Weather Merit Badge Activity Planner
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'Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide for the Weather Merit Badge
*** Activities for the Youth Lead Patrol ***
Exploring Weather can be a fascinating youth adventure when done right. Here are a few tips to help the patrol leader get started.
- Scouts may never add or subtract from the actual merit badge requirements
- This Planner is only a suggestion of different ideas to make working this Merit Badge both fun and easy.
- While doing the Worksheet is not a requirement for earning this badge, in many cases it can help you learn key concepts and track your progress.
A. Make Your Plan
- Merit Badge Activity Planning Tips - 14 tips for a successful patrol activity. Read carefully before you start your plan!
- Share Your Plan - Meet ahead of time with your patrol, scout leaders, parents and especially with the Merit Badge Counselor. Make changes to the plan as needed.
- Prepare Activity Flyer - Keep your fellow scouts informed - events, activities, pre-requisites and more.
| Patrol Activity | GREAT | Awesome MB to work as a patrol / Max Size 12 scouts |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Field Trip | GREAT | Yes. Build home weather station |
| Family Activity | GREAT | Yes. Build home weather station |
| Service Activity | POOR | n/a |
| S.T.E.M. Activity | GREAT | Learn Meteorology |
| Field Trip | FAIR | Find a weather station or meteorogist? |
| Duty-to-God | POOR | N/A |
| MB Day | GREAT | Pre-requisite, build weather station and track 7 days weather. |
| Overnighter | FAIR | Find a weather station or meteorogist? Do a outdoor weather safety talks at the patrol evening campfire. |
| Summer Camp | GREAT | Use Camp Meteorology station to track daily weather. |
Online Resources
- Weather Merit Badge Requirements: BoyScoutTrial.com lists all requirements, additional resources, activity worksheet, etc.
- Weather Merit Badge File Store: Online resources
- Weather Merit Badge Worksheets: Worksheets are optional - but highly preferred by many MBC. When you find that many requirements say "discuss" - the worksheet can help you gather your thoughts beforehand.
- Weather Merit Badge Booklet: Everything thing you need to know about Weather is right here. Get this study guide from either Amazon or your Troop Library, Merit Badge Counselor or Scoutmaster to Learn More About this Subject.
B. Introduction Meeting
Most merit badge activities do best to have a "introduction" meeting where the patrol can discuss how to get started and to plan out their field trips.
News Flash
C. Homework / Prerequisites
Assign one or more requirements that the scout can do at home, perhaps as a family activity.
- Required Reading:
- Weather @ Simple-Wikipedia: Get the basics quickly.
- NWS Guide to the Scout Weather Merit Badge - Boy, Girl Scout Weather Merit Badge checklist, lesson plan, materials
- Req #6: Draw a diagram of the water cycle and label its major processes. Explain the water cycle to your counselor.
- Req #7: Identify some human activities that can alter the environment, and describe how they affect the climate and people.
D. Study Hall Patrol Night
While some scouts may be adept at self-study, others may do better in a small group setting and taking notes on worksheets. Make an agenda. You can facilitate discussion by asking them why each of the principles introduced here would be relevant. Schedule one or more patrol meetings to work this merit badge.
Discussion Group with MBC:
- Req #1: Discussion - What is meteorology and why is it important
- Req #2: Discussion - Describe five hazardous weather scenarios.
- Req #3: Discussion - What are weather fronts?
- Req #4: Discussion - How is wind, rain, lightning and hail formed?
- Req #5: Discussion - Clouds in the atmosphere
- Req #8: Discussion - The Earth's tilt and weather formation
- Req #11: Discussion - Careers in meteorology
Resources:
- Youtube NOAA Weather Alert Broadcast - Severe Thunderstorm alert.
Build a Weather Instrument
- Req #9A: Build a weather instrument and keep a daily weather log for 1 week.
- Build Your Own Weather Station - Instructional Kit from Earth Science Week. Note list of required supplies.
Outdoor Safety Presentation
Req #10. Give a talk of at least five minutes to a group (such as your unit or a Cub Scout pack) explaining the outdoor safety rules in the event of lightning, flash floods, and tornadoes. Before your talk, share your outline with your counselor for approval.
E. Field Trip
A related field trip with the MBC will be a great time to do the second half of this merit badge activity:
For Requirement 9 you need to do just one of the following
- 9a. Build a weather instrument / keep log (see above)
- 9b. (1) Visit a weather station (see below)
- 9b. (2) Talk with a meteorologist.
Visit a Weather Station
#9b. Visit a National Weather Service office or talk with a local radio or television weathercaster, private meteorologist, local agricultural extension service officer, or university meteorology instructor. Find out what type of weather is most dangerous or damaging to your community. Determine how severe weather and flood warnings reach the homes in your community.
Visit a Meteorologist
#9b. Visit a National Weather Service office or talk with a local radio or television weathercaster, private meteorologist, local agricultural extension service officer, or university meteorology instructor. Find out what type of weather is most dangerous or damaging to your community. Determine how severe weather and flood warnings reach the homes in your community.
F. Extra Credit
While none of these are actual requirements for this merit badge - they are terrific opportunities to show Scout Spirit, Do A Good Turn Daily and to have FUN!
- Activity Reflection: Use this meeting for scouts to ask questions and to reflect on what they gained personally from this adventure. You can also have a discussion on what future opportunities are here.
- Court of Honor Exhibit: Pictures, handiwork and other memorabilia from this adventure will make for a great presentation at the next Scout Troop Court of Honor.
Related Merit Badges
Sometimes it is easier by doing two or more merit badges together as a joint activity:
- Pioneering - Use pioneering skills to build a weather rock for your patrol campsite.
See Also
- Weather Merit Badge Powerpoint - Presentation kit
- Weather Merit Badge SlideServe - Presentation kit