The Badge Archive

S’more Algorithms

Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Daisy, Brownie, or Junior Coding Basics badge requirements.

Items needed:

  • Supplies to make s’mores that do not need to be roasted over a fire or microwaved.
  • Alternatively – you can use a printout of the six step cards instead of real ingredients.

Instructions:

“Computer programs tell computers what to do, usually with algorithms. Algorithms are a list of tasks or steps. A recipe is a good example of an algorithm humans follow. And what is the number one recipe for Girl Scout campers? S’mores!”

Have scouts try and come up with step by step instructions to make a s’more (that does not need to be roasted over a fire or a microwave) that a robot could follow. But computers take each step literally. Leaders pretend to be a robot and follow their steps.

Take them as literal as possible to ‘glitch’ whenever possible. Like if the first step was written “Take two graham crackers and put a marshmallow on it.” The leader might take two graham crackers in one hand and put a marshmallow on top of them while the two crackers are together. Bonus points if the leader also misinterpreted it and put the marshmallow on the thin edge of the two stacked graham crackers.

Scouts must re-write their instructions to be more clear and defined, just like a programmer has to be clear on their instructions.

An example final recipe might be:

  1. Take one graham cracker out of the bag and break it in half.
  2. Place both halves on the plate separated by at least an inch.
  3. Take one marshmallow out of the bag and set it on one of the graham cracker halves, keeping the flat end up.
  4. Unwrap a piece of chocolate (individual Hershey’s – no need to snap or break apart).
  5. Set the chocolate on top of the marshmallow.
  6. Place the graham cracker half that does not have a marshmallow and chocolate on it, on top of the chocolate, laying it flat like the bottom piece is.
  7. Take a bite and enjoy!

For Brownies and Juniors – explain Sequencing: You must follow the algorithm in the right order to reach the correct ending. That’s called sequencing: following the steps in the right order.

Tia Kennard