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Webelos_AoL Adventures in ScienceAs of May 31, 2022, this adventure has been retired. The information about the adventure will remain here reference only.

Adventures in Science, a Webelos/Arrow of Light Elective Adventure

The Webelos and Arrow of Light Cub Scout Den Leader Guide says, “Taking part in this Webelos/Arrow of Light elective adventure will help Webelos understand and apply the role of fair investigations in science.  They will acquire and evaluate information using processes associated with science, such as experiments, observation, and note taking.”

Read on for this adventure’s requirements and links to posts that will help your Webelos complete Adventures in Science.

Requirements:

Complete Requirements 1-3.

  1. An experiment is a “fair test” to compare possible explanations. Draw a picture of a fair test that shows what you need to do to test a fertilizer’s effects on plant growth.
  2. Visit a museum, a college, a laboratory, an observatory, a zoo, an aquarium, or other facility that employs scientists. Prepare three questions ahead of time, and talk to a scientist about his or her work.
  3. Complete any four of the following:
  4. Carry out the experiment you designed for Requirement 1.
  5. If you completed 3a, carry out the experiment again but change the independent variable. Report what you learned about how changing the variable affected plant growth.
  6. Build a model solar system. Chart the distances between the planets so that the model is to scale. Use what you learned from this requirement to explain the value of making a model in science.
  7. With adult supervision, build and launch a model rocket. Use the rocket to design a fair test to answer a question about force or motion.
  8. Create two circuits of three light bulbs and a battery. Construct one as a series circuit and the other as a parallel circuit.
  9. Study the night sky. Sketch the appearance of the North Star (Polaris) and the Big Dipper (part of the Ursa Major constellation) over at least six hours (which may be spread over several nights). Describe what you observed, and explain the meaning of your observations.
  10. With adult assistance, explore safe chemical reactions with household materials. Using two substances, observe what happens when the amounts of the reactants are increased.
  11. Explore properties of motion on a playground. How does the weight of a person affect how fast they slide down a slide or how fast a swing moves? Design a fair test to answer one of those questions.
  12. Read a biography of a scientist. Tell your den leader or the other members of your den what the scientist is famous for and why his or her work is important.

The Webelos and Arrow of Light elective adventure, Adventures in Science, has the Scouts reading about a scientist. But sometimes, they have trouble choosing who. This resource gives them ideas of scientists’ biographies they can read. The list is great for all kids–not just Cub Scouts!

Read More about 17 Excellent Scientists’ Biographies Your Cub Scouts Will Love

This super fun way to make a model solar system uses toilet paper to show the distance between the planets. It’s perfect for Webelos and Arrow of Light Cub Scouts who are working on the Adventures in Science adventure. And that adventure counts toward the Swing! Nova award too!

Read More about How to Make an Awesome Model Solar System From Toilet Paper