The Badge Archive

Activity Description: Scouts observe the Moon and create drawings and stories based on the shapes they see on its surface.

• Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Daisy Space Science Explorer badge requirements.
• Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Brownie Space Science Adventurer badge requirements.

Info Needed: The moon looks different from night to night because it moves around Earth. Sometimes we see the whole moon, and sometimes we only see part of it. These changes are called moon phases. If you look at the moon each night, you can watch it slowly change shape, from a tiny sliver to a big round circle and back again.

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Items Needed:

• Paper
• Pencils, pens, paint, paint brushes, markers, crayons
• VTK Moon Photos by GSUSA
• (Optional) Access to a window or outdoor space to view the Moon

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 25–35 min):

1. Look at the Moon or Moon photos (5–7 min)
   • Go outside or look through a window if the Moon is visible.
   • If not, use Moon Photos to observe the surface.
   • Scouts look for shapes like faces, animals, or other designs.
     • You can tell them about the Man in the Moon many Americans see, or the Rabbit on the moon that Japanese talk about.
2. Draw what they see (5–7 min)
   • Scouts use art supplies to draw the Moon and the shape they imagined.
   • Encourage creativity and personal style.
3. Create a story about the Moon shape (7–10 min)
   • Scouts write or tell a short story about the shape they saw.
   • Stories can explain how the shape got to the Moon or what it means.
   • Scouts may work in pairs or small groups.
4. Share stories with the troop (8–11 min)
   • Scouts choose how to share: tell the story, act it out, or sing a song.
   • Encourage scouts to share their drawings and stories with family at home.