How To Make "GAK"

#HowToTuesday Cub Scouts love to cover their hands with sticky, gooey stuff... and then touch your couch and curtains, or rub it into the carpet.  GAK is a fun science experiment that satisfies those needs to have gooey stuff in you hands and produces a fun toy for them to take home (and rub into the carpet at their own homes). You will need the following items per boy:

• 8 oz of white school glue (like Elmer's, but any brand works great)
• 1 tsp Borax (found in the laundry detergent isle)
• 8 oz of hot water
• 4 oz of cool water
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring Cups
• Food Coloring (optional)
• 1 tsp Spoon
• 2 spoons (use separate spoons during the first steps of mixing)

Lets start mixing!

Empty out the glue into the mixing bowl. To make sure that we get all of the glue out I like to fill the bottles 1/4 full of cool water (2 oz) from the tap and shake out the rest.  This is where the 4 oz of cool water comes into play. You should now have 8 oz of glue and 4 oz of water in your mixing bowl.  Place a few drops of food coloring in and start mixing until all ingredients are completely incorporated. Next, measure 8 oz of hot tap water in your measuring cup and add 1 tsp of Borax. Mix these two ingredients together until the Borax dissolves in the water. Don't worry, the water will be a little cloudy and its alright if there are a few particles of Borax floating around in the cup. This next step is when the magic happens.  Pour the Borax water into the mixing bowl of the glue/water mixture and start mixing together.  Instantly as you combine the two mixtures you will see the reaction beginning.  Eventually it will become to thick for you to mix with the spoon... time to get your hands dirty. Complete the mixing process by squishing the mixture with your hands and fingers. Store your newly created slime in a zip baggy for the boys to take home.  

Tips:

If you have been mixing for ever and there seems to still be a large amount of water at the bottom of the bowl. Remove your GAK and pour out the water into the sink. Place your GAK back into the bowl and mix again until it is a smooth / rubbery consistency. Repeat if needed.

Optional food coloring... I would suggest using the food coloring. Especially if you have a large group of scouts.  The boys will recognize which GAK is theirs based on the color they used or even better, what color they created with multiple colors.

Wash your hands after use. Borax has been known to irritate your skin if left on too long.

Keep it away from the carpet. It is somewhat easy to pick it off the carpet... unless someone has stepped on it.  Also, do not let it sit on your clothing.  It will adhere itself to any fibers and will actually try to travel through the fabric (found this one out the hard why with my daughter and her t-shirt).

Most of all - HAVE FUN!

Cub Scout Lava Lamp

Items Needed:

• An inexpensive bottle of cooking oil
• Empty Cup
• Cup of Water
• Food Coloring (you can choose any color)
• Effervescent Antacid Tablets

How To Tie Your Shoelaces

Wolf Elective 17b
Tie It Right

How To Predict The Weather

#HowToTuesday

People have been watching the skies for millennia to help them predict the weather. Check the following folklore predictions with your own observations to see how many might be true. 

• Red sky at sunset is a sign of a fair tomorrow. (The sky you see at sunset is air that will reach you tomorrow. Dry air produces a red glow, whereas wet air produces a yellow-gray sky color.)
• Dull moon and stars foretell a rainy tomorrow.
• Lightning from the westerly sky is from a storm that is on its way toward you. 
• Towering, ragged clouds predict a rain squall and wind. 
• A sky full of webby cirrus clouds foretells a rainy spell on its way.
• A halo around the sun or moon means a warm front is on its way, with rain. 
• Dark clouds against a lighter ceiling foretell a windy rainstorm.
• The higher the clouds, the finer the weather. Lowering clouds foretell rain. 
• When swallows fly high, it will be dry.
• If the cows are lying down, it will rain.
• A good fall for fruit means a hard winter to come. Wind direction also helps forecast the weather:
• The west wind generally brings clear weather, except when it blows off the ocean.
• The north wind brings clear, cold weather.
• The south wind brings heat and sometimes showers.
• The east wind brings rain east of the Rockies. When rain is near, nature gets excited. Look for these signals:
• Tree frogs cry.
• Fish swim near the surface.
• Flies sting.
• Low clouds move swiftly.
• Gone-to-seed dandelions close up like an umbrella.
• Cloverleaves fold together.

How to Make Homemade Slime

#HowToTuesday

Area of Science: Chemistry
Meant for at least Grade K-3 (age 5-7).
This experiment is inedible.
An adult should be present.

Overview:
Make slime from everyday things in the home.

Post-It Note Pinwheel

#HowToTuesday

Fun project to do with your scouts for a gathering activity.  There are a few sharp tools used with this project so please be sure to have Akela do most of the cutting.
Items Needed:

• Post-It
• Scissors
• Pin
• Pencil
• Pony Bead
• Ruler

How To Make A Water Jug Lantern

One of the most needed necessities while camping is light when it is dark.  One trick that I learned was how to make a lantern using only a headlamp and a clear water container.  The process is simple; place the light directly on the side of the clear water container.  Just make sure that there is water inside the container. I personally like to use an old milk jug so I can have a handle when walking with my newly created lantern.

How To Make A Leaf Rubbing

#HowToTuesday

Items needed:
- Paper
- Leaf
- Crayon with the paper taken off

Place the leaf upside down under the paper. Place the crayon flat on top of the paper and rub over the top of the leaf. With the leaf upside down you will create a great rubbing with a lot of detail.

Kool Aid Play Dough

#HOWTOTUESDAY

Great project to complete with your cubs. Use safety precautions around the hot water.

Items needed:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 packet kool aid
2/3 cup water
1 Tablespoon oil

Combine the water and oil together and bring to a boil.
While waiting for the water and oil to boil, mix all the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until thick enough to start kneading. (it will be a little warm to handle for a few minutes) Place in a zip lock bag to preserve moisture.

Total cost: roughly 30¢

Cotton Ball Fire Starters

I take a bag of these fire starters with me on every camp out and hike. Extremely easy to make, easy to use, and light to pack.

Items needed:

• 100% Cotton Balls
• Petroleum Jelly (any brand works)
• Bag to store in (close-able plastic bag)

Completely coat the cotton ball with the petroleum jelly.  Make about 10 per plastic bag and store within your pack.

Always remember to use your best judgment when working with fire.

Firem'n Chit Requirements