Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Bugs badge requirements.
Info Needed for Badge Requirements: Bug homes keep insects safe, help them find food, and protect their young. Homes can be made from silk, mud, leaves, or hidden places like soil or wood. Bugs use them to rest, raise eggs, or trap prey.
Items Needed:
- Computer with internet access
- Projector or large screen (optional)
- Crayons or markers
- Blank paper (one sheet per scout)
Instructions (Total Estimated Time: 35 minutes):
- Research Time (12–15 minutes)
- Scouts take turns using the computer to look up what happens inside a cocoon
- Help scouts find safe search words like “caterpillar cocoon change” or “how butterflies form”
- The group views one or two kid-friendly websites and discusses what they learned
- Leader helps explain new words or concepts
- Drawing Activity (12–15 minutes)
- Each scout receives a sheet of paper and draws what they imagine the inside of a cocoon looks like
- Encourage them to include things like the caterpillar changing shape, a butterfly forming, or what the cocoon might look like on the inside
- Show and Share (5–8 minutes)
- Scouts show their cocoon drawings to the group
- Each scout shares one fun fact they learned or one part of their drawing that shows the cocoon transformation
Suggested kid-friendly websites
These help explore what happens inside a cocoon:
- Kiddle’s Cocoon Facts for Kids – Simple explanations with fun facts about cocoons, moths, and how insects change inside
- Britannica Kids Cocoon Article – Easy-to-read info on cocoons, metamorphosis, and the difference between cocoons and chrysalises
- Science Sparks Cocoon Activity – A playful, hands-on approach to learning about caterpillar transformation with craft ideas
These sites are safe, age-appropriate, and written in language that 2nd graders can understand with a little guidance.
The Badge Archive 