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:




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