Tiger Bites Den Meeting Plan

Keeping young Scouts engaged while teaching them important life skills can be a challenge. That’s why this Tiger Bites den meeting plan is designed to be both fun and educational. It focuses on key healthy habits like good nutrition, hand washing, exercise, and sleep. Tigers will learn through games, hands-on activities, and discussions that make these topics easy to understand.

This meeting plan keeps Tigers moving, thinking, and having fun. They will play interactive games to learn about food groups, practice proper hand washing with a glowing germ experiment, and race through an obstacle course to stay active. They will also discover ways to get better sleep, including a simple breathing exercise to help them relax.

A hands-on approach makes learning stick, and this meeting is packed with activities that get Tigers involved. Whether they are playing, laughing, or tasting a healthy snack, they are learning habits that will help them for life. By the end of the Tiger Bites den meeting, they will leave with new skills and a better understanding of how to take care of their bodies.

This meeting is also a great opportunity to involve parents. With their help in preparing snacks, setting up activities, and reinforcing these lessons at home, Tigers will get even more out of the experience. Simple, engaging, and full of energy, this Tiger Bites den meeting will keep young Scouts excited about making healthy choices.

Total time: 60 minutes

My Favorite Foods – A Creative Start (5 minutes)

Tigers draw their favorite food and discuss which food group it belongs to. This helps them start thinking about nutrition in a fun way while waiting for everyone to arrive.

Food Group Go Fish – Learning with a Game (10 minutes)

Tigers play a card game where they ask each other for food cards from different food groups. This interactive game reinforces their understanding of balanced eating in a playful way.

Clean Hands, Healthy Bodies (10 minutes)

Tigers participate in a Glow Germ activity to see how germs spread and practice proper hand washing techniques. They learn when and why washing hands is important.

Move and Groove – Staying Active (15 minutes)

Tigers play Red Light, Green Light to get moving. Then they complete an obstacle course designed to encourage physical activity. They take turns running through cones, jumping over a mat, and crawling through a tunnel.

Sleepy Time Tricks – Getting Ready for Bed (10 minutes)

Tigers talk about bedtime routines and practice a simple breathing exercise to help them relax before sleep.

Snack Time – Tasty and Healthy (5 minutes)

Tigers enjoy a snack that includes at least two food groups, such as apple slices with peanut butter or cheese with whole grain crackers. They discuss how their snack fits into a balanced diet.

Closing – Living the Scout Law (5 minutes)

Tigers reflect on what they learned and how being clean, healthy, and active connects to the Scout Law. They share one healthy habit they will practice at home and end the Tiger Bites den meeting with a fun Scout cheer or sign.

Materials Needed

• Paper and crayons or markers for My Favorite Foods activity
• Printed and cut-out Food Group Go Fish cards (laminated or glued to index cards if possible)
• Glow Germ lotion or powder and a black light (Get it here)
• Access to a sink with soap and paper towels
• Cones, a mat, and a table for the obstacle course
• Healthy snack including at least two food groups (such as apple slices with peanut butter, cheese with whole grain crackers, or yogurt with fruit)
• Plates, napkins, and hand-washing supplies for snack time

Preparation Before the Den Meeting

• Print and cut out Food Group Go Fish cards, and organize them into sets of 30 for each group of four Tigers (link)
• Set up a table with paper and crayons or markers for the gathering activity
• Prepare Glow Germ supplies and ensure the black light is working
• Arrange an area for hand washing with soap and paper towels available
• Set up an obstacle course with cones, a mat, and a table
• Gather the selected snack and ensure it includes at least two food groups
• Prepare discussion questions to encourage engagement during activities

Parent Involvement and Assistance

• Ask parents to provide a healthy snack from one of the food groups
• Request a parent to help with the hand washing activity, assisting with the Glow Germ demonstration
• Invite a parent to help set up and monitor the obstacle course
• Request volunteers to help with cleanup after snack time and activities

For our gathering activity, we will do a simple drawing project. This helps Tigers think about the foods they enjoy while reinforcing the food groups.

Give each Tiger a piece of paper and crayons or markers. Ask them to draw their favorite food. As they draw, walk around and talk with them about what they are drawing.

Once they finish, ask each Tiger to share their drawing. As they talk about their food, ask them which food group it belongs to. If they are unsure, help them figure it out together.

This is a fun way to start the Tiger Bites den meeting while teaching them about food groups in a relaxed and creative way.

Food Group Go Fish

Now we will play Food Group Go Fish. This game helps Tigers learn about food groups in a fun and interactive way.

Before the meeting, print and cut out the Food Group Go Fish food cards. If possible, laminate them or glue them to index cards to make them sturdier. Each group of four Tigers will get a set of 30 cards.

To play, one Tiger asks another for a type of food, like “Do you have a fruit?” If the other Tiger has one, they give it to them, and the pair is placed on the table. If they don’t, they say, “Go Fish!” and the first Tiger draws a card from the pile. The game continues until all pairs are found. The Tiger with the most pairs wins.

This game introduces Tigers to food groups in a playful way while helping them practice asking and answering questions. Hands-on activities like this keep them engaged and excited to learn.

Clean Hands, Healthy Bodies

Keeping hands clean is important for staying healthy. Germs are everywhere, and they can make us sick if we do not wash our hands properly. Many germs spread by touching things and then touching our faces, food, or other people.

This activity helps Tigers understand why hand washing is necessary and how to do it correctly. They will see how germs spread and learn the best way to wash their hands. This activity helps Tigers understand why hand washing is necessary and how to do it correctly. They will see how germs spread and learn the best way to wash their hands.

1. Apply Glow Germ lotion or powder to each Tiger’s hands. (Get Glow Germ here.)
2. Have them look at their hands under a black light. The glowing spots represent germs.
3. Ask the Tigers to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
4. Check their hands under the black light again to see how well they washed.
5. Discuss when they should wash their hands, such as before eating and after using the restroom. Remind them that washing hands after playing outside, coughing, or sneezing is also important. Good handwashing habits keep everyone healthier.

This activity makes learning about hand washing fun and interactive. Seeing the “germs” glow helps Tigers understand how easily germs spread. Practicing proper hand washing ensures they know how to keep themselves and others healthy.

This activity makes learning about hand washing fun and interactive. Seeing the “germs” glow helps Tigers understand how easily germs spread. Practicing proper hand washing ensures they know how to keep themselves and others healthy.

Move and Groove

Now it is time to get moving. Tigers need to be active every day. We will play two fun movement games to keep them moving.

First, we will play Red Light, Green Light. Line up the Tigers on one side of the room. When you say “Green Light!” they run forward. When you say “Red Light!” they stop. If they move on “Red Light,” they go back to the start. Keep playing until someone reaches the finish line. See the full instructions for Red Light, Green Light here.

Next, we will do a Tiger Obstacle Course.

1. Set up simple obstacles such as cones to weave through, a mat to jump over, and a table to crawl under.
2. Have the Tigers take turns running through the course one at a time.
3. Encourage the other Tigers to cheer for their friends as they complete the course.
4. Once everyone has had a turn, ask them what their favorite part of the course was.
5. Discuss how moving and playing games like this helps keep their bodies strong and healthy.

After playing, talk about why moving is good for their bodies. Tigers should try to move for at least 30 minutes every day. Games like these make it fun. Encourage them to move for at least 15 minutes more when they get home.

Sleepy Time Tricks

Now we will talk about how to get a good night’s sleep. Good sleep helps us grow and feel great.

Start by asking the Tigers, “What do you do before bed?” Let them share their bedtime routines. Then, act out a bedtime routine with them. Pretend to brush teeth, put on pajamas, and turn off screens.

Next, teach them a breathing exercise to help them relax before bed.

1. Have the Tigers sit comfortably on the floor with their legs crossed.
2. Ask them to close their eyes and take a deep breath in through their nose, counting to four.
3. Tell them to hold their breath for a moment, then slowly breathe out through their mouth while counting to four.
4. Repeat this process several times, encouraging them to focus on their breathing and feel their bodies relax.
5. Discuss how breathing slowly before bed can help them feel calm and ready for sleep. Have them sit quietly, close their eyes, and take slow, deep breaths. Count to four as they breathe in and out.

Encourage the Tigers to practice relaxing before bedtime at home. They can also do the Get Ready for Bed activity in their handbook at home.

Now it’s time for a snack! We will choose a snack that includes at least two food groups. Some good choices are apple slices with peanut butter, cheese with whole grain crackers, or yogurt with fruit.

As they eat, talk with the Tigers about what food groups their snack belongs to. Ask them, “What does this food do for your body?” This helps them think about making healthy choices.

Make sure everyone washes their hands before eating! This is a good chance to remind them about what they learned in the hand washing activity.

To finish our meeting, we will talk about how the Scout Law connects to what we learned today.

Ask the Tigers how being Clean relates to washing hands and eating healthy foods. Ask how being Thrifty means making good choices about food and exercise. Let them share ideas.

Have each Tiger say one thing they will do at home, like washing hands more or eating more fruits and vegetables. This helps them remember what they learned.

End the Tiger Bites den meeting with a simple Scout cheer or the Scout sign. Tell them they did a great job and remind them to keep practicing healthy habits at home!

Tiger Bites Adventure

The Tiger Bites Adventure helps Tiger Cub Scouts learn about staying healthy. They explore good nutrition, the importance of washing hands, being active, and getting enough sleep. Through fun activities, they begin to understand how their daily choices affect their bodies. This adventure encourages them to develop habits that will keep them strong and healthy as they grow.

Tigers learn about the five food groups and how to make better food choices. They practice hand washing to keep germs away and understand why it is important. They also get moving to stay fit and learn bedtime habits to sleep well. These lessons give them a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

See more resources for the Tiger Bites adventure here.

How long should this Tiger Bites den meeting take?

This den meeting plan is designed to last about an hour. If your group needs more time for certain activities, you can adjust as needed. Keeping things moving will help keep Tigers engaged.

What if I don’t have a black light for the hand washing activity?

If you don’t have a black light, you can still teach good handwashing habits by using regular lotion and glitter. Have the Tigers rub the lotion on their hands and then sprinkle glitter over them. The glitter represents germs, and they can try washing it off to see how well they clean their hands.

What kind of snack should I provide?

Choose a snack that includes at least two food groups. Some easy options are apple slices with peanut butter, cheese with whole grain crackers, or yogurt with fruit. Avoid snacks that are high in sugar or overly processed.

How can I involve parents in this Tiger Bites den meeting?

Ask parents to help with setting up and supervising activities. You can also request that they provide a healthy snack or help with cleanup. Encourage them to talk with their Tiger at home about what they learned.

What if my Tigers are shy or hesitant to participate?

Make sure each activity is introduced in a fun and low-pressure way. Encourage Tigers to try but don’t force them. If a Tiger doesn’t want to talk during group discussions, they can still participate by listening or showing their answers with drawings or gestures.

This Tiger Bites den meeting is a great way to teach young Scouts about healthy habits while keeping them engaged. Through games, hands-on activities, and discussions, Tigers will learn important skills that they can use every day.

By the end of the meeting, they will have a better understanding of food groups, handwashing, exercise, and sleep. More importantly, they will have fun while learning. When Scouts enjoy what they are doing, they are more likely to remember these lessons.

Encourage parents to continue these discussions at home. They can help reinforce these habits by talking about food choices, reminding Tigers to wash their hands, and creating a good bedtime routine. A little reinforcement goes a long way.

This Tiger Bites den meeting is designed to be simple, fun, and full of energy. With a little preparation, it will be a success. Tigers will leave excited about what they learned and ready to put their new skills into practice.