The Badge Archive

Role Play the Internet

Info Needed for the badge requirements: We know the internet is where computers anywhere in the world can connect with each other. We also know there are wireless devices, so things do not need to be wired together to connect. But can a computer in America connect to a computer in Asia wireless? Not quite. Your wireless device has to be in range of a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver is plugged in. The data goes from your device to the receiver wireless, and then travels by wire over to Asia. There are actually wires that cross the ocean, called “undersea cables”. Some think they are a myth, but that is how data travels across continents. In Asia the wires might connect to another wireless receiver, and it sends the data wirelessly to another device. That is how two wireless devices can connect across the world.

Items Needed

  • None

Instructions

  1. Explain that scouts will pretend to be data traveling across the world, showing how wireless and wired connections work together.
  2. Assign roles to scouts:
    • Wireless Device: Scouts start as wireless devices sending data.
    • Wireless Receiver: Scouts act as the receivers that collect the data.
    • Undersea Cables: Scouts form lines to represent cables carrying the data across the ocean.
    • Receiver and Device in Asia: Scouts act as the wireless receiver and device receiving the data.
  3. Act It Out:
    • Scouts playing wireless devices run to the first wireless receiver to “send” data.
    • The wireless receiver passes the data to the scouts acting as undersea cables.
    • Undersea cables carry the data across the room to the receiver in Asia, who sends it wirelessly to the final device.
  4. Rotate roles so scouts can experience each part of the process.
  5. Talk about how data travels using both wireless and wired connections to reach devices anywhere in the world.

See Internet and Networks for more information.

Tia Kennard