ELECTIVE ADVENTURES
Curiosity Intrigue and Magic
Learn About the Adventure
Current requirements can be seen HERE as well as found in your rank manual - along with great ideas for completion. We guide you through the completion of the requirements in bold below.
Complete Requirements 1 and 2 plus at least one other.
Do the following:
(a) Learn a magic trick. Practice your magic trick so you can perform it in front of an audience.
(b) Create an invitation to a magic show.
(c) With your den or with your family, put on a magic show for an audience.
Spell your name using sign language, and spell your name in Braille.
Create a secret code. Share it with your family or den.
With the other Scouts in your den or with your family, crack a code that you did not create.
With the help of your parent, guardian, or other caring adult, conduct a science demonstration that shows how magic works and share what you learned from your science demonstration.
Office/ School Supplies
Kitchen
Apple or potato
A cup that you can’t see through
measuring cup, to pour water from
#1b | Magic Show
CUBS - Magic Hat Invitation.pdfPull out the art supplies and create an invitation to a magic show you will put on in your living room! Remember to include:
The name of your show
Date & Time
Need some help? Printout and use our template.
Template Directions:
Fill in the name of your show, date and time on the hat
Color the pieces and cut them out
Create a pocket - Use double-sided tape or glue to affix the half-hat section to the back of the full hat invitation. Only tape/ glue the bottom and sides - leave the top open.
Put your rabbit, wand, stars, and cards in the pocket
Deliver the invitation!
#2 | Sign Language and Braille
Sign Language
Use the American Sign Language guide below to spell your name!
What is Braille?
Reading by Touch
Braille is a system of touch reading and writing in which raised dots represent the letters of the alphabet and numbers, as well as music notes and symbols. Braille contains symbols for punctuation marks and provides a system of contractions and short‑form words to save space, making it an efficient method of tactile reading.
Braille is read by moving one or more fingers along each line. Both hands are usually involved in the reading process, and reading is generally done with the index fingers. Usually, one hand reads the majority of one line while the other hand locates the beginning of the next. Average reading speed is approximately 125 words per minute, but greater speeds of up to 200 words per minute are possible.
The Braille Alphabet
The braille cell, an arrangement of six dots, is the basic unit for reading and writing braille. Sixty-three different patterns are possible from these six dots.
(Note: As shown here, the “●” symbol represents a raised braille dot in the six-dot configuration. The “○” symbol represents a position in the cell where no braille dot occurs.)
The first ten letters of the alphabet (a–j) use only the dots in the upper two rows of the cell. The next ten letters of the alphabet (k–t) are formed by adding dot 3 to each of the first ten letters. The remaining letters, except for w, are formed by adding dots 3 and 6 to each of the first five letters. The letter “w” is an exception because the French alphabet did not contain a “w” when the code was created; the symbol for “w” was added later.
Learn more from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled Library of Congress
Braille_Alphabet.pdfMy Name in Braille.pdf#3 & #4 | Codes
Types of Codes.pdfCreate Your Own Code.pdfUse the code you created to make a secret message - see if someone can crack it!
Get someone else’s secret message and try to decipher it.
#1a/c & #5 | Science Magic!
A magic trick is a mystery. But there is a way to get to the bottom of a magical mystery. It is science!
Science is a way to find out why things happen a certain way. People who conduct experiments are called scientists.
Steel Straw
The Magic
You will make a regular plastic straw go through an apple
The Science:
This trick takes advantage of air pressure and good aim. When the straw encounters the hard surface of the fruit or tuber, air gets trapped inside the straw. This stiffens the straw so it can pierce through the flesh. Once through, the air is released and the straw will be flexible again.
Materials:
☐ apple or potato
☐ plastic straw
The Trick:
Hold the straw in your dominant hand.
Grasp it near the end so you can unobtrusively cap the end with your thumb and trap the air inside.
Swiftly stab the apple or potato with the straw
Disappearing Water
The Magic
You will pour water into a cup and it will disappear!
The Science:
Sodium polyacrylate is hygroscopic - it acts like a sponge and absorbs moisture. The compound turns into a solid gel when mixed with water. Naturally, this special property is why it is used in baby diapers to absorb moisture and keep babies dry and comfortable.
Materials:
☐ Sodium polyacrylate,
☐ a measuring spoon,
☐ a cup that you can’t see through,
☐ a cup to pour water from
The Trick:
Prepare by putting about 1 tablespoon of Sodium polyacrylate into the bottom of the cup (you may need to experiment with this part to get the right measurement before you perform the trick for other people).
Pour about ¼ cup of water into the cup. Build the suspense of the trick by talking to your audience while the magic is working. When the water is fully absorbed turn the cup over to show it has disappeared (don’t show the inside of the cup)
More fun with Sodium Polyacrylate!
DEHYDRATE
After you use the gel spread it out on wax paper or a plate and leave it alone for several days to a week. It will return to powder and can be reused!
(A sunny window away from drafts is a great location)
ADD SALT
Put your gel in a plastic sandwich bag and add a pinch of salt. Squish it around for a few seconds. What happened?
The gel will turn to a liquid. Salt permanently destroys the polymer chain. (A polymer is a large molecule made up of many smaller identical molecules.)
Instantly Turn Water Into Ice
The Magic
You will turn regular water into ice on the spot!
The Science:
It is all about how ice crystals form. The freezing temperature of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius. When this temperature is reached, the water molecules freeze by forming ice crystals. It is easier for the water molecules to turn to ice on top of already-formed crystals. Ice crystals build on existing ice crystals to eventually freeze the entire bottle of water.
Try it with other liquids too!
Materials:
☐ two water bottles, ☐ flat freezer pack (or a pile of ice cubes on a plate or in a cup)
The Trick:
Put your water bottles in the freezer for two-4 hours - they should not be ice!
12 oz. = 3.5 hours
16 oz. = 4.5 hours
When the time is up, slowly (don’t shake) take the water out of the freezer - then pour out onto your freezer pack (a flat one works best) - the water will instantly turn to ice. You can also turn the water to ice in the water bottle by swiftly hitting it on a hard surface
