Making the Scout Law FUN!

“A boy is not a sitting-down animal.” -Lord Baden-Powell

Games:

Relay Race
Split into 2 teams. When I say “go,” the first person on each team runs to his or her team’s
pile of cards, picks what they think is the first point of the Law and sticks it on the wall using
masking tape (You can also use a poster board and velcro if you want). He then returns to
tag the next player, who runs up, chooses the second point, and places it below the first.
Continue in this manner until one team has all the points on the wall in the correct order.
If a team has the points in the wrong order, let them take extra turns, moving one card per
turn. The first team with all the points posted in the right order wins.
(Variations: You can hide the values around the room and they have to find them and then put
them in the correct order. You can also have the boys lay the values on a table or the floor).

Roll 'Em
This is a dice game. Roll one die (or have one of the boys do it) and have a volunteer (or the
whole den in unison) recite the points of the Law up to the number that comes up. Example:
If you roll a 1, they should say a Scout is trustworthy. If you roll a five, they should say “ A
Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous. Once the boys master the first 6
points, add a 2nd die.

Scout Law Hand-Slapping Game

Have the boys sit in a circle with right hands on top of left hands. Set a timer and have each
boy list a value from the Scout Law in order and then “slap” the left hand of the boy next to
them, then the next boy says the next value. If they get it wrong they have to keep going til
they get the right answer and then “slap” the next boys hand, repeat the Law until time runs
out. When times runs out whoever has been “slapped” but not said a value and slapped the
next boy is out. Continue until there is only one left. He is the winner. A few rounds of this
and the boys will have the Scout Law memorized.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU3y3xatarw

Circle Game
Have the boys form a circle with the Den Chief in the middle. He is to randomly point to a boy
who gives the first point in the Scout Law (Trustworthy). He then points to another boy who
gives the second point in the Scout Law (Loyal). If the boy does not give the correct response
by the time the Den Chief counts to five, he must step back and sit down. He is out of the
game. Play continues until all the boys that are going to be eliminated are eliminated.

Scout Law Twister

Write the 12 points of the Law on a Twister Mat and have the boys play, but use the words
instead of the colors. Right hand, Trustworthy. Left foot, Reverent, etc... For a cheaper
version, make your own with a picnic table cloth.

Scout Law Freeze Tag

Focus on three words at a time. First round of the game, the person who is “it” touches a
scout and says “Trustworthy” to freeze them. A scout who unfreezes must say “Loyal.” To be
unfrozen, a scout has to reply with “Helpful” to be unfrozen. On the second round, the three
words are Friendly, Courteous and Kind, etc. (Simplify for younger children as needed).
Line Up the Lines
Write the Oath on strips of paper in large letters. Mix up the strips and have a whole den
challenge. One by one, a Cub hops to the strips, grabs one, and brings it back to the group.
The next Cub hops up and gets another strip and brings it back to the group. Hopping is done
to give the group time to arrange the strips in order. The group has to agree on how to
arrange the strips. When done, they recite the Oath together.
(Variations: Split the boys into teams and do a relay Line Up the Lines. Or give each boy a
set of strips and have them race to see who completes theirs correctly first).

Roll the Dice

This requires one dice (a big one if you have it). Each boy rolls the dice and depending on
what number comes up, he performs one of the parts of the Bobcat trail. Score points for
each boy who does the task correctly. Add some flavor - let a roll of 4 yield an extra roll. Here
are the tasks for each number:
1 = recite the Cub Scout Promise
2 = recite the Law of Pack and tell its meaning
3 = recite the Cub Scout Motto & tell what Webelos means
4 = show the Cub Scout sign & tell its meaning
5 = show the Cub Scout handshake & tell its meaning
6 = show the Cub Scout salute & tell its meaning

Scout Law Charades

Just as it sounds, Have the boys take turns drawing one of the 12 values of the Scout Law
and act it out for the other boys to guess.

Pick Up Sticks
Write the Oath or Law on craft sticks or paint stir sticks. Divide the Cubs into teams, with each
team having a set of sticks. One by one, the Cubs go to the table, pick-up then drop the sticks
on the table and reassemble them. Have an adult tally the score for each team (award 1 point
for each correctly placed stick).

4 Square Scout Law

In addition to hitting the ball from square to square when it is your turn you have to name a
point of the Scout Law in the correct order.

Other fun ideas to help the boys to learn:

Learn it in ASL
ASL Scout Law:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Tr8g0Nrq4

ASL Scout Oath:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdt_4f1Tcs0

Puzzle it
Write the Scout Oath and/or Law on blank puzzles or the backs of puzzles (you can get them
at the dollar store) and have the boys assemble them. Or you can make your own puzzle or
have each boy make their own puzzle.
Sing it
“Trustworthy Tommy” sung to the tune of “Yankee Doodle.”
“Trustworthy Tommy was a Scout,
Loyal to his mother,
Helpful to the folks about,
And Friendly to his brother.
Courteous to the girls he knew,
Kind unto his rabbit,
Obedient to his father, too,
and Cheerful in his habits.
Thrifty saving for a need,
Brave, but not a faker,
Clean in thought and word and deed,
and Reverent to his Maker.”
(There is also a song called “The Scout Law” by the Croutons).

Divide it
Split the Law into groups of 3 or 4 and have them memorize each section, then it doesn't
seem like such a big task.

Take it Home
Get stickers, posters or make bookmarks for the boys that have the Scout Oath and Law on
them for the boys to take home and see regularly.

Repetition
Recite it at EVERY meeting.

Rewards
Scout bucks or other rewards as the boys memorize it.

Define it
Make sure that all the boys know what each part means (See next page).