The Badge Archive

Supply or Snack Trouble

Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Daisy Petal – Honest and Fair badge requirements OR Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Daisy Petal – Friendly and Helpful badge requirements OR Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Daisy Petal – Considerate and Caring badge requirements.

Items Needed

  • Craft supplies (e.g., colored paper, glue, crayons) OR snacks (e.g., pretzel sticks, goldfish) – Enough supplies/snacks to distribute unevenly among scouts

Instructions

  1. Divide Scouts into Groups – Split scouts into small groups of 2–4.
  2. Distribute Supplies/Snacks Unevenly – Hand out supplies or snacks equally to each group but unequally to individual scouts (e.g., one scout gets 2, another gets 3, another gets 4, and another gets 6).
  3. Explain the Rules – Warn scouts not to use supplies or eat snacks until the leader says “Time!”
  4. Identify Inequality – Ask scouts if everyone in their group has the same amount. Encourage observations like “I only have 2” or “That scout got 6.”
  5. Problem-Solve Together – Ask scouts how they can make amounts equal. Guide them to realize they can share within their group until everyone has the same number.
  6. Discuss Fairness – Talk about how it felt to have unequal amounts and how fairness means sharing, following rules, and including everyone. Ask how it felt once supplies/snacks were equal.

Variation – Trick or Treat

Items Needed

Instructions

  1. Split scouts into small groups of 2–3.
  2. Distribute Snacks Unevenly – Fill paper cups with varying amounts of treats within each group (e.g., one cup has more treats than others).
  3. Explain the Rules – Let scouts decide how to make the situation fair in their groups. If they ask for help, encourage them to find a solution on their own.
  4. Discuss Fairness – Ask each group “How did you make things fair?” and “What did you do, and why does that make it fair?” Discuss the difference between equality (everyone gets the same) and equity (everyone gets what they need).
Tia Kennard