Jungle Fever · Jungle Fever On this day in 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of Tarzan of the...

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- - Jungle Fever On this day in 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of Tarzan of the Apes was born. The story of Tarzan is about a young child born as one of the English aristocracy who wandered off into the jungle after the plane he and his family were travelling in crashed. Although the other passengers were rescued, the young child was not found and he grew up in the African jungle with the animals. Listed below are a series of challenges which Tarzan may well have needed to accomplish whilst living in the jungle. To set the scene, help the Beaver Scouts to turn their Lodge area of the hall into a jungle. This could be achieved by producing a collage on large sheets of paper, depicting trees and various animals. Alternatively, the Beaver Scouts could draw and cut out giant-size shapes of jungle animals and trees. These could be scattered around the hall to give the desired effect. It is an opportunity for you and the Beaver Scouts to be really creative and imaginative. ROPE SWING Enlist the help of the Venture Scout Unit or Scout Leaders to make a rope swing suitable for the Beaver Scouts. Again, ensure that the correct type of rope and fixings are used. . 323

Transcript of Jungle Fever · Jungle Fever On this day in 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of Tarzan of the...

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Jungle Fever On this day in 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of Tarzan of the Apes was born. The story of Tarzan is about a young child born as one of the English aristocracy who wandered off into the jungle after the plane he and his family were travelling in crashed. Although the other passengers were rescued, the young child was not found and he grew up in the African jungle with the animals. Listed below are a series of challenges which Tarzan may well have needed to accomplish whilst living in the jungle.

To set the scene, help the Beaver Scouts to turn their Lodge area of the hall into a jungle. This could be achieved by producing a collage on large sheets of paper, depicting trees and various animals. Alternatively, the Beaver Scouts could draw and cut out giant-size shapes of jungle animals and trees. These could be scattered around the hall to give the desired effect. It is an opportunity for you and the Beaver Scouts to be really creative and imaginative.

ROPE SWING Enlist the help of the Venture Scout Unit or Scout Leaders to make a rope swing suitable for the Beaver Scouts. Again, ensure that the correct type of rope and fixings are used.

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You will need: • Two lengths of rope

Place the two pieces of rope on the floor, just a short distance apart to begin with ­ the gap in the middle represents the river. Arrange the Beaver Scouts into a long line and, one at a time, they run up and jump over the river. Gradually widen the width of the river and see which Beaver Scouts can jump the furthest width. To avoid disappointment, your Helpers could 'lift' any Beaver Scouts that have difficulty in jumping by themselves.

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CLIMB A LADDER

Divide the Colony into two teams and arrange them sitting on the floor facing each other with their legs outstretched so that they touch the feet of their partner. Give each pair of Beaver Scouts a number. When this number is called, they run up the ladder ­formed by the legs of the other Beaver Scouts ­ to the end of the hall and back to their place over the remaining length of ladder. Alternatively, you may feel able to securely place a short ladder against a wall for the Beaver Scouts to climb up and then tell you what they can see from that height. However, you would need to have adequate adult help to hold the ladder and support the Beaver Scouts.

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND

If you have this type of facility in your area, it might be an opportunity to visit this and let the Beaver Scouts use the climbing frame, swings and roundabouts and so on. This time of year can be very pleasant and worthwhile taking the opportunity to run an outdoor programme. The Heaver Scouts can think of themselves as Tarzan and play happily together under adequate adult supervision.

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Activity

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A SONG

There is a campfire song with the following words and they go: II like bananasJ monkey nuts and grapes

monkey nuts and grapes I like bananasJ money nuts and grapes and that's why they call me Tarzan of the Apes J

On the words 'Tarzan of the Apes' - the Beaver Scouts thump their chests to show how strong they are. Hopefully, you will be able to find somebody who will help you along with the tune.

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New Beginnings On this day in 1666, fire broke out in a

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baker's shop in Pudding Lane, London. The fire probably started when an oven door was left open. The fire spread rapidly and soon most of London was ablaze. The fire raged for five days. St. Paul's Cathedral was burnt down, together with 88 other churches and 13,000 houses in 400 streets. By some miracle only eight people were reported to have died. As a result of the fire, London was re-built. New houses, churches and the elegance of St. Paul's Cathedral were created.

GameGETTING TO KNOW YOU .~-~

You will need: • A large, soft ball

Arrange the Colony and all the Helpers in a circle. Throw the ball to a Beaver Scout who says 'Hello, my name is ...' and then throws the ball to another Beaver Scout. When you judge that most Beaver Scouts know the names of the others (and the Helpers as well) change the rule so that the Beaver Scouts or Helpers nominate the person they are throwing the ball to.

ALL THE LATEST NEWS

~-..:.......- With the holidays behind them, the Beaver Scouts will have lots of news to share. Encourage each Beaver Scout to tell the Colony one thing they have done in the school holidays.

ActivitySILHOUETTES ..- -I

~ '-.'You will need: • A4 piece of black paper for each Beaver Scout

• Pencils • Scissors • Some torches and clipboards

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Show the Beaver Scouts how to get a sharp shadow on the board by one Beaver Scout holding the torch, another holding the clipboard and a third positioning their head between the torch and the clipboard. When they have achieved a sharp shadow, ask a Helper to draw round it on to the clipboard. The Beaver Scouts can then cut out their own silhouette. Mount every silhouette on a strip of wallpaper - to make a frieze - and write the appropriate name under each silhouette. This could be displayed at the start of each meeting, perhaps with a removable sticker to indicate who is in attendance.

FIRES AND SAFETY

Invite your Group Scout Leader to tell the Beaver Scouts the story of the Great Fire of London and how it was probably started by carelessness. You could assist the Group Scout Leader by providing suitable background material and illustrations. This is also a good opportunity to remind the Beaver Scouts about 'rules' of games, smartness, politeness and so on.

FAVOURITE GAMES

You will need: • A games book (if you have not got one, maybe

this is the time to start one)

In your games book, build up a record of as many different games as possible, and a note of when these are played. This will help to avoid too frequent repetition of the same game, although on occasions such as this, when guests are present, the Colony favourite is always useful. Ask the Beaver Scouts which game they would like to play while the Group Scout Leader takes the opportunity to talk to the parents of the Beaver Scouts about his or her role in the Group.

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Discoveries On this day in 1522} the first circumnavigation of the Earth was completed. Ferdinand Magellen had set off from Spain on 20th September 1519 with five ships. Magellen was killed in the Philippines in 1521 and only one ship, the (Vittoria' completed the journey. This voyage proved that the Earth is round. Until then many people believed you could fall off the edge of the world.

NEW EXPERIENCES Activity l

You will need to have a good idea of activities that the Beaver Scouts have not done before, but which they might find exciting and challenging. Ideas might include:

- riding a bicycle

- lighting a fire

- tying a shoe lace

- keeping quiet for a minute!

Write your selected challenges onto a list, each with an appropriate illustration to help Beaver Scouts that have difficulty with reading. Give each Beaver Scout a challenge card and ask them to complete as many tasks as possible in a given time. The more Helpers you have for this evening of activity, the better. .- -' . ­

ActivityDISCOVERY FORUM - .·1

Sit down with the Beaver Scouts and ask them what games, activities, visits and visitors and so on, they would like in the coming weeks and months. However, don't make any promises at this stage but assure the Beaver Scouts that you will try to accommodate some of their ideas into the forthcoming programmes.

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'-.A'i.~7'/ the world without bumping into land and to show them where countries such as Spain, Portugal, America, India

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and Australia are. Ask the

about any countries they might have visited during their summer holidays. Mark these on the globe.

A ROUND OF GAMES

Ask each Helper to organise a game for the Beaver Scouts involving a circle. This could involve hoops, quoits, or the Colony sitting/ standing in a circle and so on. Keep a record of these games.

ROUND THE WORLD

Use a globe to show the Beaver Scouts how you could sail around

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Elizabethan Nights On this day in 1533, Queen Elizabeth the First was born. During her reign, England is said to have enjoyed a (golden age'. Sailors such as Sir Francis Drake and his ship the (Golden Hind' roamed the high seas attacking Spanish galleons who were transporting gold from South America to Spain. Sir Walter Raleigh was one of the great explorers of the time, bringing tobacco and potatoes to these islands. He is also famous for having laid his cape over a puddle to prevent the Queen getting her feet wet. At the same time, William Shakespeare and his friends were entertaining the people of London.

AN ELIZABETHAN EVENING ­A Treasure Hunt

You will need for each Lodge: • A treasure map which is a map of

the area around the meeting place ­ideally a park or woodland r- showing where you have hidden some treasure e.g. gold covered chocolate coins

Encourage the Beaver Scouts to try to find the treasure) using the map as a guide. A Helper should accompany each Lodge. Add extra spice to this event by using natural

Activity

obstacles as challenges} e.g. ask the Beaver Scouts to 'walk the plank} along a fallen log or to climb two metres up into a suitable tree. At the conclusion of each challenge} give the Beaver Scouts a token to be exchanged for food and drink at the inn - a feast set up at the end of the evening. Ensure that every Beaver Scout receives some tokens.

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CAPTURED

You will need: • A blindfold trail set up by members of the

Scout Troop or Venture Scout Unit • A supply of blindfolds

Ask the Beaver Scouts to help each other to blindfold themselves and then guide them on to the trail. At the end of the trail, brief the Scouts or Venture Scouts to 'release them'.

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Give each Beaver Scout a number of sponges to throw at the target in the stocks. This should generate a lot of fun and laughter without anybody getting hurt.

BOWLS

STOCKSActivity --I

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For this, perhaps the most famous Elizabethan game, you will need:

• A tennis ball for the 'jack' • Six larger balls

Playing in pairs, each Beaver Scout bowls three large balls, each trying to get nearest to the tennis ball.

AT.THE INN

You will need: • A supply of refreshments

Set the fare out in an attractive manner, giving the Beaver Scouts the opportunity to 'buy' whatever they want with the tokens previously gained. You may need to adjust the token supply to ensure that everyone gets a similar amount.

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. All at Sea On this day in 1838, Grace Darling and her father, who was a lighthouse keeper, rode through a violent storm at sea to rescue nine men from the steamship, 'Forfarshire', which had been wrecked. Grace was awarded a medal for her heroism.

SHIPS INTO HARBOUR

You will need: • Two chairs and two blindfolds

Blindfold two Beaver Scouts and sit them on the chairs about 2 metres apart at one end of the hall. The remainder of the Colony sit at the other end. Explain to the Beaver Scouts that this game must be played in silence. Gradually select Beaver Scouts, who try to creep up the hall into 'harbour' by passing between the two chairs without being pointed at by the blindfold Beaver Scouts. Ask your Helpers to judge when a Beaver Scout is spotted. Any Beaver Scouts spotted sit quietly where they have been spotted.

MODERN SHIPS

You will need: • Pictures of oil tankers, container

vessels, cruise liners, warships, coasters, tugs and so on

Explain to the Beaver Scouts the various functions of these ships, where they come from and where they go to, what they carry and how they help others. If you have a seaman amongst your parents or friends, ask them to come and talk to the Beaver Scouts about their experiences at sea.

WATER SAFETY

Obtain leaflets from local authority swimming pools, sailing clubs, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents concerning all aspects of water safety. Show the Beaver Scouts a modern buoyancy aid of the type they would use if they were to go sailing, rowing or canoeing. Your water activities adviser will be able to help you.

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All at Sea

Activity ABOUT LIFEBOATS

Contact the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for information on '--"'I..;rt-.rI'/ lifeboats. Tell the Beaver Scouts how we in Scouting raised the

money to buy a lifeboat called The Scout. This operates from the harbour at Hartlepool. If possible, arrange for the Beaver Scouts to sit in a small boat, this could be either on a pond, a canal, a river, a boating lake, a swimming pool and so on. Ensure that the Beaver Scouts wear the correct buoyancy aids and that they are properly su pervised.

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SWIM NIGHT

You will need:

• Sufficient adult help • The Scout Association factsheet entitled Swimming

Arrange with the local swimming pool a time when the Colony can go swimming. Notify the parents and carry out the activity ensuring that all safety guidelines are adhered to.

Activity MODEL LIFEBOAT

You will need for each Beaver Scout: Using the illustration as a • A polystyrene tile ­ the kind that guide, use a sharp knife to

does not crumble as you cut it. cut the shapes from your (Balsa wood could also be used.) chosen material. Point out

• Felt tip pens. Pins • Drinking straw for the mast

to the Beaver Scouts that the model made from polystyrene or balsa wood

Cut the following shapes ­ will not sink.

Use pins to assemble

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Tubes On this day in 1841} the first collapsible tube was patented. Today} collapsible tubes are used for toothpaste} medicated creams} glue} paint} some foods e.g. tomato puree and cheese spreads} and many other things.

PACKAGES You will need for each Lodge:

• Pictures of products in different types of packaging e.g. milk in bottles or cartons, sweets in bags, cereals in boxes, toothpaste in tubes and so on

Sit the Beaver Scouts in Lodge lines and ask each Beaver Scout to be a different type of package. The game commences when you say 'I went to the shops and bought - a tin of cat food'. The Beaver Scouts that are 'tins' jump up and run to the end of the hall to select a picture of a tin. They then run back with it to their Lodge line and sit up smartly. When you call 'Fill the shelves' all the pictures should be returned to the end of the hall. See which Lodge is the first one back.

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TUBE DECOR You will need:

• Templates of various sizes of tubes • Paper or thin card • Scissors. Felt tip pens etc.

Get each Lodge to draw around the various sizes of templates. These could be decorated, maybe to illustrate a product, and then neatly cut out. Ask each Lodge to arrange them on a large sheet of paper to form an interesting pattern. Alternatively, these could be suspended to make mobiles. Comment positively on the different styles and ask the Beaver Scouts which they like best and why.

FUN WITH TUBES-1 You will need for each Beaver Scout:

• A piece of card 20 cm square .2 paper clips

Challenge the Beaver Scouts to stand the cards on edge - they will not be able to do this. You can show them how they can, by rolling your piece of card into a tube and clipping it top and bottom with paper clips to hold it together. You can now stand your card on end. Furthermore, if you bundle several tubes together with sticky tape, taking care not to squash the tubes, they will be capable of supporting quite a weight.

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> ~ A drinking straw is a tube with many uses.

:, :~:'--" You will need:--:>" ­ AC'tivity..;;:a.; ­ • Protective clothing" -m" "(1):­ • Card or paper. Paint

• Drinking straws

Give each Beaver Scout a piece

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Activity

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of card or paper and place a blob of paint in the centre of this. Using the straw, the Beaver Scouts blow into the centre of the blob to scatter the paint. Compare the results. Can the Beaver Scouts create an animal from the designs produced by adding pencil lines or more colours to the basic shape?

FUN WITH TUBES - 3 You will need:

• A drinking straw for each Beaver Scout

• Scissors

-~Show the Beaver Scouts how to make a musical instrument by flattening one end of the straw and then cutting the end to form a point. By carefully placing the point between the lips and blowing, a noise will be made. The-tone of the noise will vary according to the length of the straw and the force of the blow. The Beaver Scouts (and you) may need to practice. Of course, trumpets made from rolled up paper are easier and louder!

OTHER IDEAS WITH TUBES Use a chart to illustrate different sorts of tubes and contents that the Beaver Scouts are aware of.

Find examples of food in flexible tubing and have a tasting session. Examples include cheese and chocolate spreads, tomato puree, and so on.

Collect pennies in empty sweet tubes and then encourage the Beaver Scouts, with the support of parents, to open a savings account.

On the front cover of the binder of the Beaver Scout Leaders' Year Book, you will notice a group of Beaver Scouts having fun with a play tube. You could arrange something similar.

USEFUL RESOURCE The Know How Book of Paper Fun published by Usborne - ISBN 0 86020001 9.

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Pharaoh's Fun On this day in 1878 Cleopatra's Needle was erected in London on the bank of the River Thames. Cleopatra's Needle is an 18 metre high granite obelisk which was taken from Alexandria in Egypt. It weighs 189 tonnes and stands on the Victoria Embankment. It is 3,500 years old.

VISIT TO EGYPT Activity

You will need: • Pictures of pyramids, obelisks, examples of Egyptian

pictures, jewellery and so on ­ such as found in Tutankhamen's tomb

• Roll of wallpaper • Glue. Scissors

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Carry out some research and then tell the Beaver Scouts the story of the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb. After this the whole Colony could make a frieze on an Egyptian theme, including camels, pyramids and so on. The British Museum has information on ancient Egypt.

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ActivitySWEET OBELISKS

You will need:

• Marzipan • Food colouring • Icing sugar • Tin foil or grease-proof paper

Show the Beaver Scouts how to add a few drops of food colouring to the marzipan, /' .:.:~ kneading it in well. When this has been , achieved, the Beaver Scouts can cut the marzipan into small pieces and shape each into an obelisk. The use of icing sugar will prevent the marzipan from becoming too sticky! To obtain a special finish, the shapes could be coated with melted chocolate and then stood on the foil or grease-proof paper to set.

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OBELISK PAPER WEIGHT

You will need: • Quantities of plain flour • Salt. Water. Paint. Varnish • Tin foil or grease-proof paper

Mix the flour, salt and water together to make a firm dough. Give each Beaver Scout a quantity of dough to use to shape into an obelisk. These could then be baked in an oven on a low temperature until dry. The following week, these can be painted and then, when dry, varnished to give a glazed effect. However, this procedure will take time and the Beaver Scouts will need to be patient.

EGYPTIAN BADGES ".•,tl l /', •

You will need: ~~~f~u·..rIPf~;~ir, F~• Modelling clay - there

are several brands ~_ £. \ i ~ '. ~ .,,/f/'.available )~ .\\~mnI/J.._ ~ • Cocktail sticks

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. ~• Varnish. Glue "---­Show the Beaver Scouts how to shape the modelling clay into oblong tablets approximately 3 cm wide by 6 cm long and half a centimetre thick. Using the cocktail sticks, encourage the Beaver Scouts to draw Egyptian shapes on one side of the tablets. These could be obelisks, pyramids, birds, heads or hieroglyphics. It is quite likely that ancient Egyptians would have drawn onto clay tablets using a similar method. When the Beaver Scouts have done this, bake the shapes in an oven according to the manufacturer's directions. When dry and cold, the shapes can be varnished and the brooch pins glued to the undecorated side.

THE CROCODILE Do you know the traditional camp fire song about the crocodile being

The music and words are printed at the end of the page. A camp fire leader ,- . l1ler day,

lovely sulll will help you with the She sail'd awa¥~~r~codi\e. e as tallle can be, On the bac\<. o. "He's as tallltune and the actions that

" said she, ." d bye "You see,. wn the 1'1I1e. waved gOO - ,accompany the words. I'll ride hl~ d~d his eye as the lady

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Detectives

Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. She also wrote The Mousetrap which has become the longest running play in London, having its first performance in 1952, with Richard Attenborough and Sheila Syms as the stars. What a programme!

On this day in 1890, Agatha Christie was born. She became famous for writing crime and detective stories. Two of her most successful characters were

WHO'S DEAD~ Game You will need:

• A blanket

Divide the Beaver Scouts into two groups. One group, the detectives, leave the room for a short while or stand at the far end of the hall with their eyes closed.

return and have to guess who is lying under the blanket. The two groups then change over.

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Meanwhile, one of the remaining group lies on the floor and is covered with the blanket ­ the 'murder victim'. When ready, the detectives

MANHUNT Activity You will need:

• A trail laid by a Leader or a Scout

Use some tracking or agreed signs that the Beaver Scouts know and some written clues. Divide the Colony into small groups, each with an adult Helper. Following the trail, see which Lodge can find the 'criminal' at the end of the trail.

CHANGES Arrange with your Helpers that certain things will be different, or altered, during the course of the meeting. For example, one Helper may change their clothing, wear a moustache, wear glasses or start to walk with a limp. Within the meeting place, pictures or items of furniture may be moved around. You may even call people by different names. Acknowledge any Beaver Scouts who notice the changes. Talk about it at the end of the evening and see whether all the changes and alterations were actually noticed. How did the Beaver Scouts react to these changes?

Activity

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FINGERPRINTSAc,tivity You will need for each Lodge:

• Magnifying glass • Ink pads or pieces of felt

soaked in poster paint • Coloured card (yellow is best

with black ink)

Working in Lodges, show the Beaver Scouts how to make a fingerprint by rolling their fingertips in the ink pad and then pressing firmly onto the card. Let each Beaver Scout make their fingerprints and label them with their names. Use the magnifying glass to study different patterns in each fingerprint. Explain to the Beaver Scouts that no two people have the same fingerprint.

Activity NOTEPADS - every detective needs one

You will need for each Beaver Scout: • Card for a cover - AS size • Some AS sheets of paper • Felt tip pens or crayons • Staples. Glue

_..' ~ . • Coloured shapes for decoration

Encourage each Beaver Scout to be creative in designing the front cover of their notebook. When they have

completed this, give them some sheets of AS paper that can be stapled to their cover. During the following week, they can use this notepad to jot down any special activities that they have taken part in. This can be shared with the rest of the Colony the following week using their notepad as a prompt.

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WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE A DETECTIVE STORY

You will need: • A Helper who can write quickly • Paper and drawing materials

Working as a Colony, decide on the outline of a story. Work with the Beaver Scouts to develop the idea in any way they wish. The writer should make notes so that the Beaver Scouts can refer to them later.

Ask the Beaver Scouts to draw a picture to illustrate any part of the story. At the end of the meeting, collect the notes and drawings and arrange for the story to be typed. Once typed, add copies of the illustrations at appropriate stages. Make copies for each Beaver Scout.

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Flying High This day commemorates the Battle of Britain in 1940, when the Royal Air Force defended Great Britain against the Luftwaffe who were trying to invade Britain. The battle in the air began in August 1940 and lasted for several months. Much has changed since that time. We have become firm friends and allies of the Germans and European nations are le-arning to live and work together.

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MAKING FRIENDS

Scouting helps young people to live and work together. All over the World the left handshake is recognised as a symbol of Scouting.

"------ Explain to the Beaver Scouts that, traditionally, warriors carried their shields in their left hand and held a spear or sword with the right. Baden-Powell noticed that when native warriors met, they shook hands with the left hand which meant that they both had to trust

each other enough to put their shields down. When Scouts meet, they use the left handshake. Ask the Colony to move freely around the hall and when they meet another Beaver Scout or a Leader, they hold each other's left hand and say 'I like you because ... '. Ensure that everybody has something nice said about them.

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Activity

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MODEL AIRCRAFT

You will need:

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• The Know How Book of Flying Models published by Usborne - ISBN 0 86020 007 8

As a team, look through this resource - and any other that you may find in your library or the local book shop - and select suitable models for the Beaver Scouts to make and fly. At your next planning meeting, you can experiment before trying the ideas with the '-.---' Colony.

OTHER IDEAS

Visit a local museum to look at exhibits concerned with the 1940s.

Invite a pilot to the Colony meeting to talk about flying.

Contact the nearest Air Scout Group or Air Training Corps.

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Savings On this day in 1861~ the Post Office Savings Bank was introduced. Gather information about the Post Office Savings Bank and talk to the Beaver Scouts about it.

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MAKE A MONEY BOX Activity

You will need:

• Cardboard tube • Piece of thick card 9 cm diameter • Piece of thin card 7.5 cm diameter .Glue

• Sticky tape • Black and red paint

Help the Beaver Scouts to cut slits 1 cm long, evenly around one end of the tube. Bend the resulting flaps outward and glue or tape firmly to the thick card to form the base. At the other end, make two parallel cuts 2 cm long and 3.5 cm apart. Fold the flap along the dotted lines shown in Diagram A and tape into position as in Diagram B. Show the Beaver Scouts how to make a shallow cone from the centre of the thin card, by cutting a slit to the centre and gluing the two edges together, overlapping them slightly as in Diagram C. To complete the money box, the Beaver Scouts glue the cone to the top of the tube. When the glue has dried, paint the top and base black and the main part of the money box red.

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EARN IT

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• A Helper to be paymaster

Game

Activity

You will need for each Lodge:

• Play money or similar (about £200)

• A set of skittles • Balls or bean bags

• Plastic bag to put money into

Share out the money so that each paymaster has the same amount. Money is earned by knocking down skittles, therefore you will need to decide in advance how much each skittle will be worth. On the signal 'go' each Beaver Scout takes it in turn to try and knock down the skittles with the balls or bean bags. Those who succeed, collect the appropriate amount of money and take it to their Lodge's purse. The winning Lodge is the first one to have earned all its allocated money.

SPEND SOME

You will need: • Pictures of snacks and various food items,

suitably priced • Tokens indicating various denominations of money­

or money from 'Earn It' • Bag to represent the Savings Bank

Give each Lodge the same amount of money to spend on food for a picnic, the choice to be made from those foods displayed. In Lodges, the Beaver Scouts have to agree on what is chosen. After they have bought their food, discuss with the Beaver Scouts the choices made. Was it the best value for money? The money left from this activity goes into the purse - one purse per Lodge. Before the end of the meeting, ask each Lodge how much of the remaining money earned they would like to spend and how much they would save. Place the money to be saved into the Savings Bank bag. At the end of the meeting, add all the Colony savings together to discover how much the Colony has saved to date.

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POTATO AND SPOON RACE Game

You will need for each Lodge:

• A large spoon • Supply of potatoes

• Bucket

Organise the Colony into Lodge lines at one end of the hall and place the bucket at the other end. On the word 'go' the first Beaver Scout scoops up the potato in the spoon and runs with it to the bucket and drops it in. Each Beaver Scout in the Lodge has a turn. Be sure that the Beaver Scouts do not hold the potatoes in their hands.

POTATO SNACKS Activity

Try a selection of different forms of potatoes e.g. cold potatoes, potato salad, mashed potatoes, powdered potatoes, crisps, chips.

Mixed Veg On this day in 1879, the International Potato Exhibition opened in London. Exhibitions and competitions between plant breeders gives a great impetus to the development and improvement of flowers, plants and vegetables. Plant breeding used to be a laborious process based on crossing pollen from one flower to another or grafting a piece 'Of one plant onto another plant. The newer science of genetic engineering enables scientists to develop 'new' species at a much faster rate.

HOW A POTATO GROWS

You will need: • Freshly dug potato plant

complete with tubers (or a picture)

• Paper • Felt tip pens

Use the plant to show the Beaver Scouts how growth developed from the original seed potato into the shoots which bore the leaves and flowers and into the roots which have swollen into tubers (potatoes) at certain points. Carefully inspect the

roots for signs of insects. Talk to the Beaver Scouts about anything you find. Let the Beaver Scouts then draw their own version of a potato plant.

Activity

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You will need: e Large potatoes cut in half with

patterns cut into the open flesh elnk pads or trays of ink pads

or paint e Large sheets of paper

Show the Beaver Scouts how they can use the potato blocks to build up a pattern by pressing into the ink or paint and then printing onto the paper. You can also use cauliflower florets to add interest to the diagrams. Comment on their overall use of colour and design.

Game ~'~

POTATO MEN

You will need for each Beaver Scout: e Large potato for the body e Small potatoes for the head and feet e Cocktail sticks e Coloured shapes

Join in with the Beaver Scouts to make potato men from the materials' provided. Let each Beaver Scout give his potato man a name and describe what they particularly like about him.

PASS THE POTATO

You will need: eA potato

Arrange the Colony in a tight circle sitting on the floor facing inwards and with hands behind backs. Select one Beaver Scout to stand in the middle. On the word 'go' the Beaver Scouts pass the potato from one to another behind their backs. On the word 'stop' the Beaver Scouts stop passing the potato but keep their hands behind them, while the Beaver Scout in the middle has one chance to guess which Beaver Scout is holding the potato. Continue the game for an appropriate number of turns.

Activity WHAT WE'VE EATEN

Ask the Beaver Scouts to make a list of different ways they eat potatoes during the following week. Collate a Colony list and calculate which is the most popular method of eating potatoes.

Close the meeting with a suitable harvest time prayer of thanks, which the Beaver Scouts could write themselves.

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• Grease-proof paper • Felt tip pens

•Chocolate Surprise On this day in 1839, George Cadbury was born. He was a chocolate maker and founder of the garden city of Bourneville. Garden cities were ideal factory and living areas built by forward-looking employers who valued the welfare of their employees as well as success of their business. The Cadbury family are members of the Society of Friends, often "known as (Quakers' since one of their preachers in 1650 said that they should (quake at the word of the Lord'.

CREATE YOUR OWN GARDEN CITY Activity

You will need for each Lodge: • A packet of square biscuits

-I

Working in Lodges) let the Beaver Scouts design their own ideal community on the grease-proof paper. They can decide where the playgrounds and open spaces should be. Using the biscuits to represent buildings} each Beaver Scout puts in their own house. When all the houses are in place} the Lodge decides what other buildings are needed to make it a good place to live e.g. school} place of worship. With the pens they can draw in roads and footpaths and put names against buildings. Have a town planning display so each Lodge can see what the others have designed. Any remaining biscuits should not} of course} be wasted!

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Working in Lodges ask each Beaver Scout to describe his or her

Game "~

Activity "I

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favourite sweet or chocolate bar without using the actual name. The rest of the Lodge tries to guess what it is. At the end of the activity, make a diagram to show the most popular items.

CHOCOLATE EAT You will need:

• A clothes line or long string • One piece of string per Lodge • One small wrapped chocolate bar per Lodge

Divide the Colony into groups of three. Put the clothes line up so that the chocolate bars are suspended from it by pieces of string about 25 cm higher than the tallest Beaver Scout. Challenge the Beaver Scouts to get the chocolate bars down without touching them with their hands or standing on furniture. They can then share the bars if they succeed! They might try piggy back fashion or two Beaver Scouts lifting the third who pulls the chocolate bar down with his teeth. Ensure your Helpers are standing by for safety reasons.

FRIENDS

You will need: • A piece of white paper

13 cm x 45 cm folded into accordion pleats 4.5 cm wide

• Scissors

Tell the Beaver Scouts the following story:

A long time ago, a man who liked eating chocolate decided to build a factory so that he cou Id make enough to eat and have some left over for other people who also liked chocolate. His chocolate was very good and as more people wanted it he had to make even more, so he had to employ another man, who was called Fred. Still more people wanted the chocolate so he employed Fred's friend and then another friend and then another and another until he had so many friends working fm him that he had to build a city for them to live in.

As you are telling the story cut out the outline as shown and then unfold the paper as you come to each friend.

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Magnetism On this day in 1791) Michael Farraday was born. He discovered the principle of electromagnetism which led to the development of the dynamo) a means of generating substantial amounts of electricity. It is also the basis of the electric motor which plays such a very important part in modern life.

MAKE AN ELECTROMAGNET

You will need for each Lodge:

• Cycle lamp type battery • Length of single core bell wire • Steel bolt 6-8 mm diameter x about 7 cm long • Nut to fit the bolt • Crocodile clip • Sticky tape • Selection of magnetic and

non magnetic metals e.g. paper clips} coins

Before the meeting prepare the· . magnet as follows: ~=:::::~~

Fit the nut onto the bolt. Leaving sufficient length of wire at each end to connect to the battery} wind the wire tightly around the bolt as many times as possible - the larger the number of turns the greater the magnetic power. Holding the loose end firmly in place} wrap the bolt with a layer of sticky tape to stop the wire unwinding. Strip the insulation from the last 1.5 cm at each end of the wire.** At the meeting} tape one end to a terminal of the battery making sure that the two metals are in close contact. With the crocodile clip} clamp the other end of the wire to the remaining terminal to complete the circuit and create the magnetic field. The magnetic effect disappears if you switch off the current by unclipping the crocodile clips. Make the electromagnet in advance as far as ** and explain to the Beaver Scouts what you have done. Show the Beaver Scouts how the magnets work by picking up paper clips. Switch the current off and the clips drop from the magnet. Magnets work on iron and steel. Metals such as aluminium cannot be picked up by magnets. Collect together a variety of items and let the Beaver Scouts discover which things are ferrous (i.e. contain iron) and which are not. Large electromagnets are used in industry where metal is picked up by a magnet} moved and dropped when the current is switched off. You might see one at a local scrap yard. Try to visit a reclamation plant to see a big electromagnet in action.

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Magnetism

Activity MAGNETIC FIELDS

You will need for each Lodge: .

• A plastic tray • Iron filings • Two or three different shapes of magnet

e.g. horseshoe, bar, disc.

Stand the tray on blocks so that the Beaver Scouts can get their hands underneath, holding the magnets. Tip some iron filings onto the plastic tray. The Beaver Scouts can experiment to see how the filings react to having the different shapes of magnets held beneath the tray. Encourage them to draw the patterns formed by each magnet. Try putting two under at once to see if one is stronger than the other.

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Game MAGNETIC BEAVERS

To play this game, the Beaver Scouts hop around the hall. Nominate one Beaver Scout as the magnet. When the magnetic Beaver Scout touches another Beaver Scout, that Beaver Scout sticks to the magnet. The game continues until all the Colony has been magnetised.

Game

Resource ~ ...

TUG OF WAR

Sometimes it is difficult to separate two magnets. A tug of war is similar to trying to pull them apart. You will need a strong rope. Mark lines on the ground near the centre of the rope and tie a ribbon onto the middle of the rope. Divide the Colony in half, each half to pull on one end of the rope. Start with the ribbon in the centre. The winner is the side that pulls the ribbon over the line nearest them.

USEFUL RESOURCES

The Usborne First Book of Science ISBN-O-86020-9180.

The Know How Book of Batteries and Magnets ISBN-O-86020-008 6.

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Equilibrium

It is known as the Autumnal Equinox.

,,--_

PAIRS You will need:

• Scales. Pencils • Measuring stick. Paper

Challenge the Beaver Scouts to find somebody who:

- weighs the same as themselves

- is the same height as themselves

- has the same colour eyes as they have

- wears the same size shoes as they wear

You can no doubt think up some other categories.

The Beaver Scouts can then write down the name of their partner for each pairing.-B BALANCING ­ 1

Activity

Activity

On this day, the sun crosses the equator on its way south, so day and night are exactly equal in length.

. .

~ You will need:

• ~"" • A long bench or a low wall

;.:.~ Help the Beaver Scouts to walk ~~w..(-.;;;;~.~ ==7)= along this obstacle. You could ask

~\~~~=::::::::=~i~~4:.=-=- the Scouts or Venture Scouts to ... - build a monkey bridge for the

Beaver Scouts to cross. This is a real challenge for all.

The Beaver Scouts on the ladder of the front cover of the Year Book were just about to cross a monkey bridge that was over 3 metres high.

BALANCING - 2 Activity You will need for each Lodge:

• A plentiful supply of building blocks • Piece of thin wood approximately 10 cm x 20 cm

Challenge the Lodges to balance the wood on one block and then to build two towers on top of the flat surface. See which Lodge can build the highest.

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Activity BALANCING - 3

You will need: • Gold and silver foil • Sun and moon shaped templates .Thin card

• Scissors • Thread • Metal clothes hangers

Using the materials provided, help the Beaver Scouts to make the gold sun and silver moon mobile. When these have been completed, hang them around the hall for decoration.

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BLACK AND WHITE PATTERNS

You will need for each Beaver Scout:

• A4 sheet of paper ­preferably coloured and divided into squares

• Black and white paper • Scissors

Explain to the Beaver Scouts how to make an exactly equal design using the black and white paper placed onto the basic sheet. An example illustration will give them an idea of what to do.

Activity

REFLECTIONS

Ask the Beaver Scouts to find a partner - one becomes a mirror and the other the person. The Beaver Scout that is 'the person' makes gentle limb movements or facial expressions, which the mirror has to copy. These roles can be changed after a short period.

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.:

Steaming On this day in 1825, the world's first passenger railway was opened. It was the Stockton to Darlington Railway, designed by George Stephenson, and its trains ran at speeds of up to 35 m.p.h. The steam locomotive was also developed by George Stephenson and his 'Rocket' remains the best known design.

GameSINGLE RETURN - ALL CHANGE

Arrange the Colony on one side of the hall. On the command 'single' they run and touch the wall on the opposite side. On the command 'return' they run to the opposite side and back again. On the command 'all change' they run to touch all four walls and return to their starting point.

STEAM POWER

Arrange for a Cub Scout, Scout or parent to bring a working steam engine (perhaps a Mamod model) to the Colony meeting. This would demonstrate how a steam engine works and should prove to be a fascinating toy for the Beaver Scouts to see moving about.

It was watching a kettle boil that gave James Watt the idea that led to his invention of the steam engine. Steam is fascinating. Contact your local Venture Scouts and ask them to demonstrate some suitable, simple and safe experiments using steam.

351

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V) Seek out the nearest railway preservation society and arrange a visit for Beaver Scouts and their families on a day when they are running steam trains. It will be interesting to see who is more enthusiastic - the Beaver Scouts or their parents!

Activity

1. Railway pictures cut into jigsaw pieces hidden around the hall. '-"N..f7>(7"~ Lodges have to find all pieces to complete their picture.

2. Tape recording of sounds at a busy station. Can the Beaver Scouts identify these. They could also be used to illustrate a story.

3. Anagrams of railway staff titles. Can the Beaver Scouts rearrange

GREAT TRAIN MYSTERIES

RAILWAY SING SONG

EUROPEAN TRAVELLERS

Seat the Colony in a circle with one Beaver Scout standing in the middle. Give all the Beaver Scouts the name of a well-known British or European town. When you callout 'Travellers between London and Paris', for example, the two Beaver Scouts with those names have to change places. If the one in the middle reaches the empty space before the traveller who should be arriving, they take that traveller's name and the beaten Beaver Scout stays in the middle.

the letters to find the hidden jobs.

Refer to a variety of song books and make up your own medley of railway songs for the Colony to practice and record. Play the

~~tf!Jrecordingto parents on a suitable occasion.

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Norfolk. The son of a Rector) he went to sea and became one of Great Britain's most famous admirals.

-,

The Admiral On this day in 1758) Horatio Nelson was born in

He was victorious at the Battle of the Nile and died during the Battle of Trafalgar. Amongst other things) he was famous for putting his telescope to his blind eye) thus ignoring a signal he did not want to see. He also sent the signal 'England expects that this day every man shall do his duty'.

MODEL VICTORY Activity

You will need for each Beaver Scout:

.2 empty match boxes or a • Card block of soft wood .4 drawing pins measuring 12 cm x 4 cm x .2 small paper clips 2cm .3 stiff drinking straws

• A template as illustrated • Felt tip pens. Scissors

Using the template, cut out two sides from the card. Let each Beaver Scout decorate these to his own design but you may wish to point out that the 'Victory' is mostly black and white.

Slide trays of match boxes 1 cm out and join two boxes together. Fix the cardboard sides to the boxes using the drawing pins, ensuring that you locate point (a) against the bottom corner of the matchbox. Join points (b) with a paper clip. Overlap points (c) and join with a paper clip. Cut out oblongs of card 9 cm x 7 cm for the sails and make holes as illustrated. Thread two sails onto each of three straw masts. Make three holes in the matchboxes to locate the masts. Mount the masts onto the model.

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353

PRESS GANG

The Beaver Scouts wander freelyaround the hall. Select two Beaver Scouts who are the press gang and must hold hands whilst trying to touch two more Beaver Scouts. Any Beaver Scouts caught by them join the press gang. As soon as there are four in any press gang, it divides into two pairs for the process to begin again. The game continues until all the Beaver Scouts become 'pressed men'.

Before the game, explain to the Beaver Scouts that in Nelson's time, very few people volunteered to join the Royal Navy and the crew of any ship went in search of additional crew members by using the 'press gang' method.

Activity ENGLAND'S WOODEN WALLS

The sailing ships in the British fleet were built of oak and became ~l~.N known as the wooden walls of England.

Go for a walk with the Beaver Scouts to a park or woodland and collect oak leaves. While you are there} feel how rough the bark is on an oak tree. See how many Beaver Scouts it takes to embrace an oak tree. How many different insects can you find in the leaf mould at the base of the tree? Can the Beaver Scouts find any oak apples? Could they plan to collect acorns from this tree when they fall and plant them in suitable containers to start them off?

LOCAL HEROES

Find out and tell the Beaver Scouts about heroes and famous people from your locality and take them to visit local memorials. You might ask the Beaver Scouts who their heroes are and why. Be prepared for a

- .... variety of answersl

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A Fair Cop On this day in 1829, the first Police Force was formed in London. It was founded by Robert Peel, the Home Secretary at that time, hence the nicknames (bobbies' and (peelers'.

ActivitySAFETY FIRST

In advance of the Colony meeting, prepare some simple maps of the roads around your locality. Together, go on a walk through the area covered by the map and marking the places where it is safe to cross and places where it is dangerous to do so. Ask the Beaver Scouts to explain the reasons why.", _

IN THE NICK

Arrange a visit to the local Police Station. Some of the Beaver Scouts may get put into cells for a few minutes - if you are lucky! Take care that the Beaver Scouts do not get worried or frightened by this suggestion.

-. : ".~: .

Invite your Community Policeman to talk to the Colony. They may have some publicity material to remind the Beaver Scouts about saying 'no' to strangers or other aspects of personal safety.

STOP THIEF

With the Colony standing in a circle, facing inwards, each Beaver Scout has a scarf tucked into the back of his waistband. One Beaver Scout on the outside is the thief and walks round and 'steals' a scarf. As soon as it is stolen, the thief starts running around the circle with the Beaver Scout who loses the scarf chasing and calling 'stop thief'. If the thief is caught, that Beaver Scout remains as the thief and the scarf is returned to its owner. However, if the thief gets into the space in the circle without being caught, the loser becomes the next thief.

Game ~~

355

Activity

-'-.,"

A Fair Cop

POLICEMAN PENCIL HOLDER

You will need for each Beaver Scout:

• Cardboard tube • Dark blue paper • Narrow strip of black sticky

paper • Piece of black card for feet • Paint or crayons for face • Foil for buttons and badge ·Glue

Cut the blue paper 2.5 cm shorter than the tube and use this to cover the bottom end of the tube. While the glue is drying, colour the uncovered tube and draw on a smiling face in the front. Colour the back brown to look like hair.

'-. +,

- .

Stick the black strip around the tube halfway round the blue section. Add a small square of foil for the belt buckle and three foil discs above it for buttons. Draw the collar of the tunic. Cut the feet shape and glue the body in position. (You may need to put a small book on top of the tube while the glue sets.) The Beaver Scouts may wish to cut a helmet shape, with a foil badge added, which can then be glued to the top front curve of the head to complete the policeman.

Activity IN ACTION Ask each Lodge to make up a short mime or play to show one instance of how policemen help the community. This could be controlling traffic, driving a police car and so on. Close the evening with the Beaver Scouts thinking about people in the community that they can trust and feel confident with.

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356

On this day in 1861} Sir William Wrigley was born. He was the famous producer of chewing gum.

GameSPLAT

Chewing gum is a sticky substance - so are splat balls which are available from stationers and toy shops.

You will need: • Chalk to draw a target or

a target board • Splat balls - one for

each Lodge or Beaver Scout

Devise a target or target area with score lines. Divide the Colonies into teams and issue splat balls. The Beaver Scouts are sure to be familiar with these! Each Beaver Scout aims and throws the splat ball and a score is made. Splat balls will stick to the target surface, but will also move of their own accord. Allow the Beaver Scouts time to observe this

phenomenon. A messier activity is to manufacture splat balls yourself using a stiff flour and water mixture. However, this type would be better used in an outdoor environment.

CHEWTHEGUM

Talk about the care of mouth and teeth. Invite a dentist or dental hygienist to visit the Colony or, alternatively, arrange a visit to a local practice. Give each Beaver Scout a piece of chewing gum. Chewing gum exercises the mouth and some brands claim to improve oral hygiene and dental health. What other ways can help? Chewing gum does not disappear or dissolve so this could spark off a discussion on what to do with unwanted litter. Ensure that you provide a way for Beaver Scouts to dispose of their chewing gum.

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WRAPPER ZAPPERS

You will need: • A piece of A4 card for each

Beaver Scout • Plastic or paper bags • Felt tip pens, paints,

crayons, staples, adhesive

• Sweet wrappers

Invite the Beaver Scouts to design a Wrapper Zapper poster and with staples attach a bag to the lower edge of the poster. The poster not only gives information but is also practical as it encourages litter to be placed into the bag. Liaise with a local primary school and ask if the Wrapper Zapper posters can be used there. It is also a good opportunity to promote Beaver Scouting locally. Remember to ask the Beaver Scouts if the posters were successful in preventing litter and to thank the school for its support. Could the Colony make badges to show they are wrapper zappers?

Activity

(

Activity THE GUNGETANK

Chewing gum is often left in unexpected places and finding it can ~vn<.rI be an unpleasant experience. Ask the Beaver Scouts what they

understand by 'gunge'. Can they describe a substance or food which they think of as 'gunge'. This activity is purely for fun and experience and could spark off discussion on the topic. Here are some ideas on 'gunge'.

Syrup, jam, jelly, tinned beans, tinned pasta, mashed potatoes, custard, flour/water paste

Place 'gunge' into bowls and invite the Beaver Scouts to touch and feel the 'gunge'. Either blindfold the Beaver Scouts or hide the bowls from view and explain to the Beaver Scouts that they are 'gunge testers'. Have a bowl of warm soapy water ready for handwashing immediately afterwards. Did the Beaver Scouts identify any of the substances? Can they Adescribe their feelings on touching the ~ 'gunge?' At the end of the activity, mix • \ any suitable edible items together ~ and feed to the birds or wildlife around your meeting place. Ensure W that it is safe to do this. c::: ":> c: ~ --_....._-.:...

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