drop the barbell to the floor.)

Elephant (Everyone makes a trunk with their arms and makes elephant trumpeting noises.)

Heart & Sole (For someone who gives their heart and “sole” to Scouting. Everyone puts their hand over their heart and then touches one hand to one of the soles of their feet.)



Thursday, June 5, 2014

Honesty/Heroes of History

Core Value: Honesty
Theme: Heroes of History

August Pack Meeting Plans:
Honesty” AND “Heroes of History


GatheringActivity
My Story Mystery Game

The My Story Mystery Game is a great way to get to know some “history” about a group of individuals. It makes a great icebreaker. It can also serve as an introduction to a discussion about oral history and storytelling.

Materials
• Small slips of paper or index cards (one per player)
• Pencils (one per player)
• Container
 Instructions
1. Give each player a pencil and a piece of paper.
2. Have them write a few sentences about something which actually happened to them. Explain
that the others will have to guess who wrote it, so they should not use their name or write
something the others already know about in the story.
3. They must also write their name on the paper, so the leader will know whose story it is.
4. Put all of the stories in the container and mix.
5. The leader selects three of the stories from the container and those three people go to the front
of the group.
6. The leader tells the three stories which were selected.
7. The members of the audience get together and try to decide which story belongs to which
person.
8. Select three more stories and play the game again. Make sure each Scout gets at least one turn
to be one of the three people standing in front.

Opening Ceremony
Trailblazers

Preparation: Find the prop for each person and write what they are going to say on a card.


Narrator (opening a history book to read): Come join me now for just a minute while we look for heroes in history in my book. There are many heroes on these pages with tales of deeds through the ages.

Thomas Jefferson ( three-cornered hat or Declaration of Independence): I am Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence I did write, helping our country in its freedom fight.

Squanto (Indian headdress): I am Squanto. I helped the Pilgrims to stay alive that first winter in their
struggle to survive.

Neil Armstrong (astronaut helmet or hand-held flag): I am Neil Armstrong. I helped to blaze the trail into space for our land, and I was the first person on the moon to stand.

Abe Lincoln (stovepipe hat): I am Abraham Lincoln. As president, my best to the country I gave, and
helped to end the War Between the States.

Thomas Edison (lightbulb): I am Thomas Edison. I did my best to help my land without wait; the electric light I did create.

Paul Revere (lantern): I am Paul Revere. I made a famous ride to every farm to warn of the British and spread the alarm.

Cub Scout (in uniform): All these men who blazed a trail did their best and did it well. We are the future trailblazers of this land. You can bet we'll do our best to do our job grand!

Training Topic
Safe Scouting: The Rules That Keep Your Scouts Safe

Discussion leader should show the Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416C, to the Cub Scout leaders.
• Ask who in the class is familiar with the guide and its contents.
• Select several Cub Scout activities and discuss with the class how the guide addresses the safety issues of these activities.
• Discuss why Scouting places such emphasis on safety.
• We, as leaders, should model safe behaviors.
• Review the reporting procedures in the event of an accident.
• Discuss the BSA Annual Medical Form. The use of this form can help to assure that the boys are
healthy enough to participate in Scouting activities.
• Review the age-appropriate guidelines.
• Review two-deep leadership requirements.
• Youth protection begins with “You”!
• Adult leaders must repeat the course every two years.
Resources:
• Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416C
• Safety Thoughts—scouting.org
• Youth Protection training—www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx

Audience Participation Song
“American Legends”

Tune: “Davy Crockett”

Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee,
Greenest state in the land of the free.
Raised in the woods where he knew every tree
Killed him a bear, when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett,
King of the wild frontier.

Walked across the country with a sack on his back,
Saved Ohio settlers from Indian attack.
Shared all he had with anyone who lacked,
Apple trees now mark the path where he walked.
Johnny, Johnny Appleseed,
King of the farming man.

Made his living laying railroad rails,
The strongest man who could hammer those nails,
Then he was challenged to the race of his life,
Outworked a steam drill, but didn’t live through the night.
Big John, Big John Henry,
King of the railroad man.

Raised by coyotes and schooled by a bear,
His horse was a Widowmaker to those who dared,
Roped every varmint that flew through the sky,
Even a cyclone ‘cross the prairie he’d ride.
Pecos, Pecos Bill
King of the wild, wild west.

Commissioner’s Minute
Real Strength

America’s history is dotted with famous people—men and women and even children. We gain
inspiration from their stories. America’s strength has always been in her people. It took character to
survive that first winter in Plymouth, and another bad winter at Valley Forge. It took character to put
belongings into a rickety old wagon and push off into a land of vague promise. It took character to
tell a nation that slavery was wrong. Because character is needed today more than ever before, the
Boy Scouts of America is concerned about building strong character in boys. The BSA wants to help
guarantee that America is as strong in the future as it was at its birth. Our heroes in history show us
examples of great character. Cub Scouts can be the heroes of tomorrow as they learn about and develop that same character.

Cheers

Henry Ford cheer: Stand, pretend you are turning the crank on a Model T car (make chugging noises), then let out a big engine “ROAR” and sit down. Take the steering wheel and drive, blowing the horn with one hand and saying, “Aah-oo-gah!”
Paul Bunyan cheer: Divide the audience into two groups, the Chips and the Chops. As you point to each group, they yell in unison either “Chip!” or “Chop!” Repeat faster and faster until the tree is chopped down, then all holler, “Timber!”
Casey Jones Railroad cheer: CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, CHOO! WHOOOO! WHOOOO!
Grand Salute cheer: Slap your knees five times and count, “1-2-3-4-5,” then stamp your feet five
times as you count, then stand up and salute.


Closing Ceremony
Johnny Appleseed

Materials: An apple for each family or each Cub Scout or everybody. Your choice!
Johnny Appleseed was a pioneer hero, one of the very best. He didn't look much like one.
He was small and not very strong. He wore a tin pot for a hat and a coffee sack for a coat. Under his arm he carried a Bible and over his shoulder, a bag of apple seeds.
He had no knife. He had no gun. But he walked through sunshine and walked through rain--over the mountains, over the plains, and through forest trails knee-deep in mire looking for places to plant apple seeds.
While he was working, he thanked the Lord for giving him "the sun, the rain, and the apple seed." As legend goes, God was so pleased with Johnny Appleseed's selfless service that He put in the middle of every apple a star.
As we close our meeting, I will give each person an apple and ask that when you get home you slice the apple in half (demonstrate this) as I just did. You will see the star given to Johnny and to you for being part of our pack.


Monday, May 12, 2014

Courage/Space-the New Frontier

Core Value: Courage
Theme:"Space-the New Frontier"

July Pack Meeting Plans:
“Courage” AND “Space—the New Frontier
Pack Meeting Plans

Gathering Activity
Planet Quiz

Materials:

As families enter, have a preassigned den hand out a copy of the planet quiz to each family. Set out
pencils on tables. Explain that each family should work together to find the answers to the quiz. Work
together as a family to find the answers to the following questions.

1. I am extremely hot and very dry. I am closest to our sun.
 I am a small planet. My diameter is half of Earth’s.
 I am named after the speedy messenger of the ancient Roman gods.
 What planet am I? ____________________

2. I am the eighth planet from our sun.
 I am the fourth-largest planet in diameter.
 I was named for the ancient Roman god of the sea.
 What planet am I? __________________

3. I am the sixth planet from our sun.
 I orbit the sun in 11 of Earth’s orbits.
 I have thousands of rings made of tiny particles of floating ice circling me.
 What planet am I? _______________

4. I have been called the “evening star” or “morning star,” even though I am a planet.
 I am surrounded by thick clouds filled with droplets of sulfur.
 I am Earth’s sister planet—almost the same size as Earth and the second planet from our sun.
 What planet am I? _________________________

5. I have 50 official moons—maybe more.
 I am the fifth planet from our sun.
 I am named after the king of the ancient Roman gods.
 What planet am I? ___________________________

6. I have a tilted rotation around the sun—my north and south poles are where the equator is on Earth.
 I have 27 known moons.
 I am the seventh planet from the sun.
 What planet am I? ______________________

7. I am the biggest of all the terrestrial planets. A terrestrial planet is a dense planet found in the inner
solar system.
 About 30 percent of my surface is covered with land, while about 70 percent is covered by water.
 I am the third planet from our sun.
 What planet am I? __________________________

8. Recently, evidence of ice water was found on me.
 I used to be called the “red planet” because I appear red when viewed through a telescope.
 I am the fourth planet from the sun.
 What planet am I? _____________________

Answer key: 1) Mercury, 2) Neptune, 3) Saturn, 4) Venus, 5) Jupiter, 6) Uranus, 7) Earth, 8) Mars.

Opening Ceremony
Out in Space

Setting: Four Cub Scouts are standing on stage looking up to the sky.
Cub Scout 1: What’s out in space?
Cub Scout 2: Mostly lots and lots of space, but also billions and jillions of stars, galaxies, and solar
systems, planets and moons, blazing comets, and deadly rays.
Cub Scout 3: (Walks out dressed in a space helmet and says these famous words of Neil Armstrong): One small step for man. One giant step for mankind.
Cub Scout 4: That’s what’s out in space!
Let’s all stand and remember the American flag flying on the moon. Please join with us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Training Topic
Ideas for telling Cub Scout leaders, "Thank you!"

1. Give them a Milky Way bar and tell them they are “Out of this World.”
2. Boys make and write a thank you card for their leaders.
3. Make a video clip of the boys telling what they like and their favorite experience they had in Wolves, Bear and Webelos. Show it at a pack meeting.
4. When a new cub scout is introduced to the pack, give the mother a ribbon or ribbon necklace with to put their Mother’s Pins on.
5. Use a prescription empty container. Write Thank you being a Cub Scout Leader and Here are some
special pills to help you get through the next year. Then put skittles, or M&M’s in it. Have each color
represent a character trait you will need to get through cub scouts. Green will make you silly. Blue will help those creative ideas flow, etc.
There is any number of very nice awards that can be purchased from your local Scout shop.
Flowers and plants are always great.
Certificates can be custom-made on your own computer.
Crazy/gag awards are fun and inexpensive. For example:A wooden plaque with a mounted light bulb and sign: “Thanks for your bright idea!” Little bag of Hershey’s kisses with a tag: “We love the help you gave us!”  Bag of Reese’s Pieces with tag: “We all love you to pieces.”
Small ruler with tag: “You rule!”

Audience Participation Activity
Round the Moon

All the dens line up at the end of the room. Each Cub places his hands on the waist of the Cub in front so the dens form a “rocket.” A chair is placed at the far end of the room opposite each den; these are the moons. On “Go,” the dens run the length of the room, around their moon, and back into orbit. As they pass base, the “rockets” drop a section each time and the Cub Scouts sit down there one by one, until finally the “nose cone”—the first in line—returns home. The first team to be sitting down is the winner.

Commissioner’s Minute

The beach ball was a visual for the size of the first Soviet Union satellite that was sent into space. -
History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball (58 cm.or 22.8 inches in diameter), weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race.

Astronaut Eggs

Materials: Eggs; resealable bags, tape; Styrofoam sandwich box; packing materials such as cotton,
newspaper, peanuts, grass, leaves, etc.
Scientists spend a lot of time making an astronaut’s journey safe. For the preopening activity, have the Cub Scouts pack an egg so that it can survive a 10-foot drop onto a hard surface. Put the egg inside the resealable plastic bag, then pack it any way you want inside the box. Tape the box well, and write scout’s name on it. Drop the boxes from a balcony, or high place, then check to see whose egg survived.

Cheers

  • Rocket (all: ZZZZZZZZZOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!)
  • Wizard of Oz (Remember the lion in the Wizard of Oz? He was looking for courage. Everyone link arms and let’s all say “We’re off to see the wizard!”)

These ideas were shared at Round Table
Activities that go along with the Space Theme

1. Water rockets (Fill up 2 liter bottles with water and shoot them up in the air. Great summer activity
when it is hot outside)
2. Balloon rocket (Attached a straw to the balloon which will slide along the strung string tied between
two sturdy holdings. This was done at the Cub Scout Day Camp during spring break this year).
3. Make Regular Rocket kits and shoot them up in the air
4. Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory at the Riparian Institute. They offer private session in one-
hour time slots. A maximum of 20 people can be scheduled for any one session. Cost is $5/person. The minimum fee is $45.00. However, Organized youth groups working on astronomy awards, such as Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, or Girl Scouts, or any other formally organized and recognized youth group should contact grco@evaconline.org for specific arrangements and/or possible fee waivers. http://gilbert-news-blog.dailyprss.com/index.php/2013/06/21/the-gilbert-rotary-centennial-observatory-at-the-riparian-institute/
5. There is a solar walk at Veterans Oasis Park in Chandler. - The solar walk is a scale representation of the major objects in the solar system set up along a 2,500-foot pathway around the lake. The objects are spaced at distances relative to their scale in the solar system. Each foot represents 1.5 million miles in space. For example, the distance between the earth and the sun along the solar walk will be 62 feet, representing the actual 93 million miles. The map and more information can be found at http://chandlersolarsystemwalk.com/home.html. They also set up telescopes on the side walk from time to time. See web site for dates and times.
6. MCC Planetarium