Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Clean/Cubservation



For August's Round Table We Shared Ideas For
September's Scout Law Point and Theme
Scout Law Point: Clean
Theme: Cubservation

Opening Brain Teaser - This would be a great thing to write on the chalk or white board for boys and parents to have something to think about while they wait for everyone to arrive at a Pack or Den Meeting.  (An idea you could use would be to reward the cub scouts a piece of candy if they get it right).
Change the word FOOT into the word HAND in five steps by replacing one letter at a time to form a new word, without changing the order of the letters *Answer is at the end of this section. (scroll down)
(Brain Teaser taken from: The Little Black Book of Mindbenders by John Samson and Elsie Samson; pg. 62)
Gathering Activity
ANIMAL RESCUE
Materials: Slips of paper with names or pictures of North American animals.
Place
the slips of paper on your back.  Go around and ask someone to give you a description or clue about the animal.  To rescue the animal, you will need to guess which animal is on your back. 


Flag Ceremony

CONSERVE
Cub Scouts hold cutouts of cars made from poster board, with letters printed on each one to spell out the word: CONSERVE.
Cub #1: C – Cars and buses and such were invented by men.
Cub #2: O – Oil fields were also discovered by them.
Cub #3: N – Nobody really worried about the amount of fuel this would take.
Cub #4: S – So on no transportation did they put the brake.
Cub #5: E – When it came to fuel, there was never a drought.
Cub #6: R – Raising on everyone’s mind a great big doubt.
Cub #7: V – Very soon the world’s traffic was put to the test.
Cub #8: E – Everyone, to conserve fuel, must now do their best!

Pizza Box Sun Oven
(Suggestion: Make the Pizza Box Sun Oven with your cub scouts the first week and then at the next den meeting cook the food.)
Materials: pizza box (When you buy your pizza, request that your pizza not be cut and that they do not put any sides, like peppers inside the box.  When you get home, do not cut the pizza in the box.  Take the pizza out of the box and cut it on a cookie sheet. This way you will have the least amount of grease or oil on your box), ruler, marker, knife, Duct Tape, 1- gallon size Zip Lock Bag, scissors, 1 empty toilet paper roll, 1 pipe cleaner, black construction paper, glue, black spray paint, aluminum foil, newspaper, pie tin or 9x9x2 tin. 
Directions:
1) Get rid of any crumbs in the pizza box.
2) Measure 2 1/4 inches from the crease or bend of each side of the inside of the box lid. Using a marker, draw a dot.  Do this two times per side.  Then take the ruler and draw a line through the two dots. Repeat on each side drawing a perfect square.
3) Using the knife, cut out three sides of the square except the side closest to the bottom half of the pizza box.  Score along the line that you did not cut.  Then bend the cut out section of the pizza box back.
4) Put a piece of Duct Tape along the bend of the small lid you just created.
5) Take a thin piece of Duct Tape and thread it though a toilet paper roll.  Tape this down alongside the bottom of the opening you just created.
6) Cut apart a gallon size bag by cutting off the top and seams on all three sides. This will create two square plastic sheets.
7) Tape the square plastic sheet without any writing on it to the inside of the pizza box using Duct Tape, covering the opening you made earlier.
8) Put Duct Tape on all the four corners of the pizza box.
9) Take some black construction paper and first form it to the inside of the bottom of the pizza box using your fingers to make creases along the folds and sides. Then glue the paper in the bottom of the box.
10) Fold the pizza box up.  Paint the outside of the box black. You do not need to paint the bottom of the box or the flaps of the lid.  (The flaps get tucked in when you use it to bake something).
11) Take some scissors and make two holes in the lid.  These should be big enough for the ends of a pipe clean to fit through.  The holes should be located toward the bottom of the smaller lid, but at the level of the height of the toilet paper roll. See picture above.12) Take some foil long enough to wrap around the smaller lid of the pizza box.  Using a pipe cleaner, poke a hole through the foil where you made the holes earlier.
13) The foil should extend above the lid.  At the top, you can fold over the foil on itself to give the foil a finished look, but do not fold it down to the lid.  (The more foil you have exposed, the more heat that reflects back into the box).
14) Take the pipe cleaner and thread it though the toilet paper roll and through the holes.  Then fold the ends of the pipe cleaner back so the lie against the smaller lid.  This will keep the lid open when you are baking something.
15) Take newspaper and roll it up to insulate the sides, inside the box. 
16) Use a pie tin or 9x9x2 tin to cook your food.
S'mores and/or Tortilla Chips with Cheese:
So because a den meeting is 1 hour long, I looked for something that would take less time than that to cook in the Pizza Box Solar Oven.  I came up with these two items.
For the S'mores I would recommend that you have the boys assemble them and wrap them up in plastic wrap, so the chocolate and marshmallow will not melt all over.  Have the boys put them together for the Gathering Activity as they arrive at the den meeting.  Then as soon as possible, start cooking them in the solar oven.  At the end of the den meeting they will be ready to eat as a treat. See below for temperatures and times. 
For the Tortilla Chips with Cheese, spread some tortilla chips on a tin pan and spread some grated cheese on top.  You do not need to cover with plastic wrap.
This was done in Arizona June 20, 2015
S'mores:
Official Temperature at the start time: 95 degrees F
Time started baking: 10:18am
Temperature on candy thermometer outside of the box at the end of baking: 115 F
Temperature on meat thermometer inside box at the end of baking: 160 F
Finished baking at 11:03AM (45 minutes)
Official Temperature at the end time: 97 degrees F
*Note:  I put the pizza box outside right when I started cooking the S'mores.  If I had had the box already warming up from the sun rays, I would conjecture that it would take less time to bake them. 
*An Experiment: I was curious to see what would happen if I tried baking a S'more outside the box with the Arizona heat.  So I assembled one by using a clean plastic fruit cup and putting the S'more inside, wrapping plastic wrap around it.  The results of my experiment were that the marshmallow in the S'more cooked outside of the box was only soft, not melted.  I thought the S'more made inside the Pizza Box Solar Oven was perfect. Try this experiment with your cub scouts, but don't tell them ahead of time the results.  It would be fun to let them discover it for themselves.   - Also, it would be a great learning experience for the boys if you use two thermometers; one inside the box and one outside like I did and have the boys record the temperatures and then talk about the results afterwards.
Tortilla Chips with Cheese
Official Temperature at the start time: 97 degrees F
Time started baking: 11:08AM
Temperature on candy thermometer outside box at the end of baking: 120 degrees F
Temperature on meat thermometer inside box at the end of baking: 165 degrees F
Finished baking at 11:23AM (15 minutes)
Official Temperature at the end time: 97 degrees F
Note: The pizza box was already warm from use when I baked the S'mores, so it would take a little bit longer to melt the cheese if I had JUST put the box outside.




Clean Water Experiment
Click on this link for the instructions and diagram:https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OS29vZ09uLWR6eWc  (Note: Be sure to explain to the boys that this experiment with water does not make it drinkable. A more refined purifying method is needed for drinking water.)
Good to Know Information in relation to this experiment: Veterans Oasis Park (NE Corner of Chandler Heights Rd & Lindsay) covers 113 acres and features both lush wetland and arid habitat suitable for the diverse plants and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert. This "non-traditional" facility capitalizes on the divergent and plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities at the site created by the park land, lake, and wetlands/groundwater recharge basins. The shallow basins infiltrate high quality reclaimed water to the subsurface aquifer for storage and recovery as part of the City's comprehensive reclaimed water management plan. The park also includes 4½ miles of trails, wildlife viewing areas; ramadas and picnic areas; a butterfly and hummingbird habitat; an outdoor amphitheater; a unique, learning-oriented playground; a 5-acre “Community fishing” lake; a Solar System Walk; equestrian trails; and interpretive signs and exhibits.

Litter Sweep Relay
Materials: a broom for each team and a small pile of dry trash.
Divide the Cub Scouts into two teams and give each team a broom and a small pile of dry trash—soda cans, paper, small plastic bottles, etc. At the start signal, the first boy on each team sweeps the trash to a certain point and back. The next team member then takes over, and so on until all have run. The first team to finish wins. If a boy loses any trash, he must sweep back and pick it up.

Robot Made from Recycle Materials

Shared by Michelle

Materials used: 2 large soup cans, 2 toilet paper rolls, 1 cereal box, two baby food jar lids and 2 craft eyes. 

Cheers
Rainstorm Cheer:  To simulate rain, have everyone pat one finger of the left hand and one finger of the right hand on the table. Gradually increase the intensity of the storm by patting more fingers against the table.  Decrease the number of fingers as the storm passes.
Coyote Cheer: Have everyone stand and say, "ARC, ARC Arooooooooo!!  GEE, it sure is lonely out here."
Flower Cheer: Like a flower blooming, raise part way in your chair, look around and jump up yelling, "Spruuuuuuung!"

Opening Brain Teaser Answer: FOOT 1)food 2)fond 3)bond 4)band 5)HAND

Monday, June 1, 2015

Courage/Under the Sea & Honesty/Play Ball

For June's Round Table We shared ideas for
July's Core Value: Courage
July's Theme: Under the Sea
August's Core Value: Honesty
August's Theme: Play Ball




Opening Brain Teaser - This would be a great thing to write on the chalk or white board for boys and parents to have something to think about while they wait for everyone to arrive at a Pack or Den Meeting.  (An idea you could use would be to reward the cub scouts a piece of candy if they get it right).

How can three ones add up to two? 
*Answer is at the end of this section. (scroll down)
(Brain Teaser taken from: The Little Black Book of Mindbenders by John Samson and Elsie Samson; pg. 46)

Gathering Activity
Play Ball Sports Name Tags

Materials: markers; pre-cut circles of appropriate colors (white/ tan/light green).
As families arrive, complete a name tag for each member, using pre-cut circles of different colors. Encourage the families to add details, making their name tags look like the balls used in favorite games (e.g., red lines for baseball, black shapes for soccer). It may be helpful to bring pictures of the various types of balls to aid them in decorating the circles.

Flag Ceremony (AM Round Table)Fishing for Fun
Personnel/Materials: den leader and 5 Cub Scouts; an empty child’s swimming pool or a large, empty bucket; 5 fishing rods (can be sticks with strings and clothes pins attached). At the end of each string is a card with the boys’ lines printed for them to read. The Cub Scouts sit in a semi-circle, facing the audience. Each boy in turn pulls his card from the pool/bucket and reads it. Feel free to modify the script based on recent pack activities.
Den leader: In Cub Scouting, we go fishing for fun every week. Let’s see what these boys have caught.
Cub #1: I went fishing for fun, and I learned how to use a knife.
Cub #2: I went fishing for fun, and I earned my Bobcat badge.
Cub #3: I went fishing for fun, and I went on a trip to the zoo.
Cub #4: I went fishing for fun, and I went to Cub Scout day camp.
Cub #5: I went fishing for fun, and I learned how to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join us now in saluting our flag.

Flag Ceremony (PM Round Table)
Sportsmanship Promise
Cubmaster: We promise to be honest and trustworthy in following the rules of our games. We will engage in fair competition, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the honor of our dens and for the glory of the sport. Do you all promise to do your best in following these rules?
Cub Scouts: We do.
Cubmaster: Let us all stand and face our country’s flag as we repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

Duct Tape Fish

Materials: Colored Duct Tape, large paper clips, strong magnet with hole in middle(Home Depot), E6000 glue, twine or string, dowel, ruler, scissors, blue painters tape, black marker & fish template(click here for fish template: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OekY1amdlMHFiS2c&authuser=0 )
Directions:
 
1) Cut off a strip of Duct Tape about 4 1/2 inches long.  Take a large paper clip and place it in the middle toward one end of the duct tape. Then cut off another piece of duct tape 4 1/2 inches long and place it on top, sandwiching the paperclip inside. 

2) Cut out a fish template.  Put a piece of blue painters tape on back and tape it to the Duct Tape centering the paperclip in the body of the fish.  Then cut out the fish.

3) There are lots of options for using the fish.  Here are a few ideas.  A)You can write A,B,C,D on the fish for multiple choice questions you make up to teach any Adventure requirement.  B) You can ask yes or no questions about an Adventure requirement for your boys to answer. C) You can write down the boys names and fish to see who is chosen for Den Meeting duties each month. D) You can leave it blank and use just the different colors for multiple choice questions.  E) You can teach math and write down a bunch of numbers and have the boys fish for two fishes that add up to a number you tell them. (This one would be great for a gathering activity).
FISHING POLE
 
4) Cut the dowel to be 18 inches long.
5) Cut the string to be 60 inches long.

6) Put some E6000 glue on one end of the dowel.  Then take the twine(or string) and place one end of the twine over the glue; sticking out past the dowel 2 inches.  Then with your thumb holding the twine in place, wrap the long end of the string around the dowel 14 times.  Pull the short end of the sting up to get rid of the loop you created by holding the string with your thumb.  After this, tie the two ends (short and long) in a square knot.  On the other end of the twine tie the magnet on.  Place a dot of glue on both knots to secure them.

7) Because you made the fish out of Duct Tape, you have the option of playing with them using a bucket of water because they will stay intact. 

Flag Block for Table Top Small Flags

Around the 4th of July they sale small flags.  Here is a base you can make for those flags so you can practice a flag ceremony in your dens each week.  This will help the boys be more prepared to do a flag ceremony at pack meetings.
Materials:.4x4 wood post, wood stain, blue paint, red paint, Cub Scout Emblem picture (Click on link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OM2trQ1BrdTVlY1E&authuser=0 ), Modge Podge, foam brushes, paint brush.
Directions:
1) Cut the 4x4 wood post 3" in height for each wood base you want to make and sand it. 
2) Drill a hole in the top of one of the 4x4x3 wood blocks you just made.  The hole should be deep enough to put the flag pole in so it will not fall over, but not go all the way through the block either.

2) Using a rag and gloves, apply stain on every side of the wood block except the top where the hole is located.  Let this dry.

3) After the stain has dried, paint the top either blue or red using a foam brush. Then let the paint dry.

4) After the paint has dried, cut out a Cub Scout Emblem and Modge Podge it on with a paint brush. Let this set and dry.  Now you are ready to use it for your flag base.  (Link to the cub scout emblem page: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OM2trQ1BrdTVlY1E&authuser=0)

Teaching Honesty
This idea originated from this site with some modifications I made: http://www.fisdk12.net/wb/character/cc_trust.html

Materials: A bucket, some spray paint that can cover metal (The paint should contrast the color of the bucket), Two 3/4" x 2" Flat Washers. Lots of 1/8" x 1" Fender Washers, Pennies, glue and glue gun, "Honesty is the BEST policy" cards (Click on this link for card templates: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0revQcSgs4OUHlwekVpT0FWQmM&authuser=0 ), scotch tape.
Directions:

1) Spray paint the two 3/4" x 2" Flat Washers. Note:  Be sure to use a color of paint that will contrast the color of the bucket so the boys can see the washer once placed in a bucket of water.  Example: If you have an orange bucket, paint the washers yellow or white.  If you have a white bucket, paint the washers red or orange.

2) After the paint dries, hot glue a penny inside the middle of ONE of the 3/4" x 2" flat washers.  Set the other washer aside.  To hot glue the penny inside the washer do this:  while holding the penny, put hot glue around the edge where you are not touching it.  Then insert the penny in the middle of the washer.  There will be a gap between the washer and the penny where you were holding the penny.  Go ahead and apply hot glue to this area now. 

3) Print off the "Honesty is the BEST policy" cards.  Using Scotch Tape, tape a penny to the circle on the card. These can be given to the boys to take home to remind them of the lesson.

4) Fill the bucket half way with water.
5) Place the 3/4" x 4" washer, without the penny" in the water in the middle of the bottom of the bucket. 
6) Have the boys drop the 1/8" x1" Fender Washers one by one trying to cover up the big washer.
HONESTY LESSON
The 3/4" x 2" washer without the penny in the middle represents a lie.  It has a big hole in it to represent that the whole truth was not told. The smaller washers represent small fibs to cover up the big lie. The small holes in these washers represent, that every lie told is not the truth.  Tell the boys to drop the smaller washers in the bucket one by one and try to cover up the big washer.  This is very difficult to do.  Tell the boys that it takes a lot of small lies to cover up a big one.  Then show the boys the washer with the penny in it.  Point to Abraham's picture on the penny.  Tell the boys that President Abraham Lincoln was known for his honesty and integrity.  It takes honesty to fill in the hole of a lie like this penny is needed to fill in the hole of the washer.

Sports Quiz
Materials: paper and pencils for families to write down their answers.
The Cubmaster asks the questions and families choose the best answer. Points  may be scored at the end for all correct answers.
1. What famous baseball player said, “Ninety percent of this game is half mental?”
2. A “puck” is used in which of the following sports? A. Rugby; B. Hockey; C. Lacrosse
3. True or False: There are no goal lines in tennis.
4. True or False: There are six players on a basketball court at the same time.
5. In what sport would you find a fairway?
6. True or False: Bowling balls are made of wood.
7. A foul shot is done in A. Rugby; B. Tennis; C. Basketball
8. When a football official raises his hands above his head, he is signaling A. Score; B. Time Out; C. Penalty
Answers: 1. Yogi Berra. 2. B, Hockey. 3. True. 4. False; there are
five. 5. Golf. 6. False. 7. C, Basketball. 8. A, Score.

Cheers
Home Run Cheer:  Simulate swinging a bat, then shade your eyes with your hand while pointing to an imaginary flying ball and say, "Thar she goes."
Hot Dog with Mustard Cheer: Get your hot dog and put it in a bun.  PIck up the musard bottle and squeeze some mustard on the hot dog.  Then take a bite an say, "Yummmm!"
The Swelling Wave Cheer: The wave cheer like they do at sporting events.

Opening Brain Teaser Answer: 1 + 1/1 = 2