This short video from Leap Frog shows the different parts of a map including the compass rose, legend, and scale. It describes how these parts are used to read the map.
Leadership and Life Skills
Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist and engineer who drew elaborate contraptions to accomplish simple tasks. This article from TinkerLab gives step-by-step details for creating a Rube Goldberg machine.
Know how to STOP when you are lost or separated from your group. Review this acronym with your group before going out on a campout or hike with your group. Being prepared can assist searchers who are looking for a missing person or group.
Kix cereal has an article which gives step-by-step instructions to make a rainstick from common household materials. A rainstick is an instrument which sounds like rain when you turn it.
This kit can be used to create a working robot. The robot is a crab which will walk around under it’s own power and avoid obstacles.
Almost Unschoolers shows how to make a mbira from bobby pins, craft sticks, and thumbtacks. A mbira is a “thumb piano” of African origin. Music is made by plucking metal tines.
Run ons are the little brothers of skits. They are very brief intermission in a campfire program. Sometimes it is just a single interruption to the program, sometimes they are in series.
This article from Metals Wired includes simple explanations for obverse (heads), reverse (tails), field, relief, rim, edge, legend, motto, date, and mint marks.
This article shows how to make a rekenrek using foam board, pony beads, and pipe cleaners. A rekenrek is a visual tool to help children learn how to add and subtract via fives and tens.
Every campfire program should have plenty of skits. They also make a great intermission in a meeting. Sometimes they teach a lesson, sometimes they don’t, but they are always fun.