OUTDOORS

Brownie Bugs Badge Activity

Make A Bug Box

Build a box to observe bugs and learn how they move before releasing them.

Activity Details

Time needed: 30 minutes

Materials needed

A cardboard shoebox with lid
Tape or glue
Plastic wrap
Scissors
A ruler
A pencil
A tool to make small holes, such as a thumbtack (may need adult assistance)
Bugs
Natural materials, like sticks, grass, a flower, etc.

Setup: Bugs help us in lots of cool ways. Explore their world and learn more about these little creatures that do so much. You can take a closer look at bugs in action by making a bug box. Try using it to watch grasshoppers, centipedes, lightning bugs/fireflies, crickets, or moths. Check with an adult first to make sure your bugs don’t bite!

Activity

Follow the steps below:

Remove the lid from your cardboard shoe box.
Use the ruler to measure and the pencil to sketch a 3” x 6” rectangle from one of the long sides of the box, then use your scissors to cut it out.
Prepare a piece of plastic wrap that is large enough to cover the cutout side. With the cutout side facing you, tape or glue the plastic wrap to create a window. Make sure the window is tight enough that bugs cannot escape.
Poke three small breathing holes (smaller than your bugs, so they won't get out) into each side of the box. You may need to ask an adult to help you make the holes with a thumbtack or other tool.
Poke three small breathing holes (smaller than your bugs, so they won’t get out) into each side of the box. You may need to ask an adult to help you make the holes with a thumbtack or other tool.
Add bugs! Be gentle so they don’t get hurt. Recover the box. After you've had an hour to watch, carefully place the bugs back where you found them.

Troop Leaders: The instructions for all badge steps are available free of charge in the Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit.

Girl Scout Activity Zone activities have been adapted from existing Girl Scout programming.

Adapted from Step 3 of the Brownie Bugs badge. Contact your troop leader or your local Girl Scout council to become a Girl Scout member and learn all the requirements needed to earn the badge.