Mark off a 1 square meter (or yard) section of grass. Scatter a selection of colored toothpicks in the marked off area – you will want to count the number of toothpicks of each color before you scatter them. 

Glass jars with lids

Activated charcoal

Gravel/riversand or small stones

Potting soil 

Plants or moss

Decorations (bark, stones, etc) 

Step 1 – Thoroughly clean a airtight glass container (such as a mason jar).

The jar needs to be very clean to avoid any mold growth.

Step 2 – Add a layer of about 2 – 5 cm (1 – 2 inches) of clean sand or clean gravel to the bottom of the jar.

Aquarium sand works very well. This will create a drainage layer and water basin for the excess water in your biosphere.

Step 3 – Add a thin layer of about 1 – 2 cm (0.5 inches) of activated charcoal on top of the sand.

You can get activated charcoal from any pet supply store. This layer will act as a filter to keep your biosphere nice and clean.

Step 4 – Add a layer of about 5 – 10 cm (2 – 4 inches) of good draining soil.

Step 5 – Add some decorative items like a rock or piece of wood.

.Step 6 – Add some plants and moss.

I recommend that you add very small slow growing plants that can tolerate warm, humid, environments. Sheet moss is also a nice decorate touch.

Step 7 – Water your biosphere.

Give your biosphere enough water so that the sand layer is fairly saturated. You actually won’t need very much water to achieve this so be careful when adding the water.

.Step 8 – Cap your biosphere.

Once you have watered your biosphere, it is ready to self-regulate.

Step 9 – Place your biosphere near a window but make sure it is not in direct sunlight.

If you place your biosphere in direct sunlight the inside will get too hot and you will end up cooking your plants. You may also notice a lot of condensation building up inside your biosphere at first and this means that you may have watered it too much. Just open the lid for a day and let some of the water evaporate.

1. Each Cub starts with a piece of paper and a drawing tool and sits so that his or her drawing is somewhat hidden from the Cub in the next seat. The element of surprise at the end is half the fun!

2. Each Cub draws a head and neck. It can be made up or a real animal.  Fold the top of the paper down to conceal the drawing, letting only the bottom of the neck show. Hand the drawing to the Cub to the left.

3. Everyone draws the body and legs using the neck lines as the beginning point. Again, fold the paper down to conceal your drawing, letting just the bottom of the waist line show. Hand the drawing to the person at your left.

4. Draw the legs and tail (if your animal has a tail).

5.  (Optional) Add a name to the unopened drawing and pass again.

6.  Finally, each Cub unfolds the piece of paper they are holding to reveal the Weird Animal that has been created. Take turns sharing the finished drawings.

Brown paper, beige sugar paper

Charcoal/pastels/crayons 

Brown/black paint

Air gun (if available) or old toothbrush 

Put up some crumpled brown paper on the wall of the Hall.

Show Cubs examples of rock art of different animals.  See how many extinct animals they could recognise

Cubs to draw pictures of their chosen extinct or endangered animal on the brown paper.  They can also do individual drawings on beige sugar paper. 

Use the paint to lightly spray over the pictures.  Cubs can place their hands over the paper to create a void in the shape of their hands. 

Print out copies of the track templates for each team

Print out one set larger (or use the templates to create large footprints)

Hide the footprints around the area

Cubs to work in teams to find the footprints and mark on the field guide where they find the particular footprint