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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