Cub Scouts love science! It is almost like magic to them. You can spark and interest in science with these ideas, achievements, and activities which are related to science.
Use these ideas to promote STEM activities to the whole pack or add some spark to your den meetings.
A Simple Explanation of the Scientific Method
If you don't have a background in science, helping your Cub Scout out with this might seem a little intimidating. But the scientific method is really very basic and only involves a few simple concepts.
How to Grow a Sugar Crystal
Webelos must learn about crystals to fulfill requirement 10 for the Webelos Scientist activity badge. I did this activity with DS, LC, and ZM when they were working on this badge. They really enjoyed it. When making the crystals, make sure they keep adding sugar until it really won't dissolve anymore and it will be successful.
Homemade Silly Putty Recipe
Having a science themed meeting with your Scouts? Instead of a craft, make up a batch of silly putty. This stuff is stretchy and fun to play with.
Water Cycle Demonstration
This project will demonstrate the water cycle to scouts. This demonstration can be used with requirement 1 for the Weather belt loop for Cub Scouts or with requirement 6 for the Weather merit badge for Scouts BSA.
Printable Explanation of the Water Cycle
With all of the rain we've been having lately, this seems like a good time to post this aid to help explain the water cycle. I made this aid to help my Webelos when they were working on the Weather belt loop as a requirement for the Scientist activity badge. The material also fits in with the Weather merit badge.
Scouts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Today's youth must be familiar with the STEM areas - science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - to be prepared for the world of tomorrow. BSA programs offer many opportunities for Scouts to experience STEM activities. The Nova awards for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts), and Venturers allow for in depth studies of STEM fields. There are also opportunities for STEM learning in the achievements for each program.
Invisible Ink Demonstration
An invisible ink demonstration will add fun to any Cub Scout meeting. If they haven't seen this before, it will really get their attention. This would fit in with any science themed meeting or a communications themed meeting.
Cubmaster Minute – Science and Perseverance
Here is a brief Cubmaster minute to help Cub Scout understand why perseverance is important. It could also be used as a Scoutmaster minute.
Ziploc Bag vs Pencil Experiment
This simple experiment to demonstrate the scientific method is always a hit with the scouts. The results are not usually what they expect.
The Noble Captain Kirk Song
Everyone familiar with the Star Trek series knows how much they like to beam people back and forth the transporter. Sing this song as a tribute to the series.
Inertia Demonstration
This demonstration fits in well with a science theme. It is a hands on example of Newton's first law of motion.
Air Pressure Demonstration
This would be a fun way to end a pack meeting or den meeting with a science theme. I guarantee that Cub Scouts will have fun blowing up balloons and letting them fly.