Reading Merit Badge Activity Planner
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'Patrol Leader Merit Badge Planning Guide for the Reading Merit Badge
*** Activities for the Youth Lead Patrol ***
Exploring Reading 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 | FAIR | Organize your patrol as a book club |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Field Trip | GREAT | Patrol Discussion with MBC |
| Family Activity | GREAT | Your parents might suggest some good books for you. |
| Service Activity | POOR | N/A |
| S.T.E.M. Activity | GREAT | Non-Fiction books teach STEM |
| Field Trip | FAIR | Library Tour |
| Duty-to-God | GREAT | Include your Troop Chaplains Aide |
| MB Day | GREAT | Scout Book Reports |
| Overnighter | GREAT | Many scouts like to read during free time at camp |
| Summer Camp MB | FAIR | Pre-requisite: Read books beforehand |
Online Resources
- Reading Merit Badge Requirements: BoyScoutTrial.com lists all requirements, additional resources, activity worksheet, etc.
- Reading Merit Badge File Store: Online resources
- Reading 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.
- Reading Merit Badge Booklet: Everything thing you need to know about Genealogy 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.
- Reading @ Simple-Wikipedia: Get the basics quickly.
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 : Book Zone
- Book Zone by Boys Life - For more than 100 years, Boys’ Life has featured thousands of great books for boys. Here are the 100 titles they think every scout should read.
- Find Books for Free at Audible
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C. Homework / Prerequisites
Assign one or more requirements that the scout can do at home, perhaps as a family activity. Allow a month or two for scouts to complete this section.
- Required Reading:
- Reading @ Simple-Wikipedia: Get the basics quickly.
- Req #3 : Read 4 Types of Books - Prepare Book Report / Movie Report
- Req #4 : Read Non-Fiction to Learn about Something - Prepare a Project
- Req #5 : Read About your World.
- Reading Service Project: (Req #6)
Reg #6: With your counselor's and parent's or guardian's permission, choose ONE of the following activities and devote at least four hours of service to that activity. Discuss your participation with your counselor:
- Read to a sick, blind, or homebound person in a hospital or in an extended-care facility.
- Perform volunteer work at your school library or a public library.
- Read stories to younger children, in a group or individually.
- Organize a book swap in your troop, school, or place of worship.
- Organize a book drive to collect books. Donate them to an organization in need.
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.
Discuss with your MBC the following : Try doing Req #5 : "Read about the world around you from any two sources: books, magazines, newspapers, the Internet (with your parent's or guardian's permission), field manuals, etc. Topics may include Scouting, sports, environmental problems, politics, social issues, current events, nature, religion, etc. Discuss what you have learned with your counselor."
E. Field Trip
Meaningful Field Trips will add much to the adventure here. Consider including one or more of the following:
- Merit Badge Campout: Field Trip overnight experience can get you a lot closer to the action and to see things in a different way.
- Facility Tour: A day trip to a musuem, gallery, or factory of a related Reading.
- Get Dirty Day: Setup a work station in your garage, backyard, park or other location for a truely "hands-on" experience.
- Service Project: There many organizations connected with this merit badge that could use your assistance.
- Contact the destination venue. Confirm that they can assist with the Field Trip Requirements. Reserve your Event Dates. Get Scoutmaster Assistance as necessary.
- Patrol Historian should be ready to take pictures on this activity to report back on the next troop blog, newsletter or court of honor.
F. Final Meeting
You will probably need to schedule one patrol night for a follow up meeting with your Merit Badge Counselor. He/She will use this opportunity to meet with scouts either individually are as a group to review your activities, study worksheets, knowledge and accomplishments before signing off your Merit Badge Blue Card.
- 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.
G. See Also
- 9 Things to Know about Merit Badges - BoysLife.org - There are more than 135 merit badges. By earning them, you can learn about Reading, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers. Here’s how to get the most out of your merit badge experience.