Wolf/Bear Den
Newsletter
February 2009
At Den Meeting
-We began working on the Science Academic belt loop & pin. The requirements are:
Complete these three requirements:
1. Explain the scientific method to your adult partner.
2. Use the scientific method in a simple science project Explain the results to an adult.
3. Visit a museum, a laboratory, an observatory, a zoo, an aquarium, or other facility that employs scientists. Talk to a scientist about his or her work.
Academics Pin
1. Make a simple electric motor that works.
2. Find a stream or other area that shows signs of erosion. Try to discover the cause of the erosion.
3. Plant seeds. Grow a flower, garden vegetable, or other plant.
4. Use these simple machines to accomplish tasks: lever, pulley, wheel-and-axle, wedge, inclined plane, and screw.
5. Learn about solids, liquids, and gases using just water. Freeze water until it turns into ice. Then, with an adult, heat the ice until it turns back into a liquid and eventually boils and becomes a gas.
6. Build models of two atoms and two molecules, using plastic foam balls or other objects.
7. Make a collection of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and label them.
8. Learn about a creature that lives in the ocean. Share what you have learned with your den or family.
9. Label a drawing or diagram of the bones of the human skeleton.
10. Make a model or poster of the solar system. Label the planets and the sun. (Completed Feb. 3)
11. Do a scientific experiment in front of an audience. Explain your results.
12. Read a book about a science subject that interests you.
The requirements in blue we plan to do as a den. The bold requirements we did at den meeting (Feb. 17).
-We explored and talked about the physical properties of Gak and Oobleck.
Gak recipe: 2 parts cornstarch mix with 1 part water in a zip lock bag till combined. Adjust cornstarch or water amounts until consistency resembles thin glue. Apply pressure and it becomes a solid. Release pressure and it becomes a liquid. CAUTION: Although this mixture is safe and non-toxic, it WILL NOT come out of clothing or carpet.
-We built water and salt molecules with gummy bears and toothpicks.
Looking Ahead
February 24 is Blue & Gold Banquet. This is our annual birthday celebration for Cub Scouts. Please invite and bring your family. We will be having a potluck dinner. Please bring a main or side dish to feed 10 – 12 people.
March 31 is Rain Gutter Regatta. We will be using recycled material to build little boats and racing them in rain gutters. We need your help collecting recycled materials. Items that work well: pudding & yogurt cups, small juice bottles, fruit cups, other small (and not so small) plastic or foam containers (like egg cartons). Please no Styrofoam (packing peanuts or molded Styrofoam. It’s very messy). Bring the items that you collect to the Rain Gutter Regatta.
Don’t Forget
Please remember that if scouts are not paid up to date on their pack dues, they will not receive awards. Please make sure pack dues are kept current so that we can give the scouts the awards they earn.
