CRAFTSMAN
Hands on!M That is the craftsman badge. This activity can be
spread across the year with projects that are seasonal. Lots of
outside assistance during such activities is recommended.
Build a den catapult for your Engineering badge (See
Engineer Section).
Make a tangram of wood or plastic.
• Make several puzzles for oneself or gifts for friends.
Examples: ox-yoke puzzles, solitary games, balance toys.
Make a bluebird wall plaque.
Create styrofoam "shrinky" decorations for Christmas or for
key chains (See Artist Section).
• Do a nail-string picture (See Artist Section).
If you can, build an enclosure for a weather station at a
common site and keep records as part of the Nature badge
(See Nature Section).
Create foil pictures.
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CHINESE BAMobjects can you make
SS these different shapes?
;.vifhis game has been played by Chinese*^chitdren and their parents for manyj^
^T many "years. It is called a Tangrarru^--""Paste this page on light cardboard ajxfQp!pg g j
r; out the pieces. See if you can put
■'-■ them all together to form a squared
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CHINESE GAME./s
many pbjects>an you make1 'these different shapes?
A4
CHINESE
WISE MAN
VILLAGE ROOFS
AND PAGODA ;:
* •' This game has been played by Chinese
children and their parents for many;
many years. It is called a Tangram
Paste this page on light cardboard and
cut out the pieces. See if you can
all together to form a square
68 are made from: the.
makeTan;grai^Afteffy9iif make themjtry:
others oiyour/own. How about-a'cat
or a.fancy hat?r,*> •*;•■■ * i'
rCRAFTSMAN: VINYL OR LEATHER
Materials: Scraps of leather, leatherette, plastic or vinylCraftstHp ladng
Grlpper snaps
Leather punch (for holes)Scissors
Instructions: Using the patterns on these pages, cut from the material you haveselected. You will need ladng three times the length of the distance to be lacedPunch holes as Indicated. Gripper snaps are attached with the appropriate tool.
o o o
CASE
COT 2
Punch i lace, double
O o o o O O o o
o o To 6 o o o o
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Fo,
OooQle
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Many Packs do not hold their Pinewood Derby's until Spring. Therefore,
we will be using a sub_theme of Working With Wood this month. In many cases
the Scouts will need careful instruction on using tools to make some of these
projects. The main thing to remember is to have them go slow and learn
correctly the first time to avoid accidents.
BIRD FEEDER ... ..You will find many ideas for various bird feeders. However this month
is a good time to recycle the old Christmas tree. Cut off several pieces
from a discarded tree. The logs should be about 1 foot long and from U to2 inches in diameter. In one end place a screw eye in the center of the log.Then using a large wood drill bit (3/4-1 inch), drill 4-6 holes in thelog about % - 1 inch deep and at a slight downward angle. Fill the holes
with bird seed, peanut butter, or suet. Hang from a branch by the screw eye
and some wire or strong string.
OX -YOKE PUZZLE
To begin to construct thispuzzle, you can start with a wood piece of
roughly 6 inches long by 1% inches wide by \ - 3/4 inches thick. Transfer
the ox-yoke shape onto the wood using the pattern, the Scouts can then
use a pen knife or potatoe peeler to whittle it to the shape. Drill the holes
shown and arrange the string and 2 washers as shown below.
OBJECT: The object is to move one ring
from one side to join the other
ring on the other side without
untying the ends of the string
SOLUTION: Hold the yoke as shown above. Pull center loop down. Move right
ring through center loop. Feed the entire center loop through
the hole in the center of the yoke and pull all the string
through the hole that will come. Pass the ring you moved
through the 2 loops you see on the backside of the yoke.
Pull all string back through the front side. Pass the ring
across the second half of the centre loop to join the other
ring on the same side together.
RUBBERBAND GUNS
Trace the pattern onto a piece of 3/4 inch thick wood. Cut out with
a coping saw. Drill the trigger holes. Sand and decorate. Glue a spring
clothespin on as shown in the drawing. Make targets of cardboard or use
cans papercupa ,etc. Boys should be careful not to aim at each other for
fear of eye injury.
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ECOLOGY BOX 2L_.
This project calls for 22 craft sticks each,some dried flowers and seedaa piece of clear pastic and brown stain( use childrens liquid polish)
1. stain all the sticks first.
2. Glue 10 sticks together to form the back ontop of 2 sticks- one
near the top and one near the bottom ( see figure).3 Cut about % inch off each end of 2 craft sticks. Glue these on
their edges on the front edge of the back section. Glue 2 moresticks on their edges across the top and bottom of these, forming
a box. ^^ . . ,
4. Cut the ends from one stick so thAT IT WILL FIT across the inside
of the box. Glue in place. This is the main shelf.
5.Cut the ends from another stick. Cut a piece about \% inches ^long. Cut more as needed so that it will fit vertically to divide
the top section. Do the same with the remaining piece so that it
will divide the bottom section.
6.Glue in beans, seeds, flowers, etc. Let dry. Cut a piece of clearplastic to fit over the top of the box. Glue into place.
7. Glue a whole stick across the top and one along the bottom.
Glue two more along the sides to finish the outer frame.
8. Glue a picture hanger on the back or glue to burlap piece to
form a wall hanger.
STRING FISH PLAQUE
Take a 8 inch wide by 12 inch long piece of board or plywood and either
stain the wood, cover with cloth or contact paper to form a suitablebackground color. Lay the pattern on the board when ready and pin or tackit in place. Using 3/4 inch long small headed brads or finishing nails
hammer the nails through the places indicated on the pattern. The nailsshould be driven halfway into the wood. Lift off the pattern carefully.
String the fish first in the horizontal direction and then in the
vertical direction. Outline the fish by starting at the tail and
weaving the string in and out along the nail pattern until the stringhas completed 2 circuits around the nails. Add a dab of glue where knots
have been tied. When the glue is dry, cut string close to nail.
Use a paper reinforcement ring for the eye.
WOOD NIB PEN
Before the invention of pencils, school children used crude pens made
from quills or carved twigs. Quills were nicer for they held more ink but
were expensive. But woodnib pens were cheap and could be carved in a few
minutes. By the way this is where the pen knife got its name. Children
carried this knife around for the purpose of carving a nib on the stick.
To make the pen, take a stick about the size of a pencil and
sharpen one end of the stick down to a sharp point. Dip the nib portion
into ink and write. When the nib becomes soft or flat, carve a new point.
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WOOO PUZZLES
MOVE THE PEGS
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This puzzle consists of a row of 7(or 9)holes in the wood and a set
of 3 (4) pegs of one color and a set of 3 (4) pegs of another color. The
pegs are set on the board so that all of one color are in the holes on one
side and the other color on the other. The hole in the middle is empty.The object is to move the one color pegs to where the other colored
pegs are. The rules which apply are:
1. Each move is made by placing a peg into a empty hole.
2. Only one peg can move at a time.
3. The pegs can move only in the direction of the opposite end. No
peg can move backward.
4. A peg of one color can be jumped by a peg of the other color.
But a peg may not jump over one of it's same color.
5. Two pegs cannot be jumped.
TRIANGLE SOLITAIRE
The game board contains 15 holes and 14 pegs. The 14 pegs are placed
in any of the holes so that one hole is empty. The player use jumps over
pegs to remove pegs from the board ( like in checkers). The object is
to leave only one peg left on the board.
Scoring: 1 peg left = "genius"
2 pegs left = "excellent"
3 pegs left = " good"
4 pegs left = " fair"
FOX AND GEESE
The game board contains 33 holes ( see figure), 13 pegs of one
color (geese) and one peg of a different color ( fox)To win: The geese win if they corner the fox so that he cannot move.
The fox wins if it captures all but one goose.
RULES:
1 One player controls all the geese and another controls the fox.
The geese get first turn. Players alternate.
The fox may move 1 space at a time, eiher up S. down or left or right
across the board to a vacant place. The geese may move one
space at a time downward from their original position or across,
left or right, to a vacant space. The geese can not move back
towards the direction they came from.
The fox may capture geese and remove them from the board by
jumping them as in checkers. Multiple jumps are allowed.
The geese are not allowed to make jumps or capture the fox.
Watcher
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Note: For more information on bird houses, feeders, etc., see pages :■
24, 25, 26 of the POW WOW Book, Crafts Section. . .^.^ig^
Note: For an outside activity, construct one of the nesting material ^
containers shown in the Cub Scout Helps (CUB 1 MAY 86). Use bright
colored yarn cut to 6-10 inch lengths. Hang in a tree near bushes,
shrubs, or edge of woods. Hang out a day or two before the following
activity to ensure birds have found source of materials. Keeping some
distance away, watch birds come and get the yarn. Note the type of bird.
Have several scouts follow the bird to find where the nest is being
constructed. Oo not disturb the birds. Note location (tree, where in
shrub, etc.). Periodically check the nest and once the young have left
the nest, take nest and examine it noting how the yarn was woven into
the rest of the nesting materials. This activity will allow for bird
identification, nesting location and size, type of eggs, hatching time, etc
BIRO FEEDERS
The Cub Scout Helps show a number of easily constructed feeders.
Below are several more simple types.
Oonut feeder. Find 2 jar lids about as big around as a donut. The
»lids can be metal or plastic. Using a "headed" nail about 3 inches long,
make a hole in the center of each lid. To hang your feeder from a branch,
^either bend the end of the nail or tap the end into a piece of wood.
Tie string to the head of the nail and hang. You could also mount to
the top or underside of a stem by simply nailing into the tree.
Cake pan feeder. Cut off the bottom bars from 2 wire hangers, leaving
about an inch on each end. Punch holes near the end and top of an
aluminum foil cake pan. Insert ends of 1 inch wires and bend up. Hook
over a clothesline or branch.
Hummer feeder. To build a hummingbird feeder you need a small jar with
a lid, red waterproof paint, 2 feet of stiff wire, an 8-penny nail.
1. Put the lid of the jar, top side up, over a block of wood. Hammer
the nail throughthe lid to make a hole about 1/8 inch in diameter.
2. Turn the lid over and flatten the rough edges with the hammer.
3. Paint a large red flower around the hole in the lid.
4. Wrap some of the wire around the neck and twist just tight enough
to stay on.
5. Fill jar with nectar, put lid on, and hang in a spot that doesn't
get direct sunlight.
6. Wash your feeder at least once a week. Pour some vinegar in the
jar and scrub well with a brush. Rinse well, refill, and hang.
NECTAR: 1/2 cup -of white sugar to 1 cup of boiling water. Store excess'
in refrigerator. ££ not make nectar from honey. Honmy can cause
botulism disease in the birds. •
MYSTERY BIRD
Trace the pattern onto a piece of stiff paper or light cardboard.
Cut out the bird and color as desired. Tape a penny to the underside of
each wing. With practice you can balance it on a pencil eraser, edge of
table, finger, etc. NOTE: The position of the pennies on the.wing
determines the balance point. Note the marks on the two examples.
Experiment with the boys. Mid-wing will work best for the scouts.
PEANUT BIRDS
""Create a nature picture. Glue felt or fabric or&o a stiff card
board for the background. Use half a peanut shell for - the -body. Use
winged seeded(maple or elm] for the wings and tail. Use yellow felt,
seed pod, etei^pp beak and draw in eye with magic marker. When dry,
glue onto felt background. Add small twigs, dry grass, etc.
BLUE BIRD V
Materials: 26 half clothes pins (spring type); 10mm eyes.
1. Glue 12 half pins together to form the wing (figure 1).
2. Make the front body section by gluing 5 half pins together as the wing
3. Glue 3 half pins together as before to form the tail only glue
the tips behind the second notch or 1/2 inch from the ends (Fig. 2).
4. Make the back body section like the tail using 4 half pins.
5. Make a peg, and glue all body parts together a-srrJLn Figure 3. Cut
the head out of light cardboard (use pa-tte.rn4^_as<i- glue to peg.
6. Glue the wing onto the body so thajj^the gifure looks like it is
flying. Attach a gummed picture eyelet to the baa/fc of the body behind
the wing for hanging.
7. Paint: Lower body - red; rest of body - blue; beak - yellow-;
wingtips - white.
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BIRD WATCHING ^.
Give each scout a copy of the attached calendar page. Pick a period
of time (say 1 month) and mark the dates (numerical) in the triangular; ^
area. Ask each scout to write down what birds he saw or heard each day^?
(A more complex log could use a notebook noting time and location of
siting.) You may wish to make this more general and have each scout
note something new he observed about nature each day.
ADVENTURE
Take your scounts on a trip to discover a fossil bird. They will
slowly and carefully uncover the bones of this ancient bird and have to
reconstruct it later. Depending on your scouts, you may wish to divide
them into 1, 3, or 3 groups. Each group will need a fossil box.
Each fossil dig will require the bones of a Cornish hen or chicken.
Boil the bird until all meat can be removed. The broth makes good
egg-drop soup and the meat goes for chicken salad. Once the meat is
removed, the bones need to be cleaned and dried. Cut all tendons, so
the bones separate, but note the order they are in.
Once the bones are dried thoroughly (air or oven dry), they must be
planted in a box of sand. Decide on the orientation of your fossil
bird, laying down, standing,, etc. Then start setting the bones in place
and adding sand (play sand) to cover them up. When completely done,
have a 4-5 inch layer of sand over the top bones.
The scouts must discover the boses, but care must be taken to
find the correct arrangement. Spoons, paint brushes are used for digging.
Once the bones have been dug up, the scouts should try to reconstruct
the bird. They should also make drawings of what they believe the
entire bird lootosd like from just the bones. It is not entirely important
that they are successful. But some appreciation can be perceived for
archeology, imagination, and the general makeup of birds.
ENGINEER . :
■' ■■.;:
The Engineer badge activities get a great deal of attentionfrom the scouts. They are greatly interested and the activitiescan be both enjoyable and educational.
• Architectural firms normally have several old copies orpreliminary copies of blueprints. Ask one of your localfirms for an old set and for a copy of the artist's
\ rendition. You can then relate the blueprints to thepicture. This activity shows scouts that planning isimportant right down to where the trees will go in the finaldesign.
An interesting discussion topic: While driving down thehighway, one sees the sign "Bridge Freezes Before Roadway".Identify why this happens, and then brainstorm for ideas of
how to solve the problem. Maybe the sign is the onlyfeasible solution.
Obtain several bags of frozen peas and several boxes ofround toothpicks. Allow the scouts to construct various
shapes and test for strength.
• When working with pulleys, change the pulley location around
so that the pulley is attached to the object being lifted
instead of a branch or rod.
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EHTGIOTEER
CATAPULT
MISSILES
MATERIALS:
Catapult Arm: 3 pcpsicle sticks (cut one down to1 1/4"); a 15" piece of strong twine; one plasticspoon (cut handle until there 1s 3/4" of handleleft on spoon); one rubber band (lightweight)
Catapult Base: wooden slat 3/8" thick (approx.1 3/8" X 8 1/4:I)
Slides: 8 popsic:e sticks; two 2" nails; two1/2" pieces drinking straw; six 1/2"wood screws.
Trigger: one clamp clothespin; 1 3/4H naif.
Missiles: clay balls about 3/4" In diameter wrapped in aluminum foil
INSTRUCTIONS:
1 Assemble catapult ann (popsicle stick with spoon) by gluing two sticksCut out a half-inch slot at one end for the Rustic spoon to "V/Send, drill a hole for nail 6 to go through,,-.Cut a 1 1/4" piece ofInd glue It to the ann just below the slot..- When glue 1s dry, .^and wind cord around the arm. spoon, and extending piece of stick.notches a half-Inch apart (center them), 1n the bottom edge of arm.
stick
Make two
Nail holes
from the end
Prepare base and sides by drilling holes for nails and screws.should be small enough for the screws to go In through ** P°Drill hole 1n each side of base for screws C and D. threeand about 3/8M deep.
<jHr^ 1 2 3 and 4 each receive 3 holes. These should all be 1n line with eachoSier? Tta'd1.S«? MctafX 7 and 8 r«:81ve a h.1. through each end. Onehole will be for a screw and the other for, a nail. (continued)
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CATAPULT INSTRUCTIONS;(continued)
Assemble the catapult by screwing sticks 1, 2, 3 and 4 against the sides of the
base in an upright position. Attach diagonal sticks 5, 6, 7 and 8 to these sticks
with nail H as shown in diagram. When the bottom ends of the diagonal sticks
are positioned against the base, make pencil marks and drill holes in the base
'for screws' A, B, E and F. Screw the ends of the sticks to the base.
Loop a rubber band around nail H and slip the bottom end of the catapult arm
:'through the rubber-band loops. Insert nail 6 through the upright sticks and thearm, placing the straw spacers on each side of-*he arm. Pull down the catapultarm and nark where the extended stick touches the base. Place the jaw of theclothespin on this mark and fasten the clothespin to the base with nail J. :"
Now, ""ire away!
- Boys Life Magazine
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L PEA JOINTS - IMAGINATION KIT ALTERNATIVE
Materials: 50 peas and 1 box of round toothpicks per scout.
Saak the peas over night in water - make certain you have
enough water and head room in you jar or pan. Peas swell to about
double their size when dry.
Using the toothpicks as the structural members and thesoftened peas for joints, you can build almost anything- bridges,
buildings, toys, figures,abstract shapes, geometric designs.
Allow the peas to dry a day op two before moving your creationvery much. As the peas dry, they will shrink and hold the toothpicks
firmly in place.
CATAPULT
Materials
''Front Vertical Supports (2)
^Front Support Top
^Windlass Supports (2)
^Catapult Arm
t^ffn^le Braces (2)^-tffndlass Crank Arm
tWtrjdlass Shaft
^Wfndlass Crank Handle
t£atapult Arm Shaft
JCeepers (3)-^Spacer
Pouch
Rocks (for weight)Nails
Wood Glue
String
Cap from Film Container
Paper clip
12" x 3" x 3/4"
8 3/4" x IV x V33s11 x IV x V
3" x IV x V15" x 3/4" x 3/4"
14 3/4" x 3/4" x V
2V x 3/4" x V4 3/4" x V Dowell
IV x V Dowell3V x V Dowell
3/4" x 3/4" x V
3/4" x 3/4" x V
4" x 3V (see pattern)
3/4" wire nails
r CATAPULT ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
r Step 1: Nail and cjlue the two catapult arm supports perpendicular and .
at one end of the base.
^ "tep 2: Nail and glue the windlass supports perpendicular and at theIs—' opposite end of the base.
. Step 3: Nail and glue the top support to the top of the catapult arm
r supports.
Step 4: Glue on the side supports.
I Step 5: Set aside to dry and do next step.
Step 6: (OPTIONAL) Take catapult arm and carve to resemble log.1-
rL Step 7: Nail the film container cap to one end (on side) of catapult arm.
n Step 8: Nail U shaped nail to opposite side on same end as cap.
Step 9: Cut notch on end opposite cap so you can tie pouch on (later),
h Step 10: Glue windlass handle into windlass arm.
Step 11: Glue spacer and windlass handle onto windlass shaft.
I Step 12: Place windlass arm assembly into windlass supports making surehandle is on same side as hole in side support. Glue keeper on
i" end to hold in place.
^Step 13: Place catapult arm shaft into one hole on front supports. Slide«. on one keeper, then the catapult arm, and then the last keeper.
■ Now slide shaft through pieces and into hole in opposite support.
• Arm should be centered with keepers loosely holding it in place.
I Step 14: Tie string to windlass shaft and apply one drop oF glue.. Let dry
Step ISrr* Tie opposite end of string and release string to release latch.
Step 16: Tie counter-weight pouch to catapult arm.
Step 17: Once everything is dry, hook release latch into U nail and crankdown. Use small dowell (in side hole) to hold windlass handle in
place.
Step 18: Place missle on cap.
Step 19: Puli release string (gently).
Step 20 : ZING CRASH!!!!!!!!!!
CATAPULT COUNTER-WEIGHT POUCH t»
r Cut out two sides. This pouch can be either sewn 'or Placedtogether; Place the face (good side) of each piece together•Sew torlace around the edge leaving the top open. Punch 4 sets of holes *(8)
in the top about l/2n from edge. 'Turn inside out. At this time the
good side should be facing out. Lace alternately through holes with
string, leather, or craft strip. Place rock inside pouch and tie. The
counter weight for the catapult is now complete. Tie pouch to catapult
arm and you are done! . r-
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1 WEBELO'S - CRAFTSMAN * ; >
. **Both items can be used for Scientist** '?r
CATAPULT
The catapult used at camp is very similar to the drawing. It was made
from scrap wood and heavy enough to withstand a great deal of activity. It
also was made to allow the scouts to experiment with it.
The base board is 24" long x 7 1/2" wide x 3/4 inch thick. A 1-inch
dowel (10 inches long) is mounted 1-inch from end and centered. There are
holes drilled through the dowel every 2 inches large enough to accept an eye
bolt.
The throwing arm is 12 inches long x 2 1/2 inches wide x 3/4 inch
thick. The throwing arm is mounted to the base board by a hinge so that it
is 12 inches from either end and centered. Screw eyes are used for attaching
the slings and halting rope. If using inner tube for the slings be certain it
is natural rubber versus synthetic rubber. Natural rubber has much more
snap.
The Scounts can experiment by adjusting the attachment point on the
v, dowel to determine if it affects the length of the toss. The clothesline should
be long enough to allow the .arm to be stopped at various heights. .This
allows the scounts to learn about arcs and how far things can be tossed along
with how high.
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BALANCING BIRD
This is similar to the pioneer toy called Skyhook. The design can be
changed with wings, head, etc. to resemble a bird and still work.
1. Cut from wood and drill hole for weight hook.
2. Make a S-hook from firm wire and hang weights from it until the shape
balances on your finger.