WEBELOS

Showman

Everyone loves a show and most all boys have a generous chunk of ham in them and want nothing better than a chance to let it out. If you don't give them a chance under controlled conditions, they will take it when you least expect they want it.

The Showman activity badge gives them a chance to let out the hidden barely Shakespeare, Jerry Lewis, Leonard the Great or what ever happens to be their style. It allows them to express themselves musically be it kazoo or Steinway. Providing the entertainment for the pack meeting will be a challenge gladly met by Webelos Scout boys and the sillier the better!

The badge covers most of the field of entertainment and acquaints the boys with ways of putting on various shows or skits. Making the props also can be used as part of the Craftsman badge. Skits and Songs are covered elsewhere in the Bugle.

Every conscientious leader of boys is working to further develop the whole boy- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally so he will be prepared to take his place as a well-adjusted member of his social group. The Showman badge offers the opportunity for a boy to develop his creativity and broaden his base of aptitudes.

Den Activities

Drama

Putting on a play will let the boy's talents shine like stars.  The boys can write, direct, produce and even act in their own play.  The play can be a short skit or an elaborate one with props and scenery.  See the Webelos Scout Book for examples.

Music

How can a Scout have fun with music?  Well, if he plays an instrument at school, let him bring that instrument to a den or pack meeting to play for the group.  If you have several Webelos that play instruments let them form a band.  What is you don't have the luxury of store bought instruments?  Improvise!  Make you instruments form cardboard boxes, oatmeal boxes, rubber bands, tissue paper rollers, aluminum foil, rolled up pieces of tin, or just about anything; then let your boys have some fun.

While making instruments, your Scout can learn about music.  The Scouts can pretend that they are rock-and-roll singers.  Let them think up their own name and perform at the den meeting, or the pack meeting.  They can perform to recorded music and that way they don't have to really sing.

Puppets

Puppetry can offer a lot of fun for your boys.  Puppets can be made from just about anything.  Stage settings can be simple or elaborate.  For the shy boy, puppetry can be a means of expressing his talents while drawing attention to the puppet and away from himself.  This not only comforts the shy boys but affords them a chance to grow.

Skits

Writing a skit is not as hard as it may seem, though it does basically take some imagination.  A basic subject or plot, such as the some of the month, will get you started in the right direction.  Make tow skit fun for the Cub.  To avoid problems:

Keep the Skit Simple - Don't expect boys at this age to understand complicated plots. 

Keep It Short - (3-5 minutes).  A long, drawn-out skit will make the audience restless.

Avoid memorization - Keep the dialogue to a minimum.  Have the boys speak slowly and loud.

Use Simple Props - Props can be made from cardboard and signs can be put up to indicate scenery.  Costumes can be made by adding appropriate accessories to everyday clothes. 

Let Every Boy Participate.

Here are some ideas for skits:

Act out a favorite story, song or poem

Jokes (from Boy's Life even?)

Fairy tales

Nursery rhymes

Indian legends

Trip to the moon by astronauts

Satirize commercials

Soda Straw Harmonica

Cut a strip of corrugated cardboard with large corrugations, 8" long and 1 1/2" wide.

Cut 8 straws into the following lengths:

8 1/2", 7 3/4", 6 3/4", 6" 5 1/4", 4 1/2" 4 1/4"

Push the straws between the sections of the cardboard beginning about 1/2" from one end and leaving four empty corrugations between straws. The shorter the vibrations, the higher the pitch. To play, blow over the straws.

 

Face Paints

6 T's corn starch, 3 T's water, 3 T's cold cream, food coloring, 6 C muffin tin

In each cup of the muffin tin, put 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon each of cold cream and water. Add a different color food coloring to each cup.

 

Scrambled Words

These are all music terms or names of musical instruments.

Answers:

  1. COFISUMLK--FOLK MUSIC
  2. RUDM--DRUM
  3. LECOL--CELLO
  4. NILOIV--VIOLIN
  5. LETUF--FLUTE
  6. CEVOI--VOICE
  7. TARUIG--GUITAR
  8. MICERULD--DULCIMER
  9. HATUPORA--AUTOHARP
  10. JABON--BANJO

 

NEWSPAPER MAGIC

Announce that you can perform a strange feat.  You take an ordinary sheet of newspaper, lay it on the floor and have two people stand on it, facing each other.  Say they will be unable to see or touch each other.  Make you claim come true by laying the paper in the doorway, with the door closed.  One person stands on each side of the door.

NAME THAT TUNE

Record the first line of about 15 different songs on a tape player.  The Webelos who can correctly name the most songs wins.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Cub Scouts move around chairs as music is playing.  When the music stops, all must sit in a chair.  However, there is always one less chair than there are boys.  The boy not seated is out of the game.  This game can be done with partners holding hands and remove two chairs each turn.  This game can also be played without chairs by having the Cub Scouts sit on the ground when the music stops and having the last one down drop out.  To make it more interesting have them balance books on their heads and kneel when the music stops.  The last one down and anyone dropping his book is out.

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Cub Scouts form a ring, join hands and march around the room until the leader calls out a number.  The Cub Scouts must form smaller rings containing the same number as the one the leader called.  The leader (knowing the number of players) should call a number that will force some to be left out of the game.  The remaining players reform one circle again and continue until only two groups remain.

 

Webelos
(Tune: "Polly Wolly Doodle")

Oh, I worked real hard to be a We-be-los;
Growing stronger; getting smarter everyday.
Gonna earn near every pin there is;
Growing stronger; getting smarter everyday!

Chorus:
Joining in; having fun;
I will always do my best!
'Cos I'm proud to be a We-be-los;
We're a cut above the rest!

Oh, the Arrow of Light is my next goal;
Growing stronger; getting smarter everyday.
Then I'll move on to my Boy Scout troop;
Growing stronger; getting smarter everyday.

Chorus: