Cub Scout Modular Design – A NEW ADVENTURE!

Cub Scout Modular Design (A NEW ADVENTURE)

modular design, STEM learning for kids

Modular Design - Preview Adventure

Right now you can be one of the first to try out a new Elective Adventure for Cub Scouts. It’s kind of in beta mode. You get to try it out and give feedback to the Boy Scouts of America about what you liked about it, what you didn’t like and any changes you recommend.
 
This adventure is one of the coolest I have seen and can help a child realize a passion they may have for what is in essence engineering. So let’s get started on learning how to do this adventure.
 
Leaders – this adventure is available to Bears, Webelos, and Arrow of Light. Instead of a belt loop or pin for this adventure, the scout will be able to see a congratulatory video and receive digital recognition if they are part of ScoutBook. We will discuss more about that later on in the article.

What Is Modular Design?

Modular design simply put is taking a bunch of smaller, standard, independent parts (modules) and combining them together to make 1 larger product.
 
To visualize it, think of lego blocks being “modules” and when combined together they become a bigger product. The small parts can be arranged in multiple different ways creating a different end product each time.
 
Snap Ships created a cool video for scouts that explains what modular design is.

Modular design is used when making computers, cell phones, cars, homes, Ikea shelves (yep, those boxes full of reproducible parts can be considered modules and if you can successfully get it put all together you will have a larger finished product), websites, and thousands more electronic & mechanical systems.

Examples Of Modular Designs

Just about everything is created with modular design! Cars, computers, toys, phones, furniture, and websites are just a few examples.

Cell Phones

The parts that make up a smartphone are interchangeable and can easily be replaced or exchanged, for example, when buying an Apple Phone you have an option on how much storage size it has, You are able to get 64MB, 128MB, 256MB and so on. When the phone was manufactured it was just one simple piece that could be put into the phone to make that change. That piece was a “module”
 
How about when choosing the color of the phone? Yep, each of the plastic pieces is manufactured separately and can just be popped into place when the phone is being built creating a different end product for someone to purchase.

Cars

When a company builds a car they will often design just one chassis and then add different body types, interiors, amenities, etc. It’s like using building blocks to create the same base over and over again but everything on top of that base can be whatever you can imagine.
 
*As I type this my family is watching Lego Masters and each contestant has been provided an RC car chassis (base). The teams are developing any car they want which is a perfect example of modular design. They all have the exact same size parts and colors (modules) but they can all develop something completely different (You can watch it here Season 2, Episode 6).
 
When purchasing a car you have a choice on a lot of the modules that can be “snapped” into place. For example, you can change the power of the engine, the color of the vehicle, the style of the rim, whether you want heated seats, and so on.  Each of these is a module that can be changed to create a different final product.

Modular Tents

Did you know tents can be modular? My possibly favorite tent I have seen in a long time is this one by Coleman. Isn’t that concept perfect for camping with your kids?!

Zip together tents that can expand as you need. You can have a module of a 3 person tent that can join with the 6 person tent module, creating a larger end product that can hold more people or just more supplies, because you know there is always a ton of supplies.

Game Controllers

Whether you play XBOX or Playstation there are lots of mods you can add to to the game controllers. You can take off the plastics and change them out with other designs, you can remove the buttons and add your own choices or just use a colorful kit created for you.

What Are The Modular Design Requirements for Bears?

  1. Learn what modular design is and identify three things that use modular design in their construction. (see video below)
  2. Identify three benefits of using modular design.
  3. Using modular-based building pieces, build a model from a set of instructions.
  4. Using modular-based building pieces, build a model without using a set of instructions. The model may represent something real or imagined.
  5. Using the model you made in requirement 4, create a set of step-by-step instructions on how to make your model. Have someone make your model using your instructions.

What Are The Modular Design Requirements for Webelos?

  1. Learn what modular design is and identify three things that use modular design in their construction. (see video below)
  2. Identify three benefits to using modular design.
  3. Using modular-based building pieces, build a model from a set of instructions.
  4. Using modular-based building pieces, build a model without a set of instructions. The model may represent something real or fictional.
  5. Using the model you made in requirement 4, create a set of step-by-step instructions on how to build your model. Have someone build your model using your instructions.
  6. Share your model with your den and/or family. Explain what your model is designed to do.
  7. With your parent or legal guardian’s permission, watch a video demonstrating how something was built using modular design

What Are The Modular Design Requirements for Arrow of Light?

  1. Learn what modular design is and identify three things that use modular design in their construction. (see video below)
  2. Identify three benefits to using a modular design.
  3. Using modular-based building pieces, build a model from a set of instructions.
  4. Using modular-based building pieces, build a model without a set of instructions. The model may represent something real or fictional.
  5. Using the model you made in requirement 4, create a set of step-by-step instructions on how to build your model. Have someone build your model using your instructions.
  6. Share your model with your den and/or family. Explain what your model is designed to do.
  7. Without building it, design a model that uses modular-based building pieces. Create a set of step-by-step instructions.
  8. With your parent or legal guardian’s permission, watch a video demonstrating how something was built using modular design.

Modular Design Adventure Meeting Plan Ideas

When it comes to completing requirements you are tasked to build a model from a set of instructions. Snap Ships helps support Boy Scouts of America and sponsors this adventure in which we are learning about modular designs and engineering.
 
They have created an exciting introductory video for your cub scouts. Show this to introduce the Adventure.

Introductory Video for Snap Ships Modular Design

SnapShips Explains Modular Design

For help with Requirement #1, SpaceShips has made this explainer video.

Discount Coupon for Cub Scouts + Where You Can Get Snap Ships

SnapShips has made it affordable for each of your scouts to have a kit to build! 

I found a 3 pack of SnapShip Drone kits or Space Ship kits at a good price on Amazon but with the coupon code 25SNAPSCOUT it is an even better deal.

Have each parent contribute $5 towards their child’s kit and you can have a fun “Build Night!”

Snap Ship Adventure Awards (Leaders)

The idea of a digital recognition is being tested out with this preview adventure.

Instead of a pin or belt loop the scout will receive a congratulatory video from Snap Ship, the video can be played by Den Leaders for your entire den once they have completed the requirements. Here is the video you will need.

Scouts who have completed this adventure can also receive a License To Build Certificate which can be downloaded from Scouting.org or here. In ScoutBook they will receive a digital reward.

Don’t forget if scouts want to build more they can go here and use the code 25SNAPSHIP for a 25% off discount.

Modular Design Adventure Meeting Plans (Leaders)

Boy Scouts of America has Den Meeting Plans available for the modular adventure.  The adventure is only available for Bears, Webelos, & Arrow of Light.

 

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