The Badge Archive

Activity Description: Scouts explore everyday art and design, identify materials and styles, and reflect on what inspires their own creativity.

• Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Daisy Art and Design badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Brownie Art and Design badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Junior Art and Design badge requirements.

Info Needed: Artists and designers use different materials (called mediums) to create all kinds of art. Makers may draw, paint, build, sculpt, or even create art on a computer. By exploring the styles and materials they use, we can better understand what creativity looks like around us, and how it can inspire our own art.

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Items Needed:

• Paper
• Pencils, crayons, or markers

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20–25 min):

1. Search for art and design (5–7 min)
   • Scouts explore the room, outdoor area, or surroundings to find examples of art and design.
   • They look for murals, labels, signs, clothing, book covers, or public art like sculptures and benches.
2. Identify mediums and styles (5 min)
   • Scouts observe what the items are made of (fabric, paint, metal, paper).
   • They notice if the style is realistic, abstract, colorful, patterned, or something else.
3. Write or draw your findings (5–7 min)
   • Each scout makes a list or draws a few examples of what they discovered.
   • (Optional) They label the materials or styles if they can.
4. Reflect and share (5–6 min)
   • Scouts share what they found with the group.
     • What was the most interesting artwork or design?
     • What materials did they notice being used?
     • Would they like to create something in a similar style?