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.