Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure
Adventure Type: Elective
Number of Requirements: 3
Typical Time to Complete: 1 meeting
Parent Involvement: Adult partner participates
Preparation Needed: Choose activities, gather materials, set up building areas
Activity Level: Low to high
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor, outdoor options
Special Requirements: Adult partner, den or family teamwork, safe knockdown area
Supplies Snapshot: Blocks, cups, boxes, cardboard, tape, glue, markers, dominoes
The Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure introduces young Cub Scouts to building through fun, hands-on activities. Lions explore how planning, materials, and design help make structures stand.
As they build with adult partners, family members, and fellow Scouts, Lions practice creativity, communication, and teamwork. They also discover how balance and force affect the things they create.
Knocking down their structures is part of the learning—and the fun. Lions see that trying again after something falls helps build confidence, persistence, and problem-solving skills.
Requirements for the Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure
Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure Requirements
- With your Lion adult partner, build a structure.
- With your den or family, build a structure.
- Build something that is designed to be knocked down.
Printable requirements for the Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure
Checkoff sheet to keep track of your den's progress on the Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure
Printable checkoff sheet for the Lion Badge (for den or individual use)
Resources for the Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure
Requirement 1: Build With an Adult Partner
With your Lion adult partner, build a structure.
Encourage each Lion and adult partner to plan and build something together using familiar materials such as blocks, cups, or boxes. Keep the focus on sharing ideas, testing the structure, and making simple improvements—not on creating a perfect finished product.
Easy Option: Give each pair LEGO bricks or other building blocks and ask them to build a house together. See Building Block House.
More ideas:
- Cardboard Skyscraper: Lions work with their adult partners to build a shoe box skyscraper.
- Gingerbread House: Cub Scouts work with their adult partner to make a gingerbread house.
Requirement 2: Build With Your Den or Family
With your den or family, build a structure.
Choose a group project that gives everyone a chance to contribute. Leaders can help Lions practice teamwork by inviting them to take turns, share materials, and decide together how to strengthen or expand their structure.
Easy Option: Provide plastic or paper cups and have participants take turns adding cups to one large pyramid. See Cup Pyramid.
More ideas:
- Pillow and Blanket Fort: Build a pillow and blanket fort.
- We Built This City Out of Card and Board: The den will work together to make a cardboard city.
Requirement 3: Build Something to Knock Down
Build something that is designed to be knocked down.
Help Lions create a structure that will fall in a fun, safe, and predictable way. Before knocking it down, ask what they think will happen and encourage them to try a different design if it does not fall as expected.
Easy Option: Arrange dominoes in a simple line or curved path, then tip the first one and watch the chain reaction. See Down Goes the Dominoes.
More ideas:
- Blow My House Down: Using paper blocks build a house to see if it can hold up to the wind.
- Build It Up and Knock It Down Relay: Play a relay race to build it up and knock it down.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure
What is the Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure?
It’s a fun activity where Lion Cub Scouts build different kinds of structures and learn about construction and demolition.
Why do we build something to knock it down?
It helps Lions understand how things are built and what makes them strong or weak. It’s also fun to see how structures fall.
Can we use any materials for building?
Yes, you can use blocks, Lego, cards, or even recycled materials like boxes and bottles.
What should we learn from this Build It Up Knock It Down adventure?
Lions learn about teamwork, planning, and the basics of building. They also see how forces like pushing or pulling can knock things down.
Is there a specific way to build the structures?
No specific way is required. Be creative and try different methods and shapes.
Building Blocks of Learning
The Lion Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure offers Lion Cub Scouts a playful yet educational experience. Through this adventure, Lions engage in building various structures with their adult partners, den, and family members. The first part of the adventure encourages cooperation and understanding as Lions work alongside a trusted adult to create a structure. This activity fosters teamwork and creativity, as they explore different building materials and methods.
In the next phase of the Build It Up Knock It Down adventure, Lions expand their collaborative skills by constructing with their peers or family. This group activity reinforces the importance of communication and collective effort in achieving a common goal. Each participant brings their own ideas and solutions, enhancing the learning experience.
Finally, Lions build something specifically designed to be knocked down. This fun and dynamic task teaches them about the forces that affect structures and the concept of planned demolition. It’s an exciting way to learn about stability, balance, and the impacts of physical forces, all wrapped up in an engaging, hands-on activity.
Overall, the Build It Up Knock It Down Adventure combines learning with fun, providing Lions with valuable lessons in physics, engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving. It encourages curiosity and resilience, as they see that rebuilding can be just as enjoyable as building.
Leave a Reply