|
Bill's Unofficial Cub Scout Roundtable
A compendium of Ideas For Cubmasters, Den Leaders and those who help them.
|
|||||
|
Home
About RT492Boy Behavior Blue & Gold Ceremonies Character & Ethics Cheers & Stunts Camping |
Dist & Council
Den Prog Plans Games Inspiration Jamboree 2001 Magic News Outdoor Fun |
Pack Admin
Pack Meetings Parents Places to Go Prepare For Scouts Projects Scout Links |
Songs
Stories 3 Magic Words Training Webelos |
|
| Pow Wow & Univ of Scouting | Good Turn For America | ||||
|
|||||||||||
Generally speaking, boys like certain kinds of projects. Here are some basic rules to help you choose projects that will go over well and contribute to their growth:
|
At this age, building projects help a boy in several ways: it stimulates his imagination, it develops hand-eye coordination, it enhances his ability to go from a mind's eye view to a physical creation. Use projects to build den game equipment, scenery and costumes for skits, camping gear and den snacks. Note how he holds the hammer — close to the head. It takes time for him be able to hold it better. |
|
|
Projects are activities where Cub Scouts make things that are useful: that is, the things fly, make a lot of noise, explode or help the Cubs do other neat things. Do not confuse Projects with craft: making things that are pretty or cute. Cub Scouts are not into pretty or cute. |
Tips from Scouters on-line.
I found one
of my pride and joys at a thrift shop. I was looking for an old tux jacket
with tails to use as a ringmaster costume for the circus theme pack meeting.
As I was looking this jacket leaped off the rack into my arms. Someone
had donated an old smoking jacket. It was Red with black satin trim. I
paid the $2, added eppalets(sp?), and that jacket has been more places
than I have. I ALWAYS get asked where I got it and I love to tell the story.
Chuck Dobbs
CT- Jan, WDL, Nederland, CO - Long's Peak Council
An old time method to blacken steel parts: gather berries from the Sumac plant, wrap them in cheesecloth and then put into a kettle of boiling water. Cook for a bit, then put in the parts to blacken- remove when satisfied with the color. To "age" brass hardware, degrease the component with lacquer thinner and use gun blue, available from any sporting goods store. It's cheap, the results are instantaneous, and it works well on nonferrous and some plated ferrous metals, and is safe to use. Finish the effect by stropping with steel wool to affect "wear" spots, and spray with a clear flat lacquer.
Let's start with a board, any board, any size, any shape. Let's use a scrap piece of common construction lumber (pine, fir, etc.). Now let's beat the livin' daylights out of it.
(LET'S WHAT?) That's it, beat on it. Hit it with the hammer, drag the saw blade across it, screwdriver. gouge, it with the tip of a Now let's lay some hardware, screws, nails, washers, nuts, scrap metal, anything on it. Now let's drive those into the wood. (Be careful here so parts don't fly). Oh, yes, don't forget to torture the edges too. If the board splits, this is a good time to glue it back together. Just try to keep the glue off of the face of the board.
OK, you did a good job. Now let's finish up. Pick off any loose pieces (or if they're large, glue them back). Sand the board all over, especially the ends. We want all the flat surfaces to be smooth. Medium sandpaper will do.
Now we cover the board with a dark oil stain. Let it stand for 5 minutes. or so, then wipe it off. Continue wiping until the stain is wiped dry. Buff it with a clean dry cloth. To reall1y bring out the color apply a varnish. (Satin polyurethane is great).
Well that was fun, but what do I do with it. Here are a few uses:
|
|
Two Rivers Cncl. Pow Wow 1979
|
It's not what the boy does to the board that matters, it's what the board does to the boy.
Bud Bennett
|
(Bear Elective 4)
AIM: To Introduce Electromagnetism.
TIME: Around 20 minutes.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Compass
Lots of wire with crocodile clips attached
Battery in holder
Nails
Paper clips
METHOD
Place wire (attached to battery)
over compass with the wire parallel to the compass needle.
Note direction that needle is deflected.
Note the similarity between the effect
of a magnet and the effect of a current in a wire on a compass. Use two
wires or a bigger battery to increase the deflection of the needle.
Coil wire around a nail to create
an electromagnet which can pick up paper clips. Give each group a nail
and a long piece of wire so they can make as powerful an electromagnet
as possible. Test the electromagnets by attempting to pick up paper clips.
The group whose electromagnet can pick up the most paper clips is the winner.
Explain why the current magnetizes the nail.
|
Bend a steel paper clip or short length of wire cut from a metal clothes hanger into the shape shown in the diagram. Magnetize the wire by stroking it with the pole of a strong magnet. Then balance the wire carefully on the surface of a penny so that it can swing freely. Make sure that you stand clear of the magnet or other metal objects The wire will swing around and point to magnetic north (or maybe south if you used the other pole of the magnet.) |
|
|
|
Some refrigerator magnets will work for this. Or you could use the electromagnetism method described in Elective 4 of the Big Bear Book. |
||
Collect a battery and a light of the same voltage (electronic supply stores have these), electrical wire, two brass paper fasteners, a paper clip and an index card. Use a hole punch to punch two holes in the index card, about 1" apart. Put a brass paper fastener through the paper clip and then through one of the holes in the index card. Put the other fastener through the other hole. Cut three short lengths of electrical wire and remove a small amount of insulation from each end. Attach one wire to the ends of one paper fastener and the battery, one wire to the battery and the light, and the final wire to the light and the ends of the second paper fastener. Show the boys the circuit and demonstrate how the light comes on when the paper clip is positioned to touch both paper fasteners. Tell them that the paper clip is like a switch. When it touches both paper fasteners, the circuit is complete and the light will come on. When it is not touching, the circuit is not complete and light will not come on.
Clean galvanized zinc nail
2 ft. insulated copper wire
X-ACTO or utility knife
Small flashlight bulb
Electrical tape
Cut your wire into two 1' sections and strip off one inch of insulation from all four ends of wire. Attach one end of each wire to the light bulb so that one end is touching the metal threads on the sides and the other is touching the metal cap on the bottom. Being careful that the two wires do not touch, secure them with electrical tape.
Cut two small notches into opposite sides of the lemon with your knife. Insert the penny halfway into one notch and the zinc nail halfway into the other. Be sure that the penny and the nail do not touch. Take one of the free ends of wire and tape it to the nail.
Now when you touch the remaining exposed end of wire to the penny, the flashlight bulb should give off a faint glow.
experiment with different fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits and limes. Rate the amount of light given off by each fruit battery. The more acidic the fruit, the brighter the light.
|
Related to Bear Elective 4. You need a six volt battery with two terminals, tin can, small flat file or emery cloth, metal shears, two wood blocks, bell wire, screws, and nails. Cut metal pieces from can, bend as shown, and remove sharp edges with file or emery cloth. Fasten to blocks with screws. Hammer In nails for the receiver. Wire as shown. |
|
In wrapping wire around nails, start at the top of one nail and work down.
Then go across to the other nail and work up. Have at least eight turns
of wire on each nail.
|
|
|
 |
|
This is a series of pinhole planetariums made from 12 ounce aluminum soda cans with pop tops. Make paper patterns by using the grid method to enlarge constellations below to 2½ inch circles. Note that these star charts are mirror images of how they would look in the sky. Mark the stars’ positions with pen or dark pencil. Tape each pattern on the bottom of a can. Use a small nail to punch tiny holes for stars. Decorate outside of can with contact paper and put constellations name over peephole. To view constellation, look through peephole toward strong light (not the sun.) For another way to make pinhole planetariums, see page 155, Big Bear Cub Scout Book Use a star map then to show Cub Scouts where in the sky to look for these constellations. |
|
Description: Construct A Balloon-Powered Pinwheel.
Materials:
Wooden pencil with an eraser on one end
Sewing pin
Round party balloon
Flexible soda straw
Plastic tape
Method: Inflate the balloon to stretch it out a bit. Slip the nozzle end of the balloon over the end of the straw farthest away from the bend. Use a short piece of plastic tape to seal the balloon to the straw. The balloon should inflate when you blow through the straw. Bend the opposite end of the straw at a right angle. Lay the straw and balloon on an outstretched finger so that it balances and mark the balance point. Push the pin through the straw at the balance point and then continue pushing the pin into the eraser of the pencil and finally into the wood itself. Spin the straw a few times to loosen up the hole the pin has made. Blow in the straw to inflate the balloon and then let go of the straw. Contributed by: John Hartsfield, NASA Glenn Research Center Edited by: Roger Storm, NASA Glenn Research Center
This a fun little den project, a little messy but the kids love it.
Material:
35 mm plastic film canisters. (Fuji brand works best.)
Alka Seltzer tabs
Water.
Fill the canister about 1/3 full with water.
Add a quarter of an Alka Seltzer tab.
Quickly place the lid on the canister, make sure it's on
tight and place - lid side down - on a flat surface. Stand back
and watch. About 5-10 seconds later the pressure of the released
carbon dioxide will blast the lid off and shoot the canister
about a dozen feet high. The water splashes about somewhat so
it's best done outside.
You can have the boys decorate their canisters to resemble rockets but I have found that the boys mostly look forward to the explosions and how high the rockets fly. If you really want to get elaborate, launch the rockets from inside silos made from sections of mailing tubes or pvc pipe mounted on wood boards. That way the boys can attempt to aim their rockets towards targets.
Extra Alka Seltzer doesn't add to the height very much. Vinegar and baking soda will also work but most leaders report that it doesn't work as well as the Alka Seltzer tabs. I don't understand why but that's what I hear.
You could usually get canisters at no charge from any photo processing shop. As digital photography replaces 35mm film, these canisters will soon dissapear. Hang onto your supply and pass them on to your replacements. Treat them like GOLD. SD cards make lousy rockets.
Bill
We used the plastic containers that Crystal Light lemonade comes in. You take off the wrapper and it's perfect for launching the film canister rockets. They can be reused over and over and over - unlike toilet paper tubes. Just set the container right on the ground. It will be fine
Sue Carter, Pack 1022
|
|
|
Partially fill the bottle with vinegar. Wrap a small quantity of bicarbonate of soda in facial tissue and put it in the bottle. Immediately put the cork in. Lay the bottle on two parallel pencils as shown. When the vinegar and bicarbonate of soda react, they form carbon dioxide. When the gas builds up, the cork will pop and the reaction will thrust the bottle forward on its rollers. |
|
|
|
You will need two small, light pulleys, scrap wood, dowel, string, paper, and pin or nail Use construction paper or poster paper for the pinwheel. Assemble as shown. Demonstrate by blowing fan at pinwheel, showing that this windmill performs work by turning the pulleys. Explain that wind power may soon be an important energy source. For a more elaborate windmill, see page 180 of the Big Bear Cub Scout Book. |
|
You will need a wooden spool or a length of dowel with a hole drilled through the center, another dowel, a 3 1/2 inch tin can top, and a three foot length of cord. Cut propeller from can lid with tin snips. With nail, punch two holes in center as shown. Put masking tape on sharp edges. Twist all four blades about 20 degrees. For the launcher, tap a long nail part way into the dowel and snip off its head. Put the spool on it. Tap two wire brads into the spool in positions corresponding to the holes in the propeller. To launch the helicopter, wind two feet of string around the spool, hold it overhead, and pull the string sharply. |
|
|
Material:
|
|
|
Construction: Tape the two short straws on the bottom of the box to house the dowel axles. Make a small hole in the center of each bottle cap wheel with the hammer and nail. Force one wheel onto each axle. Wheels should fit tightly. Put each axle through a straw on the box bottom and attach the other two wheels. Insert the long straw section into the neck of the balloon about 3/4". Secure with a rubber band. Poke holes in the box so that the straw can be mounted at an angle aiming toward the floor. Secure with a rubber band. Use: Blow through the straw to inflate the balloon, pinching off the straw to trap the air. Set the car on the floor and let it go. |
|
|
Materials:
Procedure:
|
|
|
When roller is used in a racing game, it can be adapted to higher age levels. When using larger marbles, adjust the size of the paper pattern. Average time required 20 minutes. |
|
Animatics
|
Materials: Board 3" x 24", 2 cans,
To play, hold the board in one hand and roll the ball back and forth. |
Trapper Trails Council |
|
1. Half a milk carton makes a natural boat. Rig up a sail with two straws and some paper- . . . or . . . |
|
|
|
2. A rubber band motor by slitting two small pieces of milk carton and fitting them together. |
|
|
|
3. Slip a rubber band across the center and a paper clip at either end. |
4. Attach the paper clips to the back of the boat by clipping them to another piece of milk carton glued to the sides. Glue them low so that the paddle wheel sits below the boat in the water and far enough back so that the wheel doesn't touch the boat. |
|
|
|
|
|
To Use: Put the boat in water. |
Twist the wheel and let go. |
|
What's the fastest boat you can make? Experiment with different types of sails, weights, and rudders to see what controls the speed and direction of sail.
Cut a 1/2 gallon milk carton in half from top to bottom. Punch a hole in the back or stern of the boat. Decorate or paint the boat with permanent markers or acrylic paint. Poke a balloon through the hole leaving the portion that fills with air to the inside of the bent. Blow up the balloon and set the beat in water. Watch it go.
 |
The surface of any liquid tends to contract. You can use this force to propel a small boat from cardboard or light wood. Put it in a bowl of water and place a tiny piece of soap In the notch. The boat will move. The soap has weakened the surface tension behind the boat and it is pulled forward by the stronger tension in front. |
|
JOUSTING
|
|
Make two teeter boards as shown (24 inches in diameter with 4 inch high rockers) from 1/2" plywood. Fasten the platform onto the rockers with wood screws and blocks. This can be a good project for parents with power tools Make the jousting poles from plumber's suction cups, soft rubber balls, and squares of cloth, or stuffed socks. Place the boards so that the players are just within reach of each other. |
|
|
|
|
These are good projects where you could enlist some den parents to help with the construction. |
|
The next two projects are from the Springfield,MO Library. They are from the collection of R. L. Elgin. by Kirsten Ksara and Vickie Hooper.
Check out this site! There are all sorts of awesome projects for boys that fly, spin, shoot and do fun things.
The photographs are from my collection of Illinois Cub Scouts — circa 1970s.
|
Whammy Doodle
Material The main part of the whammy doodle requires nothing more than a 9 inch stick and a knife. The stick may be whittled down to four sides but it isn’t necessary. Make notches in a line along one side of the stick. These will help produce the vibrations that cause the propeller to turn. The propeller is a very thin piece of light wood about 4 by 1/8 by 18 inches. You could use metal which is more sensitive. Nail the propeller into the end of the stick with a small nail so that it spins freely. There is also a secret to work them. Even though they are rather tricky to work with if you haven’t practiced, they are not hard to make. |
|
|
The object of this toy is to make the propeller spin, first one way and then the other. To do this, rub a small stick or pencil along the notches. The trick is how you press your index finger on the sides. "Just shift the pressure from one side to the other to change directions," said Mr. Elgin. "You can even use your fingernail for pressure." |
|
|
Ball and Cup The ball and cup toy is still popular today because it combines just the right amount of skill and luck to make it fun. The object of the toy is to maneuver a wooden ball attached to a stick by a string into a cup on that stick. This toy requires the following items: a small, wooden ball no more than one inch in diameter, about 18 inches of string, one or two small screws, a small cup of some sort and a stick about 8 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide with a small hole through one end. To assemble this toy, attach the cup facing upward on one end of the stick. Tie one end of the string through the hole of the stick and attach the other end of the string to the ball. To fasten the string to the ball drill a hole through the ball and tie the string' through it, glue or tack the ball to the string. |
|
|
To make the ball land in the cup, grasp the stick in one hand with the cup facing up and away from your body. The ball will hang down. Flick the stick so the ball swings up and, hopefully, into the cup. "Kind of give it a swing and catch it," was Mr. Elgin's advice. |
|
|
You need eight or 10 paper or plastic plates (nine- or 12- inch diameter), a sharpened pencil, two 1 inch sewing thread spools, and two rubber bands. To avoid leaving a trail of pencil lead marks, you could use instead a pencil thick dowel, pointed at one end by a pencil sharpener. |
 <
|
|
Find the exact center of the plates by balancing each one on the pencil's eraser head. Use a knife or scissors to cut small hole in the centers. Slip all plates on the pencil and push together low on the pencil. Slip the spools on the pencil above and below the plates. To hold the spools snug, twist rubber bands against them. Decorate top as desired. |
|
|
LAUNCHING WITH RIBBONS Wrap two 12 inch ribbons, one on top of the other, around the top's axle. Wind until two or three inches remain free. Keep the top vertical and pull the loose ends of the ribbons in opposite directions to set the top spinning. |
|
|
The kits are simply paper bags filled with odds and ends. Each kit, however, must have the same odds and ends. Each Cub Scout makes anything he likes with the materials. The project might be a space ship or racing car or a construction like nothing on earth. Parents may help but should not stifle the boy's imagination. |
|
This is a series of problems for which dens try to invent solutions. Three sample problems are given below but you can devise others. As a Pack Activity, run all stations simultaneously, with dens starting at different ones and rotating. Separate stations as far as possible, so dens can't copy other dens' solutions. Allow Cub Scout dens 10 minutes at each station, Webelos Scout dens eight minutes. As a den activity, five your den one problem each meeting.
Place a doll on the floor about eight feet from a line. Behind the line, have a pile of 18 to 15 three-foot garden canes or similar sticks, string, and scissors. Also have some decoy materials. Give the denner this message:
A child is in danger of drowning in this alligator infested river. Save her! Use any materials you see.
Possible Solution: Build a triangle or rectangle with the garden canes and string, maneuver it behind the child, and pull her to safety.
Scoring: Five points for trying hard, 10 for making the rescue.
Have an empty quart soda bottle standing on the floor. Nearby are a drinking straw, a length of string, and as decoys a wooden slat, a fork, and a length of heavy wire. Give the denner this message:
There has been an accident in which a powerful poison has spilled out of this bottle and down its sides. The bottle must be moved to the table as soon as possible. Do not touch it or you will be burned badly. Use any materials you see here.
Two Possible Solutions: Use the drinking straw as shown in the Lift a Bottle trick (page 64, Den Chief Handbook). Or make an overhand knot in the string, slip it over the bottle, and tighten it.
Scoring: Five points for trying hard, 10 for moving the bottle without touching it
Mark off a canyon on the floor. Place a coffee can inside the canyon, about eight feet from the edge. In a pile along the outside edge, have two 10 foot lengths of molding or other light strips of wood. Have other items as decoys. Give the denner a jacks ball or table tennis ball and tell him it represents a first aid kit. Also give him this message:
One of your den members is far down in this canyon. He has suffered a bad cut in a fall and needs first aid supplies. It would take hours to climb down to reach him where the coffee can is. Invent a way to get the first aid supplies to him quickly.
One Solution: Have den members hold the molding strips together to form a trough to the can. Roll the ball down the trough.
Scoring: Five points for trying hard, 10 for getting the first aid kit safely to the the victim.
CS Program Helps
|
The quickest way to get a child's cooperation is to ask for the child's help. PLBW |
|
1 quart dish detergent
|
9 parts water
|
4 parts glycerin
|
4 drops corn syrup
|
|
Experiment with these four recipes to see which one works best for you. Anything can be used to make great bubbles - straws for strings of bubbles, six-pack rings, funnels, loops of wire, string tied in circles, a Styrofoam cup with a hole punched in the bottom to blow through. Just be sure when mixing the solution that you mix gently. Theodore Roosevelt Council, Animates |
|||
Materials:
One postage stamp,
one piece of lightweight wood,
one piece of 3/4-inch PVC pipe,
paint,
glue
Choose a new or canceled postage stamp. Cut a piece of thin wood (about 2 inches larger in diameter than the stamp). Paint the wood a color that will look nice with the stamp. Glue the stamp to the front of' the wood. When dry, paint over the stamp with white glue to give it a shiny effect and to protect it. Attach the PVC pipe to the wood.
|
|
|
|
Your Cub Scouts may want to add to the din with these instruments. Use thimbles to play washboard. For even more noise add bike horn, bell or whistle. Kazoo has waxed paper over end of mailing tube fastened with a rubber band. Cut small hole near other end and play by humming Into open end. For finger drum, use a small plastic bottle. |
|
WHY CUBS COOKWhen your son advances to a Boy Scout Troop, he will use many of the skills he learned as a Tiger, Cub Scout or Webelos Scout. |
|
The Boy Scout Patrol Method requires that each patrol (a group of 6-8 Scouts) be responsible (amongst other things) for their own meals on camp outs. As a patrol, Scouts must shop for their own food, store it, carry it, prepare their own meals, and clean up. In order for his patrol to succeed, each boy must be prepared to contribute.
Typically, a boy will do most of the following things as he completes his Cub Scout activities:
This is all Big Time FUN!
There is a great article on Cooking with Cub Scouts in Scouting Magazine...
.Sea Foam Gelatin
2 large packages of Berry Blue Gelatin
Gummi Fish
Mix gelatin up according to the package, in a clear "gold fish" bowl. Chill in the fridge until the gelatin is thickened, but not solid. Stir in gummi fish.
Tropical Island Slush
5 Cups water
4 Cups sugar
One 12 ounce can frozen orange juice concentrate
One 46 ounce can pineapple juice
5 mashed bananas
Two liter bottles of lemon-lime soda
Bring the water and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat and cool. Add juices and bananas. Freeze. Take out of the freezer two hours before serving. Serve with two 2 liter bottles of chilled lemon-lime soda.
Submarine Sandwiches
Loaf of French bread,
sliced meats,
sliced cheeses,
sliced
fresh vegetables,
Italian dressing
Cut French bread in half. Layer on meat, cheeses, and vegetables. Sprinkle with Italian dressing. Cut into individual portions.
Trapper Trails Council, BB
Yes, I know it sounds crazy!! I said the same thing! The cups do not burn--trust me! The cookbook I use is called "Cup Cooking" by Barbara Johnson. It is distributed by Gryphon House, Inc. The recipes are done for individual child prep, so all kids can participate in all parts of the work.
The Dixie cups referred to are the 5 oz wax coated paper cups. And these are all cooked in a covered electric skillet. Of course, Safety reminders are made to the kids. So here goes...some of the favorites:
Gingerbread
3 T gingerbread mix
1 T water
Put mix in cup. Add water. Stir well. Bake in electric skillet at 400 degrees 15 minutes or until done.
Instant Pudding
2 T instant (not cooked) pudding mix
2 T dry milk
1/3 C water
Put pudding mix and milk in cup. Stir well. Add milk and stir for 2 minutes. Cool in refrigerator.
Peanut Honey Balls
1 T peanut butter
1/2 t honey
1 1/2 t powdered milk
Put peanut butter in cup. Add honey and then milk. Mix well. Roll into balls. Crush 5 Wheat Chex with rolling pin (I put them in a Ziploc bag & smash them). Roll balls in crushed Chex.
Laura Rosecrans, Marquette Heights, IL.
Cheesy Wiener Wheels
Spread small amount of tomato paste on a Ritz cracker.
Cut slice of cheese into 1/4's.
Place piece of cheese on cracker.
Slice wiener into fairly thin circles.
Place wiener slice on cheese.
Put on foil in electric skillet at 350 deg. until
cheese melts.
Baked Apples
Cut 1/2 apple crossways and then core.
Place apple cut side down in oiled skillet
Put 5 raisins in hole of apple.
Pour 1 t sugar in hole.
Sprinkle 1 pinch cinnamon in hole.
Pour 1 T water to side of each apple.
Cover skillet. Bake until soft at 350 deg.
Laura Rosecrans, Marquette Heights, IL.
To make fortunes for cookies, cut 4- by 1/2 inch strips of paper and write or type your own fortunes with non-toxic ink. Because you must work quickly to shape the cookies, it's best to make them one at a time. Using more than one baking sheet is also helpful because you won't have to waste time waiting for the baking sheet to cool. A liquid measuring cup or deep heavy bowl is a good tool for shaping the cookies.
1 large egg white
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped sliced almonds
fortunes
Preheat oven to 400°F. and butter a large round area (about 6 inches) in middle of a baking sheet.
In a small bowl whisk egg white just until foamy. Add flour, sugar, almonds and a pinch salt and beat until smooth. Put 2 teaspoons batter on buttered area of baking sheet and with back of measuring spoon spread batter evenly into a round about 3 inches in diameter. Bake cookie in middle of oven until golden around edge but pale in center, about 5 minutes.
Working quickly, with a spatula remove cookie from baking sheet and invert onto a work surface. Put a fortune in middle of cookie and fold cookie in half. Bend pointed edges of cookie toward each other and hook them onto rim of a liquid measuring cup or deep heavy bowl to cool completely. Make more cookies with remaining batter in same manner, letting baking sheet cool between cookies.
Cookies may be made 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container. Makes about 8 cookies.
|
CHEESE APPLAUSE Grate, grate, grate! |
QUICK PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE
For each Scout:
1 1/4 Tbsp margarine 2 Tbsp Karo red label syrup (light)
1 1/2 Tbsp Peanut Butter (creamy or chunky) 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar
2 Tbsp chopped nuts
Blend margarine, corn syrup peanut butter, salt and vanilla in mixing bowl. Stir in confectioners sugar gradually. Turn onto board and knead until well blended and smooth. Add nuts gradually, pressing and kneading into candy. Press out with hands into square 1/2 inch thick. Cut into serving pieces. Makes 1/2 pound fudge per scout.
Make for fun or make as gift for parents. Wrap in saran and decorate with ribbon or make a special decorated boy or candy dish to put fudge in. Remind scouts to refrigerate once the gift is taken home.
Northwest Suburban Council
COMPUTER VIRUS SNACKS
Serve crisp rice cereal treats or plain cup cakes. Decorate with frosting, raisins, gum drops, red-hots, and/or M&Ms to look like computer viruses. Serve brownies or square cookies. Decorate with above materials to look like floppy disks.
As an alternative to Design Your Computer (above), provide graham crackers, frosting, and candies, and have boys build their own "eatable computers" similar to gingerbread houses.
Make fruity popcorn. Requires 8 cups fresh, hot popcorn; 1/3 cup melted butter or margarine; 1 package Jell-O (any flavor). Put popcorn into a large paper sack, pour in margarine or butter, close bag, and shake well. Open bag and sprinkle in sprinkle in Jell-O. Shake well and serve.
MAKE YOUR OWN MAGIC RAINBOw
Milk is the main ingredient in this exciting science trick. It will entertain you with a swirling display of colors and patterns that will last for several minutes. You can repeat this trick many times, and each time the results will be different. Just like a kaleidoscope, the design will change right before your eyes.
Materials needed: a shallow dish or pie plate, one cup of whole milk, food coloring (red, blue and yellow or 3 colors of your choice), a few drops of liquid dish detergent.
Pour the milk into a shallow dish and let it sit until it has warmed to room temperature. (The experiment will not work quite as well if the milk is cold.) Squeeze several drops of food coloring into different areas of the dish. Alternate colors for best results.
Hold the bottle of liquid dish detergent over the dish and squeeze gently so that a few drops of detergent will drip into the milk.
Like magic, the milk will start churning and swirling, mixing the colors into beautiful designs. The swirling will continue for about 5 to 10 minutes, gradually slowing down. Adding a few more drops of detergent will make it last longer.
Explanation: This experiment works because the detergent will not mix with the milk, so it "pushes" the milk out of the way, causing it to swirl. swirling action mixes the food coloring to make the rainbow of colors.
One final reminder: When you have finished the experiment, dump the rainbow milk down the sink drain so no one drinks it.
|
Use pint glass jar with metal top. Cut dasher from piece tin can and fasten to dowel with small nails above and below it. |
|
A half-pint of whipping cream will make one third cup of butter. Put cream in the churn. Let the boys take turns moving the dasher up and down. After 20 to 30 minutes, butter will begin solidifying on the dasher. Shake until the small bits form one larger piece. Pour off the buttermilk.
With a wooden spoon, stir and press butter to remove excess water. Rinse butter with tap water to remove more water and keep the butter from tasting sour. If the finished product is too sweet, blend in a pinch of salt.
|
How about a March cook-out with your den? This is real Scouting stuff! It will take a bit of planning, some extra parent help and some luck with the weather, but it will be worth it to the boys. |
Foil pack cooking is a great way to introduce novices to the world of outdoor cooking. They are easy to prepare, great to eat, and simple to clean up after. They can be prepared in advance-at a den meeting-frozen, and then thrown right on the fire at camp. There are probably hundreds of great recipes around, but they all use the same basic concept. The pack needs to be sealed tightly-a "drug-store" fold- to hold in the moisture, turned several times during cooking, and the actual recipe can be just about whatever you want it to be.
|
Use two layers of light-weight, or one layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. Use heavy foil squares, three times the width of the food. |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Place food in the center of the foil square. |
Fold opposite sides up together |
Make a seal by folding the two edges together. |
Continue the folding until it is tight agaist the food. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Press the ends down to seal the foil and force out most of the air. |
Fold the ends to form triangles to form a tight seal. |
Fold the triangle ends up over the top of the wrap. Make sure ther are no holes in the foil so that juices will not leak out. |
Place on a shallow bed of glowing coals that will last the length of cooking time. |
Cooking Times:
Hamburger: 8-12 minutes,
Carrots: 15-20 minutes
Chicken pieces: 20-30 minutes,
Whole Apples: 20-30 minutes
Hot dogs: 5-10 minutes,
Sliced potatoes 10-15 minutes
PIZZA
This is a great kid's meal. Use a half English Muffin as a crust. Apply a thin coating of your favorite Pizza Sauce and cover it with your choice of toppings:
Cheese, shredded mozzarella works well here.
Meat, I found that pepperoni works best.
Veggies - needed for moisture in the cooking.
Sliced onions and mushrooms, diced green peppers.
Whatever extras your kids love.
Wrap in foil and cook over coals for about 10 minutes.
Lay slices of potatoes, onion, and carrots on a sheet of heavy-duty foil then place hamburger patty on top. Cover with slices of potato, onion, and carrots. Season with butter, salt and pepper. Cook 20-30 minutes over hot coals, turning twice during cooking.
Jess Olonoff, With
Thanks to The Indian Nations Council Pow-Wow Book
Several people have recommended starting your foil meal with a cabbage leaf as the bottom layer. It provides moisture and keeps everything else from sticking to the foil.
BAKED APPLE -
Core an apple, and place it on a square of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Fill hole with raisins, brown sugar, and a dash of cinnamon. Wrap foil around apple and bake over hot coals for 10 minutes.
George Rogers Clark Council Pow Wow
BANANA BOATS
Partially slice through a banana from end to end so that it can be formed into a canoe shape. Fill the "canoe" with chocolate chips and miniature marshmellows (or any other festive food.) Wrap the banana in two layers of foil and cook over foil for about ten minutes.
CINNAMON SIPPIN' CIDER
[ Serve after an outdoor activity]
In a saucepan combine 3 cups apple juice, 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail, and 8 inches of stick cinnamon. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon. Serve warm or chilled. Makes four 8 oz. servings.
BB
Bannock was the staple scone type bread made by settlers and trappers over open fires.
Made properly, with the addition of butter/margarine and fresh berries or preserves, along with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea, served in the middle of the bush, just this side of nowhere, can make even the most up-tight Scouter almost mellow.
SCOUTER JIM'S BANNOCK
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbs. baking powder
1/2 tbs. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup water (almost)
Mix all dry ingredients together, making sure that all are mixed well. Cut in margarine or butter, using a pastry knife. Place result in a sandwich sized Baggie.
At the campsite, pour out dried ingredients into bowl. Add enough water to make a soft dough. Bake dough carefully until golden brown, using mess kit pot with a handle and lid.
Makes enough to split evenly between one Scouter and one Scout. To avoid incessant whining by the Scout about him not getting his 'fair share', ensure that the Scout has his own Baggie of bannock, thereby making the portion that the Scouter has to consume a lot larger, making him a lot more happier and a lot more mellow.
Substitutions for Wussies:
Liquid: Milk is the best substitution for the water in this recipe. It does make a difference in the flavor and texture of the bannock. Next best substitution is a water/powdered milk combination.
Campfire:
Lacking the ability to build a campfire in the middle of your
kitchen, you can bake this recipe at 425 degrees F (220 degrees
on the 'other' scale) for about 20-25 minutes. Top should be
lightly browned to achieve some sort of mellowness when
consuming.
Other Methods of Making Bannock:
On a Stick or Twist Method:
>Ensure that the fluid added just makes a ball of almost
sticky dough. Roll the dough into a long, flat rope. Spiral
the dough around a green stick and place over camp coals.
Remove all embers and ashes before consuming. Remember that
Scouts do not cut green sticks from living trees.
In a Pan:
Add more fluid to the dry mixture, and flatten out. Place
in a frying pan over hot coals. Cooks much similar to a doughy
pancake.
In aluminum foil:
Use at least two layers of foil. Before you add the dough
to the foil, make sure that you add butter/margarine to the foil.
Fold the foil around the dough, leaving room for expansion.
Place near hot coals, turning occasionally.
Other sources of Bannock information:
Morton's Recipe Collection: Bannock here Aboriginal Tourism Authority's
Bannock Jackie Naigle's First Nation Bannock
Sigurd F. Olson's Bannock
i
© Copyright 1998, by Jim Speirs. All Rights Reserved.
You may use this information in your program,
distribute it as training materials, or any
other free distribution to Scouters, as long
as you don't accept paid advertising or
commercial financial support, without written
permission of the author.
Jim Speirs.
| Jim Speirs' Web site has been retired. Jim, a Canadian Scouter was a special source for outdoor knowledge and inspiration. We will miss him. |
TWIXER BISCUITS
Open a Bisquick box, and make a depression in the contents so that you can pour a little water into the hole. Stir it gently with "twixer" (clean, pronged stick) until it forms an egg-sized ball. Remove ball of dough from twixer, flatten it, and twist it around a pre-heated stick. Hold over coals until browned and cooked through. Or, you may make a depression in the dough and fill it with jelly or cheese. Wrap with foil, and bake over coals for 10 minutes.
George Rogers Clark Council Pow Wow
Are you familiar with "buddy burners" ? You take a big can, like a coffee can. Cut a door in the bottom, maybe punch some hole along the top with a can opener (the kind that make a triangular hole). This makes the grill. (so you would turn the can upside down and cook on the original bottom of the can.
For the burner, take corrugated cardboard and cut into strips and pack into a tuna can. Then fill with paraffin wax. The cardboard acts as a wick to burn the wax. Light the burner, slide it under the larger can. Great for burgers.
There are some web pages out there that will show this better. Also you can use a can lid and wooden clothespin to put over the burner to control the heat. Spray oil on the "grill" before using.
CT-Jim Lindberg
The Cub Scout How-To Book has Buddy burners and tin can stoves on page 3-26 and 27. And you can carry your How-To Book into the woods when you go there!
CT Dan Hammond
A BUDDY BURNER BREAKFAST!
Beat 3 eggs in a bowl.
Add 1/8 c milk.
Set aside.
Using two slices of bread, make a peanut butter sandwich.
Dip the sandwich in the egg mixture and toast lightly on
greased buddy burner. When browned, flip over and toast the
other side. You can add banana slices to the sandwich before
toasting.
Kathy Brown, Pathfinders,
Newport, Nova Scotia, Canada
Eggs on a Raft -
Grease the cooking surface of stove. Cut two-inch diameter hole in a slice of bread. Place bread on burner and break egg into the hole. Season and turn over once While cooking.
Bacon and Eggs -
Fry bacon on hobo stove; add one or two eggs and fry until done.
Hot Dog Delight -
Wrap a slice of bacon around wiener, pinning with tooth-picks. Fry on hobo steve, or broil on a stick over hot coals.
George Rogers Clark Council Pow Wow
Buddy Burner FAQ's
Q About how much Paraffin wax do you think I will need for say a dozen or so Buddy burners?
A We had bought 2 1-lbs boxes of paraffin, we filled about 10 sawdust filled large cat food cans. It really makes a difference on how much space is taken up the corrugated paper or sawdust.
Q What is the best thing to use for the wick? The book says string wick? Is this just string?
A We used bailing twine, dipped
in paraffin to water-proof it. Then added to the container as it
was filled with paper/sawdust.
Remember to cover up the wick with wax, to water proof it.
But make it visible and close to the surface to dig it out of the
mass of wax.
Q and do you put more then 1 wick? The book shows one, but I think I read elsewhere 2 or 3?
A Multiple wicks will start the surface burning faster. Sounds like a good idea.
Jay Bemis, CM Pack 28
BUDDY BURNER LINKS:
This makes a good den or family project before a pack overnight or other outdoor activity. I'm not sure about the porterhouse though.
|
STEVE'S METHOD I'll be cooking biscuits this weekend in my box oven. I used a double layer of foil, metal tape, and a STURDY box. I use charcoal to power it and have no problems. Start the charcoal on a grill and then when they are gray, place them in the oven in a foil tray so the bottom is protected.. This will be it's 4th outing and looks as good as the day my son and I made it. CT-Steve Blary, Pack 888, Stuart, Fl |
|
JUDY'S METHOD My version of a box oven is one where the fire (charcoal) goes on foil on the ground, not inside the box. I have baked mini pizzas, brownies, etc. in what we call the box oven. Procedure is: Line box with heavy duty foil (no cardboard showing).
Of course some people like to get fancy and use coat hanger wire to put a shelf in the oven, a pan in the bottom for the charcoal and a lid that's adjustable for air flow, but that's a lot more work than the above and doesn't yield any better results. CT-Judy Yeager CHIP'S WARNING Maybe part of my problem was that I started the fire in the box from scratch instead of placing already hot charcoal started from a grill. Out of 7 boxes that I lined with foil only 2 did not catch fire and burn. |
|
Using basic materials and ingredients [ice, milk, eggs, granulated sugar, rock salt, flavoring, spoons, cups, napkins, and plastic bags] we made ice cream. Then, role-playing as budding student-scientists, we investigated this ice cream and the commercial product. Here are the instructions for making ice cream:
Pass out two zip loc bags to students, one small and one large. Have them fill to 1/2 capacity the large bag with crushed ice and then add in the large bag six (6) tablespoons of rock salt on the ice.
In the small bag, they should put in one (1) tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring and 1/2 cup of milk. Secure the zip loc bag and place the small baggy inside the large bag. Have the students shake the baggies for 5-10 minutes until the ingredients begin to gel.
They can add cookie crumbs, chocolate syrup, fruit, etc. at this point to the ice cream
For additional information see these websites:
Renee Robinson [ST Galasius School]
Handout: The Science of Ice Cream/ Kitchen Chemistry
|
Your den's activities will depend in part on where you live - the kinds of flora and fauna that grow there and how advanced springtime is in your area. Wherever you are, there should be plenty to see, hear, and smell in the outdoors. For many other ideas, see Chapter 8, “Nature and Outdoor Activities,” in the Cub Scout Leader How-To Book. You will also find nature related activities in the Wolf Cub Scout Book (Achievements 6 and 7 and Electives 13, 15, 18, and 19) and in the Bear Cub Scout Book (Achievements 5 and 6 and Electives 2, 12, and 15). |
Nature Rambles and Hikes
A short nature ramble in the backyard or a playground is suggested for the first den meeting and a longer hike for the third meeting. On both occasions, encourage the boys to look, really look, at what they see outdoors every day. Each boy should carry a container to collect such simple things as a blade of grass, an acorn or other nut, a seed, old leaves, dead insects, twigs, interesting small rocks. When you get back to the meeting place, use field guides to trees, insects, birds, and rocks to try to identify their prizes.
Also try to answer such questions as:
What animals eat acorns?
What do buds on trees become?
What is the purpose of a leaf?
Where do ants live?
Discover how insects and spiders survive the winter
You Need:
Warm clothes and a nice day
flashlight,
magnifying glass (helpful but not necessary)
large glass jar or milk carton,
potting soil,
cheesecloth or old nylon stocking
rubber band,
knife or pruning shears.
What to do:
Science Made Simple, P.O. Box 503
Voorhees, New Jersey 08043
|
To ink print a leaf, place it on a glass plate and roll small dab of printer's ink over it. Then place leaf ink side down, on white paper, cover with newspaper, and run roller over it. For a rub printing, use wad of cotton to rub leaf with graphite or colored chalk. Place paper over the leaf and rub it with another wad of cotton. To fix the print, spray with a fixative from an art supply store. |
|
Each Cub Scout has a jar with a mesh cover or screw-on lid with holes punched in it for ventilation. On signal, they capture as many living creatures as they can find - worms, spiders, ants, grasshoppers, beetles, and other Insects. After 10 minutes, count what they have caught and have the boys release their captives. |
|
You can make interesting patterns with rubbings of smooth bark trees by the same method used for gravestone rubbings. Tape rice paper to the tree and carefully rub with the side of a crayon. The technique works best on bark of birch, slippery elm, butternut, and wild cherry. |
|
|
Sink an empty tuna can to the rim in the ground and put bits of meat or fish in it. Beetles will tumble in and not be able to climb out. |
|
Learn to grow and care for plants by making a terrarium. It is a little garden sealed in a glass container. Rich soil and moisture inside the jar make the garden grow quickly. In planting your garden, use wild ferns, violets, moss, and small cuttings of ivy or any houseplant that will grow in water.
Materials:
A clear, wide mouth 1 gallon glass jar and lid (ask at your
neighborhood grocery, restaurant, or delicatessen for an empty
pickle jar.)
Sand or bird gravel
A piece of burned wood or some charcoal
About 2 cups of rich garden soil
Plywood, 12" x 8"
Strips of wood 1/2" thick and 1" wide
Thin brads or nails
Hammer, saw & sandpaper
Paint or stain, if desired
Variety of small plants
Build the base for the garden
Five pieces of wood are used to make the base. The base
measures 12"x 8". Set up as a rectangle the smaller pieces of
wood, squaring it on the on the base. This is where your jar will
fit. Two of the pieces are 6" long and the others are 5" long.
Nail these to the base, sand the inside of this rectangular to make
the jar fit snugly within it.
The garden will grow for 2 or 3 months without having to be opened.
BB - Indian Nations Council
Materials:
Wild bird seed
1/2 pound suet
12 ounce juice can
Long piece of wire (such as telephone)
Piece of vegetable (onion or potato)
Cut vegetable sack to fit inside can top with extra sticking up above can top.
Cut suet into small pieces and heat in double boiler so it won't burn. Let cool and harden. If any pieces of meat are seen, remove them.
Reheat suet. After it has melted again, mix in one cup birdseed. Pour this mixture into can. Cool until it hardens.
To remove bird cake from can, set can in warm water. Carefully run a knife around inside to loosen sack. Pull top of sack to get cake out.
Tie ends of sack with wire, leaving enough wire to tie to tree limb. Hang as far out from trunk as possible to keep it from squirrels.
What YOU Can Do to Save the Rainforest
the Rainforest Alliance:
MATERIALS; 2" hardwood, eye screw, resin powder
Take a close grained hardwood such a rock maple or mountain ash, about 2" long.
Drill a hole in one end, slightly smaller than the screw threads of your eye screw. Turn the eye screw into it. Unscrew the eye, put a little resin powder in the hole. As you twist the screw back and forth in the hole, very slowly, you can make a chirp chirp or trill in loud, clear notes.
With practice, this device will produce an astounding variety of bird noises.
Paint or decorate if desired.
Grand Canyon Council
[ Actually, Rosin is the solid form of the
liquid resin, so you will probably be more successful if you look
for for Rosin Powder that is usually available in Sports Stores
as Rosin Bags.
Some den leaders report that they get better results using
the type of resin used by sreing musicians. bill ]
|
Your puppet's features may be drawn directly on the paper bag, but a more interesting puppet results when features are made with bits of colored felt, construction paper, or other materials. Use bright colors. |
|
|
To give the impression of speaking to your puppet, put the top of the mouth at the bottom of the flap, and put the bottom lip directly underneath on the front of the bag. This will cause the lips to meet. Open the flap and finish the mouth so that it will be continuous. (See top illustration.) |
|
|
For a puppet that will open its eyes and then close them, locate the tops of the eyes at the bottom of the flap and directly under the flap front of the bag. Under the flap, make the eyes open. (See lower illustration.) |
 |
Scene is an art show at which a number of brightly splotched canvasses (poster boards) are on display. The judges arrive, inspect them and finally select one for the prize. It is more brightly colored than the rest. "What imagination?' they say. "What genius?' They call for the artist, who appears in a beret and flowing tie. When the winning picture is shown to him, he says, "Oh, my goodness, that got into the show by mistake. That's where I clean my brushes!",/p>
Animatics
What you need:
Large potato, cut in half
Pencil
Knife for cutting shape
Acrylic paints or different colored ink stamp pads
Paper
Cut the potato in half and pat it dry with a paper towel.
Using a pencil, draw an outline of a shape on the cut surface of the potato. Simple shapes work best.
Carefully cut away the area outside your shape. Cut around the shape and then out to the sides so that the pieces come out, and cut down about 1 inch.
Pat the surface of the potato dry. Put some paint into a tray or plate, and dip the potato shape into it, OR press the shape into a colored stamp pad.
Press the potato gently straight down onto the paper, then lift it straight up, so that it will not smudge.
www.makestuf
|
Bear Cub Scouts are ready to learn how to care for and use a pocket knife, so training in the Den meeting is good for them. Hard woods are difficult to carve and ask for accidents and discouragement Pick up soft wood scraps at the lumber yard, purchase some balsa wood blocks, or better yet, ask each Cub to bring a bar of soap from home to carve. (Ivory is fairly hard and flakes off when it is carved.) There are pre-printed Scout slide kits available at Scout stores. |
|
Some ideas for carving projects for March are shamrocks, flowers, baby animals, or the Cub Scout sign. |
|
WHITTLIN' CHIP - The Virtual Cub Scout Leader's Handbook
PACK 114's LIBRARY- Knife Safety
PACK 1127, CANTON, OHIO
SAN ANTONIO GIRL SCOUTS
March is often called the windy month. As temperatures get milder, there can be a lot of wind. It is a good time to do some science activities that use the wind and air.
First, here are a couple of things to think about and try to answer on your own:
 |
You need a sheet of 8- by-11-inch construction paper, two paper clips, and a plastic drinking straw. Cut two strips of paper: one 1 1/2 by 11 inches, the other 3/4 by 11 inches. Lay paper clips so they point toward each other. |
|
Fold the narrower strip of paper in half, then make it into a loop with ends overlapping and slip it into one of the paper clips. Make a larger loop of the wider strip and attach it to the other end. With the smaller loop pointing forward, give the glider a firm push; it does not require a throw. You can adjust the flight path by increasing or decreasing the size of the larger loop. |
|
 |
|
|
Enlarge patterns by the grid method so that the wing is about eight inches, the fuselage five inches. Trace patterns on manilla file folder; put fuselage on fold so that it will be doubled. Cut out with shears or utility knife. Put tail piece all the way down between rear wings and tape or glue in place. Fold out rear wings. Slip big wing into fuselage. Cut and slide forward until wing cuts fit into fuselage. Glue or tape coin or small washer inside nose. Decorate with acrylic paint or marking pens. If glider sinks, try a smaller coin or washer in the nose and bend up rear wings slightly |
For 20 Kites in 20 minutes
Make wind chimes from a variety of materials. Use wire or nylon fishing line to suspend the chimes. To secure the knots made with the nylon line, add a dot of household glue.
Utah National Parks 1993-94 Pow Wow Book, Bill and Karen Dellos
Silk screen printing makes a good den project. You can use it to make camp T-shirts, neckerchiefs, flags parade banners and other neat things. It's messy enough to hold the interest of boys and the results can be quite impressive. It does take a modicum of skill so I would suggest a bit of practicing before hand.
You will need the following equipment:
a silk screen frame -you can buy them
made up or make you own.
a squeegee -available in most art supply
stores.
screen ink - also from art stores.
I strongly suggest the water soluble type (Hunt's) for starters.
a stencil- paper stencils are ok for
den projects or photo
emulsion for larger runs.
a flat work surface large enough
for the screen and the article
you're going to screen.
lots of newspapers to cover the
work surface and other things
you don't want to get inked.
a small hand-held scrub brush.- for
clean up. If you're lucky enough to have
one of the old laundry tubs,
use it. Bath tubs work ok too.
Most commercial outfits use photo emulsion or lacquer stencils, but paper stencils work well for Den projects and they are much faster and cheaper.
|
Cut out a pattern on a sheet of paper. Use a grade of paper that doesn't readily absorb water. Make sure that you save the pieces that form the inside portions of the "D" and the figure 6. |
|
Place several thickness of news paper under the material you are screening. For T-shirts, place news paper inside the shirt so that the ink doesn't leak through to the back of the shirt. Place the paper stencil exactly where you want the design to end up on the material. Make sure that the little "islands" that form the insides of the D and 6 are properly positioned. |
|
Carefully lay the silk screen frame on top of the paper stencil. Make sure that the edges of the paper stencil extend beyond the frame to prevent the ink from accidentally going past the edge of the paper and onto the material. At this point you must be careful not to let the frame, the stencil or the material move. Spoon a line of textile ink onto the screen near one end of the frame. |
|
Using a squeegee, wide enough to cover the entire cut-out design, draw the ink down the length of the frame. It is best to lean the blade in the direction of the draw at and angle of 45-60 degrees elevation. Make your first draw a practice run so that you can get a feel for how much pressure to exert in order to make a good image. |
|
Lift the frame straight up from the material, being careful not to smudge anything. The paper stencil, will adhere to the screen and all the pieces will stay in their proper positions. You can then lay the frame down on the next T-shirt and continue screening the same design. |
|
Depending on the detail and the grade of paper, you should easily get 20 or more copies from a single stencil. |
|
Masks, helmets, hats and any other things can be made from Papier-mâché. There are many recipes for this medium, but the following one works especially well for children because it usually dries in 24 hours, depending on the humidity.
Papier-mâché paste:
1/2 cup powdered laundry starch
4 cups water
1 cup flour
Mix ingredients in a large bowl or pan. Spread newspapers over your work areas. Tear other newspapers into stripe no more than 2" wide. Dip a strip of newspaper into the paste, covering both sides of the strip completely. Than gently run the strip through two fingers over the bowl, to remove excess paste, and place on your form. Use your fingers to smooth out wrinkles and dampen dry spots. Cover the form with more strips, overlapping slightly till form is covered. Three layers of strips should be applied - the first layer all in one direction, the second layer should go at right angles to the first, and the third at right angles to this second. Set aside on rack to dry overnight. Most projects will dry the next day.
Paint or decorate the dried project with paints and colored papers. A finished papier mâché project may be varnished for a shiny and more permanent finish.
Forms: Use balloons for round shapes like masks, heads or torsos; corrugated cardboard boxes for rectangular shapes, rolled up newspaper for arms and legs. Use masking tape to combine things to form large irregular shapes like animals, aliens or volcanoes.
