PRE-OPENING ACTIVITY

Jigsaw Puzzle Ads
National Capital Area Council

Cut up full page color pictures from magazines. Have at least one puzzle per scout. As each scout arrives, hand him one to put together. If time permits, let the scouts exchange puzzles.

Who Am I?
National Capital Area Council

Make up a "Who Am I" card for each scout. This card has the name of someone who is famous or well-known in some field of communication -- past presidents, politicans, actors, radio personalities, etc. Tape one card on the back of each scout as they arrive (be sure the scout does not see the name). The scouts are allowed to ask each scout two questions which can only be answered with "Yes" or "No" as they try to guess "Who" they are.

Amazing Numbers

You will need a calculator for this:

Take the number of the month you were born,

multiply by 4,

add 13,

multiply by 25, subtract 200,

add the day of the month on which you were born,

multiply by 2, subtract 40, multiply by 50, add the last two digits of the year in which you were born,

subtract 10,500.

Notice anything funny about your answer

Story Box

Use already-made  boxes or boxes that Cubs have made themselves., let their imaginations go!  A Storytelling Box can also be done individually or as a group. It is a special box into which the following kinds of items, or combinations are placed:

Small, smooth stones (or ceramic squares) onto which words, signs or symbols are painted,or  written on.

Small, unusual objects (e.g. toys, things from nature, household items, small bits of clothing, coins, and so on).

Slips of paper or flat sticks with words or pictures on them.

Cubs work in groups of 3-5. The Den Leader can start off with a beginning, then allow one of the group members to "set the stage", or leave it completely up to the individual storyteller from the very start.

The first Cub begins by drawing out an object from the box without looking (the element of surprise makes it more interesting!) . The drawn item must be used sequentially in the story and stays out of the Box until the story is finished; i.e. it can't be put back into the box and exchanged, or saved until later in the story, or used again.

The story continues until such time as the Cub becomes "stumped", and pulls out another object.  This process continues until the Cub determines that the story is finished.

How Many Words?
York Adams Area Council

See how many words each person can find in the phrase “Did You Get My Message?”

Who Is It?

Give everyone a 3x5 card. Have them all write down 4 things about themselves that no one else in the room should know.  Have them put their name on the top of the card for future reference.  Collect the cards. Then pass out a piece of paper to each person. Read the cards one at a time and have everyone write down who they think the person on the card is. Then read off the correct results (the names from the top of the cards) while the they check their lists. The person who gets the most right is the winner.

Who Am I?

Take a pile of 3x5 cards and write down a name of a person or character on each card. These names can be seasonal (Winter: Cupid, Jack Frost, New Year’s Baby, Old Man Time, etc.) or follow a theme (Presidents, George W. Bush, Kennedy, Jefferson etc.). Then tape a card to the back of every person in the room. They must now try to guess who they are by going around the room asking other people questions about the name on their back. These questions must be yes-no questions (ex. Q. "Am I green?" A. "Yes") and only one question can be asked to each person in the room (to get everyone talking to everyone else). The first person to guess the name on their back is the winner.