Nova Award Patch

1-2-3 Go! Nova Award
for Cub and Webelos Scouts


This award may be earned by Bear and Wolf Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts (including those earning or having earned the Arrow of Light).
Lion and Tiger Cub Scouts are not eligible for the Nova Awards.


Note that Cub Scouts working on the Nova awards or one of the Supernova awards in 2017 had two options:

Complete the award no later than December 31, 2017, using the previous requirements.
or
Complete the award using the new requirements shown below.


To see the requirements, with the changes highlighted, Click here.

For the previous requirements, Click here.

For the original requirements, Click here.


123Go! icon

This module is designed to help you explore how math affects your life each day.

Math and physics are used in almost every kind of invention, including cars, airplanes, and telescopes.
Math also includes cryptography, the use of secret codes.

  1. Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.
    1. Watch an episode or episodes (about one hour total) of a show that involves math or physics. Then do the following:
      1.  Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.
      2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
    2. Read (about one hour total) about anything that involves math or physics. Then do the following:
      1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.
      2. Some examples include - but are not limited to - shows found on PBS ("NOVA"), Discovery Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic Channel, TED Talks (online videos), and the History Channel. You may choose to watch a live performance or movie at a planetarium or science museum instead of watching a media production. You may watch online productions with your counselor's approval and under your parent's supervision.

      3. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

        Books on many topics may be found at your local library. Examples of magazines include but are not limited to Odyssey, KIDS DISCOVER, National Geographic Kids, Highlights, and OWL or owlkids.com.

    3. Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything that involves math or physics. Then do the following:
      1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.
      2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
  2. Complete ONE adventure from the following list for your current rank or complete option A or B. (Choose an Adventure you have not already earned.) Discuss with your counselor what kind of science, technology, engineering, and math was used in the adventure or option.
      Wolf Cub Scouts Bear Cub Scouts Webelos Scouts
      Code of the Wolf Robotics Game Design
    Option A: Complete both of the following:
    1. Conduct an opinion survey through which you collect data to answer a question and then show your results with a chart or graph. For example, what is the favorite food of the scouts in your den (chart how many like pizza, how many like cookies, etc.).
    2. Conduct and keep a record of a coin toss probability experiment. Keep track of at least 25 tosses.
    Option B: Complete both of the following:
    1. Interview four adults in different occupations and see how they use measurement in their job.
    2. Measure how tall someone is. Have them measure you. Complete in both inches and centimeters
  3. Explore TWO options from A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements for those options. Keep your work to share with your counselor. The necessary information to make your calculations can be found in a book or on the Internet. (See the Helpful Links box for ideas.) You may work with your counselor on these calculations.
    1. Choose TWO of the following places and calculate how much you would weigh there.
      1. On the sun or the moon
      2. On Jupiter or Pluto
      3. On a planet that you choose
    2. Choose ONE of the following and calculate its height:
      1. A tree
      2. Your house
      3. A building of your choice
    3. Calculate the volume of air in your bedroom.
      Make sure your measurements have the same units - all feet or all inches - and show your work.

      Volume = Length × Width × Height

  4. Secret Codes
    1. Look up, then discuss with your counselor each of the following:
      1. Cryptography
      2. At least three ways secret codes or ciphers are made
      3. How secret codes and ciphers relate to mathematics
    2. Design a secret code or cipher. Then do the following:
      1. Write a message in your code or cipher.
      2. Share your code or cipher with your counselor.
  5. Discuss with your counselor how math affects your everyday life.

The requirements for and further information about this award may be found in the current edition of the
Cub Scout Nova Awards Guidebook (BSA Publication No. 34032)

Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: Format
Word Format PDF Format

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the badge that includes these requirements.


Source: https://www.scouting.org/stem-nova-awards/awards/


Page updated on: March 16, 2019



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