Spark your curiosity and creativity with the Scientist activity badge. Have fun learning some valuable science-based skills.
Choose 1 of the following options:
Option 1
- Explore and discuss the science behind two Scouting activities or hobbies.
For example, you could investigate the science behind a perfect campfire, how a kayak stays afloat and travels through the water, or how a compass or GPS device works.
- Complete one of these:
- Plan and complete your own experiment to explore the science behind one Scouting activity or hobby. Record your findings and explain what these mean to others.
Try thinking of a question you want to answer or something you want to prove.
- Plan and run an activity, demonstration or presentation to help others understand the science behind a Scouting activity or hobby.
Option 2
- Plan and complete three science experiments or activities. Check your plan with an adult first, then for each experiment:
You could try making invisible ink, creating an eruption, designing a catapult or putting together a battery.
- Change something about the experiment or activity and try it again, at least once. Predict what you think will happen and find out if you were right.
- Show that you understand the science behind your experiment or activity.
- Find out how one of your experiments or activities links to the real world. Then, explain it to others.
For example, if you made a battery, what are batteries usually made from? If you created an eruption, how similar or different is this to how volcanoes erupt?
Tips
- You can complete this badge individually, in Patrols, or in other small groups.
- For option 1, you could investigate any activity completed as part of Scouts, such as archery, climbing or zip lining, or a hobby you do outside of Scouts, such as cooking, trampolining or swimming.
- If you choose to do a presentation to share your knowledge with others, this could be in the form of a video or animation.
- For option 2, you could share what you have discovered with your Patrol, Troop, another Group, a leader or someone else. There are lots of ways you could do this. Why not plan a demonstration, a presentation, run an activity or create a video?
- Why not tie this badge in with British Science Week in March?
Make sure that the experiments and activities that Scouts are doing are safe, particularly when it comes to making changes. Information about planning and assessing risk can be found at scouts.org.uk/safety.
Find out more about STEM Ambassadors on the STEM Learning website.
You can gain a Discovery or Bronze CREST Award by completing option 1 as a project of at least five or ten hours. Find out more about CREST Awards.
November 2023.
Requirements can be adapted to suit each young persons abilities. See our guidance on flexibility.