Fearful Symmetry

This module is designed to help the Cub Scout explore how symmetry affects your life each day.

Note

General Information about this activity:

  • When?: 04/08 at 06:30pm

  • Instructor: Melia Gordon

  • E-Mail address: boyscouts@meliagordon.com

  • Pre-reqs submission: google form

  • Zoom link for activity: https://zoom.us/j/93949066800

  • Bio-sketch: Melia Gordon is an electrical engineer turned yoga teacher. She has been involved in Girl Scouts for 17 years and BSA Scouts for almost 10 years, helping with fundraising for Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA and as Assistant Scoutmaster for her oldest’s girl troop. When not teaching, she coaches FIRST robotics teams for her 3 kids to keep her engineering skills sharp.

Pre-requisites

What is a pre-requisite? It is an activity you should complete before the meeting! Here is a list of pre-requisites you should do to complete this Award. If you do not have time to complete it before the day of the activity, do not despair! You can always send your work later to your instructor at the address listed above!

  1. Requirement 1. Choose A or B or C and complete ALL the requirements.

    1. Watch an episode or episodes (about one hour total) of a show that involves symmetry, mirrors, or artistic patterns (see suggested channels below). Then do the following:

      1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.

      2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

      Note

      Examples of videos you can watch:

    2. Read (about one hour total) about anything that involves symmetry, mirrors, or artistic patterns. Then do the following:

      1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.

      2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

    3. Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything that involves symmetry, mirrors, or artistic patterns. Then do the following:

      1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.

      2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.

Warning

Pre-req submissions

Finally, have your cub scouts ENTER their pre work in this form before April 5th to allow us to create a truly interactive and personalized learning experience. If you are late that is OK, please still fill it out up to our scheduled class. Feel free to contact the instructor (See email in blue box at the top of this page).

What will we do during the meeting?

  1. Complete all of the following:

    1. Using toothpicks and colored marshmallows, or other appropriate materials, make a model of the crystal structure of olivine.

    2. Using toothpicks and colored marshmallows, or other appropriate materials, make a model of the crystal structure of halite.

    3. Use your models to guess which of the two minerals is harder.

    Note

    For this, Cubs will need toothpicks and small marshmallows (or something similar - gum drops, gummy bears, skewers and big marshmallows, etc)

  2. We will complete the following two activities:

    1. Make a paper lantern

      1. Fold a large piece of paper in quarters lengthwise.

      2. Cut decorative or symbolic shapes into the two folded edges.

      3. Unfold, tape the two edges of the paper together, and smooth into a cylinder. Hang by a string.

      Note

      For this, Cubs should have a piece of construction paper, scissors and 3 pieces of string or yarn that are 8-12” long.

    2. Learn about the design of Navajo rugs.

      1. Look at some pictures of Navajo rugs. Find as many similarities as possible within each rug. Is there a repeated pattern? Is there a mirror image? How many?

      2. Using different colors of paper, or other materials, make your own Navajo-like rug.

      Note

      For this, Cubs should have graph paper and some different colored markers, pencils, etc.

  3. Visit a place where symmetry is important (such as an art exhibit, building site, or printer) or visit with a person who works with symmetry (such as an artist, interior designer, or landscape architect). Discuss with your counselor the symmetry or ideas of balance involved.

    We will take a virtual tour of Jason Nemec’s wood shop in Charlton, NY. He will show us how he uses symmetry to sculpt bowls out of trees!

  4. Discuss with your counselor how symmetry impacts your everyday life.

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