Webelos Ideas Showman
Program outings available locally :
Suggestions from the Baltimore Area Council:
The Showman Activity Badge has Webelos doing activities in PUPPETRY, MUSIC, and DRAMA. A Webelos Scout may discover an area that he really likes. Encourage them to have fun with this Badge. The Showman Activity Badge is in the Mental Skills group.
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.Where to Go and What to Do
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 videotape 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 audiotape of a radio program the boys perform.
Puppetry Activities Have the boys make puppets out of a variety of materials. A wooden spoon can be made into a variety of different puppets. The bowl of the spoon becomes the head. Hair can be made from yarn, and clothes can be made of felt, or simply painted on. A fun and different idea for puppets is to use work gloves. Work gloves come in assorted colors and textures. The white gloves with black polka dots on the fingers make great Dalmatian puppies. Brown gloves can be used as reindeer with brown chenille stick antlers. Have the glove peek out of a chimney, or make a cardboard sleigh. A green glove can be turned into a collection of worms. An orange glove can become a family of tigers or giraffes. The puppets can be animated by inserting the glove into a decorated box to match the style of the puppet and moving the puppet with the use of a stick inserted at the base of the box. Or, the boys can simply use the gloves on their hands. Build a simple stage. This can be accomplished with a table and a blanket draped over it. Even a clothesline strung between two chairs can hold up the curtains. A more elaborate stage can be made out of a very large cardboard box. This can be decorated to coordinate with the play’s theme.
Tips on Puppets Puppets will be more appealing if given a definite personality, this means that your puppet should have his own character, which is unlike any other puppet on stage. The main idea is to make him an outstanding individual with his own mannerisms, with his particular way of walking and talking. Facial features of a puppet will help make him outstanding in appearance. Give your puppet a face that will attract attention. The features of a puppet should be exaggerated. Give him an extra big nose or a very crooked mouth, so that the audience can recognize him easily. Let your puppet speak and act according to the kind of person he represents. When putting on a puppet show, keep actions clear and simple. Make sure the audience can tell which puppet is doing the talking. Jiggle the talking puppet somewhat as he talks, nod his head or move slightly forward. The other puppets on stage should remain motionless until their turn to speak. Be sure to speak clearly. It is harder to understand a person’s voice when you cannot watch his face and lips when he talks. Do not hide one puppet behind the others.
Fast Puppet Stages
A cardboard box lid makes a good stage for one or two puppets. Cut holes in the lid. The puppeteer sticks his hands through the holes to work the puppets on his hands. He can drape a sheet over his body if he wants.
Instant stages include an open umbrella placed on the floor or a card table with a sheet draped over it or set on its side.
Cut large cardboard pieces in the shape of the side view of a ship. (rowboat, ocean liner, Viking boat, etc.)
Different Types Of Puppets
1. Paper Bags – Common paper sacks such as lunch sacks may be decorated with paints, crayons, colored paper, etc.
2. Sock – Roll paper into a tube ¾” across the inside and about 2” long, fasten with tape. Place stuffing material over the end of the tube and down its side to form the shape of the head. Now slip the end of the sock over the stuffing. Tie the sock onto the tube securely. The nose may be made by pulling a section of the sock out and wrapping with thread or a separate stuffed piece of cloth may be sewn on. Buttons, beads, etc make good eyes, ears, or noses. Paint or markers may be used to add further details to the faces. The simplest costume for this puppet is a rectangular piece of cloth folded at the center and a slot cut into the folded edge. Insert the neck of the puppet head into this slot and sew together. Sew each side of the costume together leaving an opening at each side of the top for the boy’s thumb and middle finger, which will be the puppet’s arms. The boy’s index finger fits into the tube to operate the head.
3. Paper Mache’ Heads – Light weight and durable heads for puppets may be made by modeling paper mache’ to the desired shape. Instructions Prepare a wooden base or standard using any convenient piece of wood, about 5” square and ¾” thick. Put the rod in the center (rod may be ½” x 6 or 8” dowel) at the base. Wrap some crumpled paper around the top of the rod on the modeling base and tie it together with a piece of string. When tied, the ball should be about 1” in diameter. Apply paper mache’ around the wadded paper until the head is 2 ½” in diameter and about 3” high. Form the eyes, ears, and nose either by squeezing the soft-ball to shape or by adding the features as separate pieces. After the desired shape has been made, dry the entire unit slowly. Drying maybe hastened by placing the head in a warm oven. Turn off the oven at regular intervals to keep it from getting to hot. When the head is well dried, pull out the crumpled paper. Smooth off the rough spots on the thoroughly dried head with sandpaper or a file. Apply several coats of shellac or glue sizing, then paint on the desired features. Hair may be painted on, yarn, crepe paper, theatrical hair or other suitable material may be glued on. If this type of head is to used for a hand puppet be sure the neck opening is large enough for the fingers.
Finger Dancers: Finger dancers are very comical. The fingers of the dancers re cut out of heavy paper or lightweight cardboard and are colored with crayons or paints. Each figure should be between 3 and 4 inches high. Two holes are cut near the base of each figure just big enough to let your fingers pass through them. To make a figure dance, put your finger through the holes, and move them to represent the dancer’s legs. You can walk sedately, do high kicks, stand on one toe, jump in the air, and do a number of other amusing antics.
Music Activities Folk Music Folk music is as old as man himself. And primitive man probably sang folk songs, keeping time by clapping his hands. As long as there have been people, there have been folk songs. Many of our folk songs were brought here long ago by people who left Europe to escape persecution or to seek a fortune in the new world. Traditional folk songs are those passed on by word of mouth. Often the words and sometimes the music change over the years. Just as folk singers come from many different backgrounds, the American folk tune is a mixture of different cultures and music styles. You can hear the sea chantey “Blow the Man Down”, the French Canadian tune” Alouette”, a railroading song “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” and a Negro spiritual “When the Saints Go Marchin’ Inn.” Folk songs can be as old as “Greensleeves”, a 400-year old English ballad -or as new as today’s folk singers. The unamplified guitar is to the folk singer what a bus is to a bus driver. But folk singers also play other instruments such as the banjo, lute, or mandolin.
Compose A Song In Cub Scouting, we like to sing fun songs, especially about Cub Scouting or something gross or fun. We can even make our NEW song. We don’t have to write a new tune though. We can use a tune from a song that we know, like “Three Blind Mice.” It’s an easy tune to remember and an easy tune to sing. Here’s one example:
Road Kill Stew (Tune: Three Blind Mice)
Road Kill stew,
Road Kill stew,
Tastes so good,
Just like it should.
You go on down to the Interstate
You wait for the critter to meet its fate.
You take it home and you make it great!
Road Kill stew,
Road Kill stew.
Now, You compose a song. First think of something that seems funny, but not insulting. Pick some words that rhyme so you can put them as the last word in pairs of lines.
Some rhyming examples: Wise – eyes Shirt – dirt Cake – mistake Lad – bad – mad – sad Shred – head Snow – blow Boys – toys – noise Grain – plain Scout – snout – shout Quiver – shiver Song – strong – long Cub – shrub – sub – shrub Sky – fly – tie – pie Wave – brave Air – there – share Tree – free – me – three
Have your Webelos select their favorite song, by their favorite band. But instead of making a music video to with the song, have them write and present a puppet show instead!
Make a Band Instrument with These:
Tambourine -made by stretching upholstery plastic tightly between a pair of embroidery hoops. Painted bottle caps are fastened to the sides with thin wire. Decorate the top with markers or paints.
Bongo Drums -made from cardboard tubing from carpets and such. Make the head from more upholstery fabric. Stretch tightly and secure.
Washtub bass -made from a washtub turned upside down and a broomstick. Attach the broomstick to the washtub bottom. Run a heavy rubber band from the top of the broomstick to the edge of the washtub bottom. Vary the sound by stretching the rubber band back and forth while strumming.
Spoons -made from two tablespoons and a small block of wood. Fasten the spoons bowl-to-bowl with the wood, about 1/2 inch thick, between the handles. Fasten them at the handles. The spoon bowls should have a small amount of space between them. Play the spoons by holding them in one hand and striking them between the other hand and the thigh.
Add a cheap harmonica and you’ve got a great band. Don’t worry too much about the sounds and being in tune, the singing win probably drown out the music anyway!
Find the Word FOLK MUSIC DRUM CELLO VIOLIN VOICE GUITAR DULCIMER AUTOHARP STAFF TREBLE CLEF SHARP FLAT NOTE REST NATURAL BANJO MEASURE FLUTE BASS CLEF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Drama Activities
Contact a local theatre group and ask if your den can visit during a dress rehearsal. Review the play before attending to make sure it is suitable for the boys, and also give the boys an idea as to what the play is about. While you are there, you may even get a tour of the stage area, the props, dressing rooms and lighting areas. It’s a perfect opportunity to try out the stage directions. The boys may even get to meet the “stars” and get their autographs. It can be a special evening for the boys.
Write, put on, and take part in a one-act play. Let them come up with a theme. It’s easier if it’s something familiar to them, such as a recent school carnival, or school project. This can be performed for the Pack after a camp out or at the campfire during a camp Out. Use as many boys as there are in the den. The boys remain off stage until their turn, and then they stay on stage until everyone runs off at the end. Use props as desired. Boys can make up their own lines to suit their own camping adventures.
Simple Sound Effects Knock on the Door – Hit a half gallon plastic bottle sharply on the end with a rubber spatula.
Hail – Pour rice on a pane of glass (near a microphone if you have one).
Lightning – Flash a white light off and on or use a photographic flash, along with the thunder sound.
Thunder – Grasp a metal cookie sheet at one end, placing your thumb on the underside, shake the cookie sheet so that it vibrates. Bang it against the knee for an occasional loud thunder-clap.
Rain – Fill a tin can full with dry peas or beans. Rotate the can slowly (in front of a microphone if you have one).
Crashes – Fill a wooden box with broken glass and a few stones, then nail on the top. Tip the end of the box to create various kinds of crashes.
Car Brakes – Slide a drinking glass across a pane of glass (in front of a microphone if you have one). T
rain - Place small wire nails inside a flat box, such as a Band-Aid box. Move it back and forth in rhythm…chug, chug, chug, chug….. Speed up as the train goes faster and slow down as it is coming into the station.
Fire – Crumple and twist cellophane into a ball and then release it (in front of a microphone if you have one).
Sword Fight – Holding an aluminum cookie sheet in one hand, hit it with a metal spoon.
Simple Costumes
1. Old Clothing – Costumes can be made from anything you can think of in the way of old clothing. Use different things to add to them to dress them up, such as feathers or beads. Broken toy guns, foil for deputy badges or for covering belt buckles, vinyl scrapes for vest and chaps will be useful for a cowboy costume.
2. Crepe Paper – Crepe paper is an inexpensive costume material. It can be glued, stapled, draped and folded. Its ability to stretch is also an important factor. Simple tunics, vests, shirts, and hats can be fashioned quite easily. With its wide range of colors crepe paper has many possibilities.
3. Paper Sacks – Grocery sacks and brown wrapping paper can be used for both costumes and masks. They can be painted with latex or tempura paint. For a leather-like appearance, crush and recrush brown paper sacks, or brown wrapping paper until it is soft and wrinkled. Then press with a lukewarm iron. This works for Indian and Western costumes.
4. Cardboard Box – Cut holes for head and arms, Then let the boys paint them with latex paint, felt tip markers, and pens for highlights. You can have clowns, animals, vegetables, robots, musical instruments or most anything else. This is limited only by the boys imaginations.
Find the Word Muppets Star Wars Harry Potter Star Trek Bushwacked Richie Rich Beach Boys Xmen Back Street Boys Power Rangers Balto Spiderman Shrek Spy Kids Snow Dogs Speed Robin Hood
Theater Definitions Invite Student actors from the local High School or acting institutes in your area to come in and talk to the boys about acting as a career. Let them demonstrate the different definitions used in acting. See if they would be will to present a demonstration of the various styles of acting to the boys.
Blocking This is how actors move on stage and where they move.
Down stage The part of the stage closest to the audience.
Upstage The part of the stage farthest from the audience. In old theaters, the stage used to slant down toward the audience so that the audience could see the actors better. This is called a raked stage.
Stage left The part of the stage to the actor’s left.
Stage right The part of the stage to the actor’s right.
Center stage The center of the stage.
Open Turn Actor is to turn toward the audience
Closed turn Turn made away and with the actor’s back to the audience, usually considered a poor movement. The opposite, an open turn, is most often preferred.
Cross Movement of an actor from one position on the stage to another
Cross above To move upstage/behind a person or prop
Cross below To move downstage/in front of a person or prop
Down Right Acting area closest to the audience and on the right side of the stage as you face the audience (the actor’s right)
Entrance 1) entering the stage; 2) opening in the set that is used for entering
Exit 1) leaving the stage; 2) opening in the set that is used for leaving
Move in To cross toward the center of the stage
Move out To cross away from the center of the stage
Turn In Actor is to face upstage, away from the audience
Turn Out Actor is to face downstage, toward the audience
Up-Left Center That part of the playing area farthest from the audience and just left of center as you face the audience (the actor’s left)
Upstaging To cross deliberately to a place upstage of another actor and assume a full front or one quarter position, thereby forcing the other performer to turn to a three-quarter position in order to talk with the up stager Front or Act Curtain (house curtain): Curtain that masks the acting area or stage from the audience. Opens show and can be used to separate Acts.
Apron: Area between the front curtain & edge of the stage.
Proscenium Opening: Opening through which the audience views the play or performance.
Theatre in the Round (arena stage): A stage which may be viewed from all sides simultaneously.
Wings: Offstage areas to R and L of acting/onstage area.
Teaser: Heavy curtain hung from above the proscenium opening to adjust the height of the opening.
Tormentors: Curtain or flats on the sides of the proscenium opening used to vary the width of the opening.
Borders: Short curtains hung above the acting area to mask lighting and flown scenery from audience.
Tabs: Long curtains hung parallel to the tormentors on both wings to create masking or entrances.
Trap: An opening in the stage floor. Fly Loft (flies) Space above the stage where scenery may be lifted out of sight of the audience
Drop: A large cloth (often painted) used for creating a scene or picture background on stage.
Scrim: A drop of loosely woven material (cheesecloth) that is opaque if front lit and is transparent if backlit.
Flats: Wooden frames with a flat surface used to create walls or separations on stage.
Backstage stage area beyond the acting area, including the dressing rooms
Offstage areas of the stage not in view of the audience
Pit area immediately below the stage, usually lower than the auditorium level; used by the orchestra
Platform stage stage raised above the audience area, which is placed at one end of a room
Spike to mark the stage floor with chalk or tape to indicate the position of furniture, properties, or scenery so that they will be placed correctly during scene shifts.