The Badge Archive

Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Junior Coding Basics badge requirements.

Info Needed for badge requirements: Many conditionals do rely on an event to “trigger” them, but they are distinct in purpose:

• Event: Something that happens. It simply announces, “This is occurring!” For example, “It starts raining” or “A button is pressed.”
• Conditional: A decision-making rule that determines what to do after the event. It asks, “Is this true or false, and what action should follow?” For example, “If it is raining (true), grab an umbrella. If it is not raining (false), wear sunglasses.”

Key Difference:

• An event doesn’t inherently make decisions—it just happens and signals something.
• A conditional steps in after an event and decides what action to take based on whether a specific condition is met.

Think of it like this:

• Event: “Someone knocks on the door.”
• Conditional: “If it’s your friend, open the door. If it’s a stranger, ask who it is.”

Most conditionals do require an event to start the process, but events alone don’t involve the “if/then” logic that defines conditionals. “If you give a mouse a cookie, then he’ll be very hyper, else he’ll be normal.” If, then statements we use all the time. Else is just an addition for what would happen if the statement doesn’t happen. If/then/else are used in coding, called conditional. If something happens then what action is taken?

Items Needed

• None

Instructions

1. Think about how you get up and get ready for each day before school. It’s usually the same routine. What is something that would be conditional?
   • Example: Getting dressed would have the conditional of “If it is cold, then I wear long sleeves, else I wear short sleeves.” OR “If it is picture day, then I wear my nice clothes.” OR “If I am out of cereal, then we eat scrambled eggs.”
2. Go around the group, one by one, and scouts must come up with their own unique conditional.