Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Mental Skills Group
A showman is an entertainer. A showman loves to put on a show. This might be a puppet show,
a musical act or a skit or stunt for a campfire program. As in everything in Webelos Scouts,
we will do our best. We will appreciate the talents of all of the members of our den.
IDEAS FOR DEN ACTIVITIES
.. Make a puppet and puppet stage.
.. Write new words to a familiar song.
.. Write a play or skit.
.. Figure out sound effects and costumes for a play.
.. Know what stage directions are.
.. Learn how to conduct music.
.. Invite an actor or actress to den meeting and have them tell why they like drama.
.. Have a musician come to den meeting and teach them something about music.
.. Use a tape recorder or MP3 player to record boys’ voices so that they can hear how they sound when
recorded.
.. Attend a play or musical performance.
ACTIVITIES
WORK ON MAKING SOUND EFFECTS
Thunder- Hold a piece of tin or galvanized steel 3’ to 4’ long and 1’ wide. Shake it to produce rolling thunder.
For a single crash of thunder strike the sheet with a rubber heeled shoe.
Lightning - Flash a white light off and on. A photo flash will work well.
Rain - Fill a tin can 1/3 full with dry beans. Rotate the can slowly.
Fire – Crumple a sheet of cellophane into a ball. When you release it in front of a microphone it crackles like
fire.
Sawing wood – rub a piece of sandpaper across a 6” area on the rim of a large foil pin.
Horses – Clap two halves of coconut shells on a board using the rhythm of galloping or trotting horses.
HINTS FOR BASIC MAKE UP
Homemade make-up base is simple to make and easy to clean off. Use equal parts of liquid cleansing cream
and powdered sugar. Combine the two. First sifting sugar to remove lumps, mix well. Use as is for white, for a
clown face. Or add a few drops of food coloring for special effects. Green for monsters, purple for martians;
red, green, yellow, blue for Indians. This is non-toxic and wipes off without easily leaving too much color on the
face. Just remember to not overdo the drops of color or there may be more left than you want.
Lipstick can be used for lips and rouge.
Eyebrow pencils can be used to darken or change shape of eyebrows, to line the eyes to make freckles,
mustaches, sideburns and wrinkles.
To age a person have the boys frown and wrinkle up his face, then add gray eyebrow pencil to the creases.
To age the hair, add cornstarch powdered to the hair. Hair usually begins to age at temples first and then in
streaks.
Give a hollow look, use eye shadow under the eyes and on either side of the nose to change the look.
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 2 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
Tips:
.. Apply makeup after character is in costume.
.. Use a towel to protect costume.
.. Keep plenty of tissues and cleansing cream on hand for removal.
.. The more light used, the more makeup necessary.
FACE FUZZ
A hairy disguise can turn Webelos Scouts into wild men of the woods. Use curtain fringe for heavy brows,
cotton batting for a beard, and knotted yard for a mustache. All attach with adhesive tape.
THINGS TO DO WITH SONGS
1. Add motions that will fit the words.
2. Divide the audience into two groups and have one group sing one line and the other sing the next line.
3. Sing familiar words of one song to the tune of another.
4. Add musical or rhythm instruments.
5. Sing in a round.
CONDUCTING MUSIC
Every song can be written on a staff with symbols for
notes, tempo, etc. One of these symbols on the staff is
called the time signature. The time signature looks like two
numbers piled on top of each other.
The top number tells us how many beats are in a
measure... and that’s what’s important to know when we
conduct music. If we have a song that has 3 beats to the
measure, then we conduct the song using the second
diagram.
It’s just like making a triangle in the air. However, most
Cub Scout songs have 2 beats or 4 beats per measure.
Try singing Jingle Bells. It has 4 beats per measure.
Start singing on beat 1 as you come down with your hand,
following the syllables you sing. At the end of “bells,” you
should be back up to the top of diagram 3.
Three Blind Mice also has 4 beats per measure. “Three”
will always be sung on the down beat (the first beat of the
measure). Get the rhythm going and stay steady with the
beat and you can conduct a song!
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 3 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAKE A PUPPET STAGE
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 4 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
STAGE DIRECTIONS AND WHAT THEY MEAN
URC – Up right center
UC – Up center
ULC – Up left center
RC – Right center
C – Center
LC – Left center
DRC – Down right center
DC – Down center
DLC – Down left center
Don’t get lost!
More on the Showman Activity Badge
The Showman Activity Badge offers a choice of puppetry, music, or drama. A WEBELOS can pick the area
that suits him best. Showman Activity Badge is in the Mental Skills group.
The Showman activity badge has something for every Webelos scout. For the natural actor there is drama,
for the shy boy there is puppetry, and for every boy there is music. The aim of the badge is not to produce
skilled entertainers, but to expose boys to theater and to music arts, to help them build self-confidence, and of
course, to have fun. Everyone loves a show and most all boys have a generous chunk of ham in them and want
nothing better than a chance to let it out. If you don't give them a chance under controlled conditions, they will
take it when you least expect they want it.
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 5 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
The Showman activity badge gives them a chance to let out the hidden barely Shakespeare, Jerry Lewis,
Leonard the Great or what ever happens to be their style. It allows them to express themselves musically be it
kazoo or Steinway. Providing the entertainment for the pack meeting will be a challenge gladly met by Webelos
Scout boys and the sillier the better! The badge covers most of the field of entertainment and acquaints the
boys with ways of putting on various shows or skits. Making the props also can be used as part of the Craftsman
badge. Skits and Songs are covered elsewhere in the Bugle. Every conscientious leader of boys is working to
further develop the whole boy- physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally so he will be prepared to take
his place as a well-adjusted member of his social group. The Showman badge offers the opportunity for a boy to
develop his creativity and broaden his base of aptitudes.
Objectives:
.. To instill an appreciation of the fine arts.
.. To expose boys to entertainment professions.
.. To expand the imagination and creativity of WEBELOS.
.. To increase boys' self-confidence in front of audiences.
Pack and Den Ideas
.. Junior and Senior high school plays.
.. Make up a Webelos band to entertain at a pack meeting.
.. Learn magic tricks to do as a skit. Or take your magic show on the road to a residential center for seniors or
children.
.. Make a video tape of a play the WEBELOS write and perform. Show it to parents or in a demonstration
corner of a pack meeting.
.. Invite an artist, and/or a musician to a den meeting to tell about their profession or hobby.
.. Write and/or perform a skit complete with scenery and costumes.
.. Attend a folk music festival. Learn to sing a folk song. Learn about the history of the song.
.. Invite the boys to tell about the instruments that they play.
.. Make an audio tape of a radio program the boys perform.
.. Invite a drama teacher to speak
.. Put on a program for the pack meeting
.. Make puppets, write and put on a puppet show
.. Visit a nursing home and perform music
.. Make a stage and costumes for a play
.. Make some homemade band instruments - try to play a tune on them.
.. Scouts like silly or gross songs. (Songs about eating worms, etc. are great.)
.. Invite an actor or drama teacher to explain stage directions.
.. Ask a clown, actor, or make-up artist to show the den how to apply stage makeup.
.. Learn how to make sound effects.
.. Learn how to make other special effects, lighting.
.. Videotape a short movie.
.. Invite a high school drama teacher to explain and demonstrate make-up techniques.
.. Attend a high school play or concert.
.. Ask a Shriner clown to give a talk on clowning and give a demonstration.
.. Write a puppet play and make the puppets to act it out.
.. Put on an advancement ceremony for your Pack meeting.
.. Talk about sound effects and let the boys try some of them.
.. Use a tape recorder to tape the boy’s voices and let them hear how they sound.
.. Visit a TV or radio station and watch programming in action.
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 6 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
.. Have a story-telling session. Have each boy come prepared to tell the best true-life story he knows about
something that happened to himself or a friend or family member. This is an opportunity to emphasize the
importance of good listening and the value of sharing ideas.
Ceremonies
Getting Started Opening Ceremony-
A dramatization using four Webelos, who stand in a diagonal line at one side, facing the audience, and the
Webelos Leader, who is facing the Webelos and the audience on the other side.
W.L.: David, how would you set out to do a good turn?
(David takes one step forward.)
W.A.: John, how would you get started on a camp out?
(John takes one step forward.)
W.L.: Ray, how would you start on a hike?
(Ray takes one step forward.)
W.A.: Mike, how would you start out to achieve your first activity badge?
(Mike takes one step forward.)
W.L.: Yes, it is as simple as that to make a thousand mile journey, to run a race, to learn a trade, to meet new
people, to climb a mountain, to create a masterpiece, to build sky-scrapers, to design a spaceship. Yes to
do anything worthwhile, there is always a first step, and it is the most difficult one to take.
WA: If you are to progress in life, or in Tigers, Cubs, Webelos, or Boy Scouting, you must first face your goal
and then get started with that all important first step!
(On the words FIRST STEP, all the boys take one step forward again and then salute.)
The Athenian Oath Closing-
Cub # 1: We will never bring disgrace to this, our city, by any act of dishonesty or cowardice.
Cub # 2: We will fight for the ideals and sacred things of the city, both alone and with our companions.
Cub # 3: We will revere and obey the city's laws.
Cub # 4: We will try unceasingly to quicken the sense of civic duty in others.
Cub # 5: In every way, we will strive to pass the city on to our sons, greater and better than it was when our
fathers passed it on to us.
Skits
Putting on a Skit
The Cub Scout literature has poems and stories that can be used for skits, but the public library has a lot
more material. Ask your librarian for directions to the literature the theater sections of the library. The youth
or juvenile sections of the library also has material that is more suited to the age of the Webelos Scout. A good
skit is really a play in one act and can be more readily handled by 9 and 10- year-old boys. The Cub Scout How to
Book contains some good ideas on how to write your own skit or one act play. Let the Cub's be creative. They can
make the play up about anything they are interested in, sports, Scouting, a silly moment in the Den meeting, etc.
Making costumes and putting on "stage makeup" makes the task more fun and enjoyable.
Webelos Do Their Best
Cast: 7 Webelos Scouts, Leader
Props: Desk, 7 Chairs, 7 Sheets of paper, 7 pencils.
Setting: All are seated and leader stands before them, passing out paper and pencil.
Leader: Boys, before we begin, let’s review. What is a 7-letter word with 3 “U’s” in it?
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 7 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
Webelos #1: Gee, I don’t know, but it must be unusual! (Puzzled look on face!)
Leader: If April showers bring May Flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Webelos #2: Pilgrims.
Leader: Can anyone tell me what a comet is?
Webelos #3: Yes, a star with a tail.
Leader: Very Good!! Now, will someone name a comet?
Webelos #3: Er, Er, Lassie?
Leader: (Shaking head in dismay) Boys, you may begin on your papers.
Webelos #4: (Whispering to Webelos #5) I made 100 yesterday at school. (Webelos #5 looks surprised) 30 on
math, 30 on reading and 40 on spelling!!
Leader: (To Webelos #5) Did you look at his paper? (Points to #4)
Webelos #5: Why??
Leader: The first 4 answers are the same but on the 5th answer he put “I don’t know” and you put “Me neither.”
(To Webelos #6) Why did you make such a low grade on this?
Webelos #6: It must have been the room temperature.
Leader: Did you find the questions hard?
Webelos #7: Oh No!! Just the answers were hard!
Leader: After having observed the den and looking at your papers, I think you have done your best. I would like
to award the Showman badge at the next pack meeting. You’ve written a terrific skit.
Crafts
Face Paint-
Materials:
6 Tbsp cornstarch
3 Tbsp water
3 Tbsp cold cream,
Food coloring
6 c muffin tin
Directions:
In each cup of a muffin tin, put 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon each of cold cream and water.
Add a different color food coloring to each cup.
Glove Finger Puppet--"Three Little Pigs"-
Materials:
hot glue gun (used by leaders),
scissors
garden gloves
small pom-poms (pink, gray & black),
large pom-poms (same colors)
pink and gray felt
googly eyes
Directions:
Hot glue large pom poms to finger tips-palm side of glove.
Glue on small pom poms for noses.
Then glue on ears and eyes.
Glue hat (cut from felt) on wolf and
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 8 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
Dot nostrils on each pig with a black permanent marker.
Use your creativity to create other glove-finger puppets, like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the
Beanstalk, etc.
Soda Straw Harmonica-
Cut a strip of corrugated cardboard with large corrugations, 8" long and 1 1/2" wide.
Cut 8 straws into the following lengths: 8 1/2", 73/4", 6 3/4", 6" 5 1/4", 4 1/2" 4 1/4"
Push the straws between the sections of the cardboard beginning about 1/2" from one end and leaving four
empty corrugations between straws.
The shorter the vibrations, the higher the pitch.
To play, blow over the straws.
Tin Masks-
Materials:
Scissors
Sharp nail
Aluminum pie pans (9" or larger and 4" pot-pie size),
Brass fasteners (various sizes)
Directions:
1. Using the 9" size pan as the base for the mask, have the Scouts imagine all the facial features that might
appear on the mask. Have them draw out a design for their special creation.
2. If any embossed design is used, place the pan on a stack of newspaper for support. Using the nail or a ballpoint
pen, use firm, even pressure to draw the design on the plate. Enough force should be used to bend the
plate out on the other side, but be careful not to puncture to pan.
3. Cut shapes for added features from other pans. The pot-pie size is great for this part. The shapes can be
cut from paper first to be used as a guide for cutting the tin.
4. Use small brass fasteners to connect the shapes to the base of the mask. Make small nail holes in the pieces
of the pan where they are to be connected. Push the fastener through both pans to make the connection.
5. Larger brass fasteners can be used for additional decoration. Foil wrap or tinsel may also be used for
details.
6. Tape a tab ring pull from a soft drink can to the back to use as a hanger for the mask.
The Showman Activity Badge offers a choice of puppetry, music, or drama. A WEBELOS can pick the area
that suits him best. Showman Activity Badge is in the Mental Skills group.
Objectives –
.. To instill an appreciation of the fine arts To expose boys to entertainment profession
.. To expand the imagination and creativity of WEBELOS
.. To increase boys' self-confidence in front of audiences
The Showman activity badge has something for every Webelos scout. For the natural actor there is drama, for the shy boy
there is puppetry, and for every boy there is music. The aim of the badge is not to produce skilled entertainers, but to
expose boys to theater and to music arts, to help them build self-confidence, and of course, to have fun. Everyone loves a
show and most all boys have a generous chunk of ham in them and want nothing better than a chance to let it out. If you
don't give them a chance under controlled conditions, they will take it when you least expect they want it.
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 9 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
The Showman activity badge gives them a chance to let out the hidden barely Shakespeare, Jerry Lewis,
Leonard the Great or what ever happens to be their style. It allows them to express themselves musically be it
kazoo or Steinway. Providing the entertainment for the pack meeting will be a challenge gladly met by Webelos
Scout boys and the sillier the better! The badge covers most of the field of entertainment and acquaints the
boys with ways of putting on various shows or skits. Making the props also can be used as part of the Craftsman
badge. Every conscientious leader of boys is working to further develop the whole boy- physically, emotionally,
spiritually, and mentally so he will be prepared to take his place as a well-adjusted member of his social group.
The Showman badge offers the opportunity for a boy to develop his creativity and broaden his base of
aptitudes.
The Showman activity badge has something for every boy. For the natural actor, there's drama; for the shy
boy, there's puppetry; and for almost every boy, there's music. To earn this badge, the boys need to complete 4
requirements in one of the three areas. The aim of the badge is not to produce skilled entertainers, but to
expose the boys to theater and music arts, to help them build self-confidence, and of course to have fun. This
badge offers boys the chance to develop their natural abilities. This badge is a natural outlet for becoming
comfortable with performing skits for others at den and pack meetings.
Games
Movie Star Walk
This is best done in a large building with many obstacles. Divide the group into teams of six to eight people
and tie them together at the wrist to form a "chain." Use long balls of colored string or yarn to layout a course.
Have each team follow their colored yarn wherever it goes without breaking their chain or the yarn. The first
team with their yarn completely rolled up and their chain not unbroken wins.
Acting
After discussing how things feel, everyone pantomimes an emotional reaction to feeling something and the others try to
guess what he is feeling. Examples: Holding a snake, picking a prickly plant, hot sand on bare feet, something sticky.
Show Biz Buzz
Choose a number that the players cannot say aloud. For example choose number 5. Start off counting around the circle.
When the counting reaches any number that includes a 5 or a multiple of 5, that player must name a television show instead
of the number. Counting should be rapid. When a boy can't think of a show, he is out. No show can be repeated. Start off
with an easy number like 5. When they become good at it choose other numbers. You may want to change categories as well.
How about movies, musical stars, musical instruments?
Den Meeting Activities:
• Invite a drama coach to discuss stage directions and what they mean
• Invite a clown or makeup artist to demonstrate makeup for the boys
• Learn how to make sound effects for plays and skits
• Tape record the boys to show how different they sound on tape from what they are used to
• Let the boys create their own skits to perform in the den or at a pack meeting
• Video tape a play that the boys create, act in, and make costume for
• Design a puppet stage out of cardboard boxes
• Let them try their hand at making different types of puppets for plays
• Set up a shadow puppet screen for a play
• Ask the band director to show the boys the different instruments in the band
• Make homemade instruments for a den "band"
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 10 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
• Have a den meeting where the boys bring in their favorite music to listen to
• Perform a song with the den "band"
• Go to a play, recital, or concert
• Visit a rehearsal of a local play
• Visit a TV station or a recording studio
Costumes
Mustaches
There is probably no other disguise that can change a person's appearance so quickly as a fine mustache.
Behind a mustache you can be anybody- politician, detective, television star, or even the bearded circus lady.
Dressing up is great fun, and every child should have a special drawer or box of old shoes, out-of-style hats,
dresses, jewelry-and mustaches. Actually, a mustache can be the whole costume, as most of the time you really
don't need an elaborate disguise. Still, if you think that the mustache alone isn't convincing, a large bath towel
and a few safety pins can help round out your image. It's so fun to imitate life-being the "baddy" with a pencilthin
mustache curled up at the end, or maybe the "goody" with a big floppy mustache. You won't really feel the
magic of your mustache disguise until you see yourself in a mirror!
Constructions
Use heavy paper to make your mustache. If you want, you can glue yarn, fuzzy fabric, etc to your paper
mustache. The mustaches shown here are examples. You can copy them or make up your own. It's easy to invent
a mustache. Draw the mustache pattern on a sheet of heavy paper like posterboard or file folder. Cut out the
mustache, and try it on for size. Be sure to make the two little hook cutouts that attach to your nose.
Experiment until you get the hooks just right so the mustache will stay in place. That's all there is to it. Now
why not have a mustache party or maybe a mustache day?
Marionettes
In America, puppets brought theater to many folks. If they lived
too far from the theater, they could take advantage of the puppet
show. Help your boys recall the theater, and express themselves by
making puppets. They can be made from empty spools, craft sticks,
string, or whatever you have handy.
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 11 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
Thaumatropes By Barb Stephens
A thaumatrope is a card with different designs on each side which, when the card is twirled, blend into one.
Create one or both of these nature thaumatropes. Enlarge graphics to desired size.
Cut out a pair of pictures. You can make then square or circular.
If you cut out square shapes, glue them both right-side-up on opposite sides of a pencil or straw. Place the
pencil between your palms and rub your palms in opposite directions, back and forth.
If you cut out circular shapes, place one upside-down behind the other. Then poke a tiny hole on the sides of
both papers and tie a string (about 6" each) into each hole. Now twirl the string so it gets cork-screwed. Then
alternately relax the pull and tighten the pull on the string so it rotate
Shoulder Strap Stage
Materials:
.. Corrugated cardboard
.. Velvet to cover cardboard
.. Velvet or other material for straps
.. Cover cardboard with velvet.
Attach straps to cardboard and adjust size to fit person. Curtain
may be hung in front of velvet cover box if desired. Puppets are
manipulated through the holes. Shape cardboard to desired size
according to illustration. Cut holes in cardboard for arms.
Make Up
Homemade Make-Up Recipes
White Greasepaint-
2 tsp. of white shortening
5 tsp. of corn starch
1 tsp, of white flour
A few drops of glycerin
The ingredients can be mixed easily with a spatula. Store in a tightly
covered container. To apply, start by cleansing face with cold cream
or another cream cleanser. Then start spreading grease paint on face with finger tips. You want it thick enough
to color the face but not so thick that the greasepaint cracks when you move the facial muscles. If it seems too
dry to spread evenly, add a few drops of glycerin and mix well.
Brown Greasepaint –
1 tsp. of white shortening
24 tsp. of unsweetened Cocoa
5 tsp. of corn starch
1 tsp. of white flour
A few drops of glycerin
Mix the same as for white greasepaint, You may need a little extra glycerin in this greasepaint because of the
added ingredient. Remove with baby oil.
Webelos Showman Activity Badge
Santa Clara County Council -- 12 -- 2008 Pow Wow & University of Scouting
Translucent Colored Make-Up –
In a small container, mix some liquid cleanser with powdered sugar, till desired thickness. Add food coloring to
desired color. Make-up should be about the consistency of cold cream, so add powdered sugar till then. Thismake-
up can be applied with the fingers, but a more even coverage is achieved by using a small make-up sponge.
This make-up allows the natural skin tons to be tinted, rather than totally covered up. It will wipe right off with
tissues, or can be removed with baby oil, as most make-ups are. Again... this make-up, as well as most others,
works best when applied to a thoroughly cleansed face that has been tissued dry.
White Face –
Thoroughly cleanse face, then apply a thin layer of cleansing lotion or cold cream over areas to be made up. Dab
a clean cotton ball into white cake eye shadow and pat on face. Try to cover face as evenly as possible with as
many layers of powder as you need to get the desired effect.
Black Outlines –
Black cake eyeliner works the best for most striking black details and dramatic outlining. Especially for clown
make-up, large mouth areas and other details should be outlined in black first, and then colored in with the
desired colors.
Indian Faces –
Rather than using the very dark greasepaint for Indians, use a cosmetic cream or cake foundation just darker
than natural skin color. Leave areas to be colored free of foundation, so the colors will show up better.
Sound Effects
Sound can include three separate things: voice, sound effects and music. The primary concern is that the
audience is able to hear the show clearly. For beginners a narrator can stand in front of the stage and “tell” the
story to the audience. Have the boys speak their lines loudly and project their voices past the stage area. This
takes practice.
Both sound effects and special effects will add another dimension to the play. Be creative, but keep effect
subtle. Do not overuse any one effect. Match the appropriate sound to your needs and situation. Timing is
important.
.. Whistles, horns, clocks rattles and musical instruments add interesting sounds to a puppet show. You can
also use a record player, or tape recorder.
.. You can make lots of sounds with a kazoo.
.. Make bubbling sounds by blowing through a straw into a cup of water.
.. To make a tremendous crash, drop a pan full of metal lids.
.. Hit 2 cups on a tabletop to make sounds like a horse.
.. Use a cap gun for a loud bang.
.. Rolling dried peas in a pan can sound like rain.
.. Slam 2 books together to make the sound of a door closing.
.. Shake and squeeze a plastic bottle of baby powder to make a puff of smoke.
.. In a dark room, use a flashlight to make lightening.