Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Outside the Mirror badge requirements.
Info Needed: Scouts examine how beauty standards are shaped by culture and time. They compare historic artwork with today’s common messages about bodies and appearance.
Items Needed:
- VTK Body Messages in Art by GSUSA or blank paper (one per scout)
- Computers, tablets, or smartphones (Optional)
- Books or museum brochures (Optional)
- Pens or pencils
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 30–40 minutes):
- Define and Discuss Beauty Standards (5–8 minutes)
- Scouts think of current messages about what makes someone “beautiful.”
- They list examples based on clothing, body shape, skin, hair, or features.
- (Optional) Scouts may discuss where these ideas come from (ads, movies, peers).
- Explore Historic Art Examples (10–12 minutes)
- Scouts search online, use books, or view museum material to find three artworks showing people.
- They record each title or source.
- (Optional) Include artwork from different time periods or cultures.
- Complete the Body Messages Sheet (8–10 minutes)
- Scouts list visible traits or styles shown in each artwork.
- Traits may include body size, clothing, hairstyle, expression, or posture.
- They add notes about how those traits connect to beauty or identity.
- Compare and Reflect (7–10 minutes)
- Scouts review their notes and write or sketch one thing they find different between past and present.
- They also write or share one thing they believe will stay the same, or change again in the future.
- (Optional) Display sample sheets or create a class chart of observed traits across time.
Possible Online Art Sources
Here’s a list of sources where scouts and leaders can explore historic artwork without needing deep research experience. These sites offer visual examples, context, and search tools that make it easier to find people-focused art across time periods.
Museum Collections with Searchable Artworks
These sites feature historic art with filters by time period, region, or theme:
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
Offers downloadable guides and historic artworks with context. - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Includes curated lesson plans and searchable artworks by grade level. - SmART History – The Center for Public Art History
One of the most-visited art history resource in the world. - Library of Congress
Includes historic photographs, posters, and visual materials for classroom use. - Arts and Culture – The British Museum
Includes historic photographs, paintings, and visual materials
Art History & Analysis Tools
These sites help scouts understand what they’re seeing and how to interpret it:
- Smarthistory
A free resource with short videos and essays on art from different cultures and eras. - Google Arts & Culture
Offers virtual museum tours and zoomable artworks from around the world.
The Badge Archive 