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 

Tubs/polystyrene plates  
Sand  (kiddie's play sand is ideal)
Plaster of Paris (mixed up with brown paint and water)

Items that look like fossils that can be used to create mould/pictures of fossils for children to create own

Cubs to put sand in their containers (slightly damp) and then mould their fossil shapes.  Once complete, pour in the plaster of paris and put aside to harden.  Once hard, take plaster of paris out of sand.

Pollution is a problem in our world. We pollute the water and ground by litering paper, plastic, glass, and other garbage on the ground or into the water. Pouring chemicals such as motor oil and gas into water or runoff from weed killers used on our lawn make their way into our water and must be filtered.  Factories, homes and cars pollute the air by burning coal, gas, and other chemicals. The smoke travels through the air and into the atmosphere where it gets trapped in the clouds with the moisture that naturally evaporats from the earth’s surface.  When clouds get full of water, they empty by raining (or snowing)  bringing the pollution along ; this is called acid rain.  Not all rain is acid rain. Acid rain is the rain that has a high ph level (acid level).

So, what’s the big deal – that’s the Earth’s way to filter and provide water, right? Well the problem is that when we produce too much pollution that rains down and becomes part of the water source for plants – the acid rain can harm plants (and animals in high enough concentrations).  Normal rain has a PH of 5.6. At 4.3 acid rain starts to have harmful effects headaches, coughs, and throat irritations in humans.  Fish will begin to die at a ph of 4.2. When people eat toxic plants and animals that have been contaminated with acid, they can have kidney problems, brain damage, and more.

Acid rain experiments

Start by labeling your 3 jars and adding the solution indicated:

water (just water)

little acid rain (1/4 cup vinegar OR lemon juice and the rest water)

lot of acid rain (1 cup vinegar OR lemon juice and the rest water.

Add a flower to each solution. Point out how all the flowers are healthy and look about the same. 

Observe the flowers. DO you notice a difference in the flowers. (24 hours later, share photos or can check on them the following week).

Have a long rope handy for this game. Use it to form a big circle. This will represent a body of water which is full. Cubs run around and when the whistle blows, they all need to get into the water. Those who do not fit into the circle are out of the game. Each time the Cubs run around, make the circle smaller and smaller until there are only two or three Cubs left.

2l bottles

coffee filters/cotton wool

course sand

fine sand

pebbles

charcoal

Cut bottle as shown.  Put the coffee filter or a cloth over the lid and attach with elastic band.  Then layer fine sand, courser sand, pebbles.

Can add charcoal if available

Pour in dirty water at the top and wait for the water to flow through to the bottom, cleaned of many impurities.