Guiding and Scouting
Thanet Astronomy Group would like to offer help and advice to any Guiding or Scouting organisations.
If you run a Rainbows, Beavers, Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts, Senior Section Guides or Explorer Scouts pack please see the Contact page and contact us for assistance.
We are happy to help or advise you on all aspects of astronomy.
To date we have developed presentations to teach the full set of requirements for the following badges.
The Beaver's Space Activity Badge
The Brownie's Stargazing Badge
Cub's Astronomy Badge
All of these presentations have been used and received very good feedback.
If the badge you a working on is not listed please still contact us as we are working on all the remaining badge requirements.
Beaver's Space Activity Badge
This presentation covers all the requirements of the current Beaver's Space Activity Badge.
The International Space Station
To gain this badge, the Beavers must complete the following requirements:-
- 1. Identify some of the things you can see in the night sky, for example stars, planets and the Moon.
- 2. Identify at least one constellation you can see.
- 3. Be able to name the eight planets in our Solar System.
- 4. Find out about a current space mission.
Brownie's Stargazing Badge
This presentation covers all the requirements of the current Brownie's Stargazing Badge.
The Constellation Virgo and it's Myth
To gain this badge, the Brownies must complete the following requirements:-
- 1. With an adult you know, go outside when it is dark and do the following.
- Look at the stars.
- Point out the Plough and use it to find the North Star.
- Point out two other constellations.
- Look at the stars through a telescope or binoculars.
- Know what are good conditions for stargazing.
- 2. Tell other Brownies the stories behind the two constellations you pointed out in clause 1.
- 3. Visit a planetarium, observatory, museum or website with an astronomy section. Tell the tester four things you found out.
- 4. Make a mobile or draw a picture to show the phases of our moon.
- 5. Name the planets in our Solar System. Find out some facts about four of them and use this to make a game or puzzle for other Brownies.
- 6. Explain why sailors in ancient times needed to know about the stars.
Cub's Astronomy Badge
This presentation covers all the requirements of the current Cub's Astronomy Badge.
A Diagram of the Solar System
To gain this badge, the Cubs must complete the following requirements:-
- 1. Make a model or draw a simple diagram of the Solar System.
- 2. Explain the difference between a planet and a star.
- 3. Identify three constellations.
- 4. Find out about and present some information on the two of the following: planets, comets, the northern lights, the sun, eclipses, meteorites, black holes, the moon, light years, space exploration or any other space-related subject.
- 5. Observe the moon, if possible using binoculars or a telescope. Describe some of its features.
- 6. Know how to locate and identify the pole star. Know how explorers used it to navigate and plot courses.
