Activity Description: Scouts explore animal facts by reading books and sharing what they learn with the group.
- Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Daisy Animal Observer badge requirements.
Info Needed: We cannot speak the same language, but we learn a lot about animals just by watching them. What actions do they make? What do they eat? What kind of families do they have?
Items Needed:
- Library books
- Animal Observation sheet for each scout
- My Animal Notes by The Badge Archive
- VTK Animal Field Notes Printout
- Pens or pencils
- (Optional) Troop coloring supplies
- (Optional) VTK Animal Habitats
Before the Meeting:
- Before the meeting, gather a selection of kid-friendly animal books. (10–15 min)
- Choose books that focus on one animal with fun facts.
- (Optional) Use the VTK Animal Habitats page to guide book choices.
- (Optional) Hold the meeting at a library so scouts can find their own books.
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20–25 min):
- Have scouts work individually or in small teams to choose one animal. (3–7 min)
- Let them pick a book that matches their chosen animal.
- (Optional) Use the VTK Animal Habitats printout for ideas.
- Ask scouts to find fun facts about their animal. (8 min)
- Scouts can fill out their Animal Observation sheet.
- (Optional) Scouts may draw their animal and remember three fun facts.
- Hold a show-and-tell for each scout to share what they learned. (7 min)
- Scouts say what their animal is and share three facts.
- Celebrate curiosity and observation.
The Badge Archive 