The Badge Archive

Solo Scout Movements

Activity Description: Scouts explore how their bodies move by trying big and small actions on their own, then drawing what they enjoyed most.

Info Needed: Scouts practice using their full bodies and/or fine motor skills. They discover how their body moves through playful big and small actions they can do on their own.

Items Needed:

  • Paper
  • Crayon, pencil, or marker
  • Open space for movement
  • (Optional) mirror or window reflection

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 15–20 min):

  1. Try big movements (6–8 min)
    • Scout chooses 3–5 large actions to do in a row.
    • Examples: jumping, spinning, tiptoeing across the room, reaching up high, crawling.
    • They count how many times they can do each one or imagine being an animal while moving.
  2. Try small movements (4–6 min)
    • Scout tries 3–5 tiny motions using fingers, toes, and face.
    • Examples: blinking fast, wiggling fingers, drawing a spiral on paper, moving eyebrows, poking gently like planting seeds.
  3. Draw and reflect (5–6 min)
    • Scout draws themselves doing one big and one small movement they liked most.
    • (Optional) ask them to show or describe their movements to a family member.

Big Movement List for Scouts to Try

These actions use the full body (arms, legs, and trunk muscles) for energetic fun:

  • Jump like a frog
  • Spin in a circle
  • Reach up high on tiptoes
  • Crawl like a bear
  • March in place
  • Stretch arms out wide like a star
  • Stomp feet like an elephant
  • Hop side to side
  • Roll like a log on the ground (if space allows)
  • Sway side to side like a tree in the wind
  • Touch toes and then jump up
  • Pretend to climb a big mountain
  • Balance on one foot for five seconds

Small Movement List for Scouts to Try

These gentle actions use fingers, toes, face muscles, and small motions to build awareness and control:

  • Blink your eyes quickly
  • Wiggle your fingers one at a time
  • Tap your toes while sitting
  • Draw a swirl or shape in the air with one finger
  • Snap, clap, or tap quietly on a surface
  • Pick up something tiny, like a button or pebble
  • Stick out your tongue and hold it still
  • Trace shapes on your hand with a pencil eraser
  • Make a funny face using only your eyes or eyebrows
  • Pretend to sniff a flower
  • Roll your shoulders slowly in a circle
  • Carefully stack small items like pebbles or blocks
  • Tap each finger to your thumb, one by one
Tia Kennard