GATHERING ACTIVITIES

Note on Word Searches, Word Games, Mazes and such – In order to make these items fit in the two column format of Baloo’s Bugle they are shrunk to a width of about 3 inches.  Your Cubs probably need bigger pictures.  You can get these by copying and pasting the picture from the Word version or clipping the picture in the Adobe (.pdf) version and then enlarging to page width.  CD

PATRIOTIC SONG PUZZLE

Great Salt Lake Council

Write the words to a patriotic song on strips of paper.

Let the boys put them in the right order.

Examples of songs include: The Star-Spangled Banner and America.

State Flag Maze

Oregon Trail Council

Copy this maze and enlarge it to fill a page

Paste your state flag over the Oregon flag if you wish

Have your Cubs solve the maze

Find answer at:

http://www.sos.state.or.us/bbook/kids/games/maze3.htm

Lost Landmarks

Sam Houston Area Council

Materials –

Pictures of landmarks in the United States (or name typed out), and

Pictures of the associated states (or name typed out) where the landmarks are found.

For example, the Alamo and Texas, Mount Rushmore and South Dakota, the Statue of Liberty and New York, Philmont and New Mexico, etc…

Directions –

ü   As Scouts arrive, each is given either a landmark or a state.

ü   Scouts must find their partners.

Do-It-Yourself Tablecloth

Oregon Trail Council

Materials:

Paper on a roll,

Crayons or markers;

Prizes, if desired

Directions

ü  Cover tables with white butcher paper.

ü  Divide each table into four to six sections.

ü  At the center of each section, write a large alphabet letter.

ü  Challenge each table to come up with as many names of American towns, cities, states, counties, attractions, etc., as they can think of that begin with the letters on their table.

ü  They write their answers on the paper with crayons or markers.

ü  Prizes can be awarded for participation, longest list, most unique items, etc.

Variation: Make placemats with large alphabet letters in the center. Each individual can play as above.

Map Puzzles

Oregon Trail Council

ü  Before the meeting, create map puzzles by gluing old maps to cardboard backing,

ü  Then cutting them into puzzle pieces with a razor knife.

ü  Give each family a puzzle to put together.

Capitol and States Boggle

Catalina Council

1.       Place all of the names of capitols of the United States in a container and have a cub scout draw out names until a grid 4 X 4 is completely filled up with letters of capitols or states.

2.       It would be best to do this game on a chalk or grease board so that it may be changed often and regularly.

3.       The object of the game is to see how many words the Cub Scouts can make up in a time frame of one minute.

4.       The cub that has the most valid words wins.

5.       Any words that are duplicated by another cub scout do not count - they cancel out each other.

6.       Keep this game going until all the 50 states and their capitols have been used.

7.       As one or the other is drawn say it out loud and see if any of the cub scouts can name the state to which it belongs.

8.       The letters have to be touching and no letter can be used more than once in one word.

9.       You can go diagonally, backwards, make angles so long as the letters are touching.

10.    The following is an example: Capitols or States drawn: Salt Lake; Denver; Colorado Your grid would look like this:

Here are some of the words that I found in the grid-salt, lake, den, vet, red, nerd, as, Ankle, alas, real, lad, leader, ten, etc.

American Heritage

Catalina Council

ü  Make posters of well known buildings or symbols and put them up around the room.

ü  Number each poster.

ü  Give each person a numbered piece of paper.

ü  Ask them to identify the posters and write the proper name by its corresponding number on the sheet of paper.

Suggestion are: American Flag, White House, Lincoln Memorial, Eagle, Presidential Seal, Uncle Sam, Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Stone Mountain, etc.

State Names and Capitals

Catalina Council

ü   Copy an outline map of the United States so that you have one for each Cub Scout or one for each person at the pack meeting.

ü   People should write the name of each state and it’s capital in the space for the state (or as close as possible to small states, with an arrow pointing to the appropriate state).

ü   After the meeting opens, reveal a large U.S. map for everyone to check answers.

ü   Give a prize to all who correctly identified the states and capitals.

Other Methods:

ü   Suggest that they write in any additional information they know, such as the state bird, flower, tree, song, or nickname.

ü   People write their names on the papers and turn them in.

ü   A leader or other adult uses a list, an encyclopedia, or other reference book about the United States to check the papers.

ü   Give a prize to the one with most correct answers.

AMERICA

Great Salt Lake Council

Write the word AMERICA down the page and write one word beginning with each letter that describes America.

Or do it this way -

American ABC’s -Can You Name Them?

Catalina Council

P   Give everyone a sheet of paper with the letters A to Z going down the left side.

P   Tell them to write one American place or thing for each letter from A to Z.

Or do it this way -

STATE ABCS

Great Salt Lake Council

Using maps and atlases, have the Scouts and families find one geographical location for each letter of the alphabet. Examples: Arizona, Baltimore, Columbia River, Denver, etc.

GRAND “NEW” FLAG

Great Salt Lake Council

P Provide boys with crayons and paper so everyone can design a NEW American Flag.

P Have them explain the symbolism behind their new flag.

AMERICA PUZZLE

Great Salt Lake Council

ü  Cut out large versions of the letters in America.

ü  Cut the letters into pieces creating a puzzle and

ü  Place the pieces in a bag.

ü  Give each boy or group a letter and have them put their letters together.

ü  Then as a whole put your letters together to form “America. “

Who, What, Where, and When?

Alice, Golden Empire Council

Display scenes from around the United States, pictures of famous Americans, or historical objects from American History – each one should be numbered, but not identified. 

As families arrive, they are given a sheet of paper with the numbers along the left side.  They must work together to identify each item by name or location.  

Which State, Which Motto?

Alice, Golden Empire Council

Can you match up these mottos with correct states?

Motto                                                                                   State

North to the Future                                                       Indiana

Live Free or Die                                                        Minnesota

The North Star                                                            Arkansas

Gold & Silver                                                              California

Eureka                                                                          Montana

Liberty & Prosperity                                                  Kentucky

The People Rule                                                              Alaska

United we stand, divided we fall                          New Jersey

The Crossroads of America                                West Virginia

Mountaineers are always free                                       Maine

Dirigo (I lead)                                                  New Hampshire

www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0801718.html has a list of all state mottos – be sure to include your own state in your game!

STATES LETTER GAME

Great Salt Lake Council

Give each participant or pair a paper listing the first letter of the name of each state in the US.

Have them write each state on the blanks.

Provide a blank map if this helps.

Spell It Out

Catalina Council

Equipment: Pencil and Paper

Directions:

1.       Give the Cubs a phrase made up of two or three words.

2.       From that phrase, the Cubs must come up with as many words as possible.  Challenge them by making them think of words only with “B”, or “S”, or “D,” or limit them to just three letter words or four letter words.

3.       Use a phrase that is common to your pack or den.  Perhaps:

INDEPENDENCE DAY or PRESIDENTS DAY

Famous Scenes – A to Z

Alice, Golden Empire Council

Give each person, family or den a paper with the letters A to Z along the left side –

Winner comes up with the most American scenes, such as:   Grand Canyon, Golden Gate Bridge;  Mount Rushmore, Monticello;  Statue of Liberty, Smithsonian;  Washington Monument;  Yukon, Yellowstone National Park