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Gizmos and Gadgets

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Printable worksheet (PDF)

Gizmos and Gadgets lets you play scientist. You'll explore how things move, discover how pushing and pulling works, and make something useful from things around the house. It's a great adventure for curious builders.

Why it's worth it

Why does a ball roll faster down a steep ramp? What happens when you push a toy car harder? In Gizmos and Gadgets you get to be a scientist and find out. You'll test how things move, feel how pushes and pulls work, and turn stuff from the recycling bin into something useful. Inventors start exactly like this, with questions and cardboard.

Start this week

  1. Make a ramp at home by leaning a book or a board against the couch.
  2. Collect three things that roll, like a ball, a toy car, and a spool or can.
  3. Save clean cardboard tubes, boxes, and cups in a bag for building later.

Stay safe

  • Grown-ups handle scissors, hot glue, and any cutting. Lions can measure, decorate, and test.

Requirements · 3

Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).

  1. Requirement 1

    Explore how motion works

    Tip: Roll balls, toy cars, and spools down a ramp made from a board or book. Which goes farthest?

    For example: Roll a ball, a toy car, and a crayon down your ramp. Which goes farthest? Which one doesn't roll at all? Now make the ramp steeper and try again.

  2. Requirement 2

    Explore how force works

    Tip: Push and pull different toys. Try a gentle push, then a bigger one, and see what changes.

    For example: Push a toy car gently, then push it hard. Pull a wagon empty, then pull it with a pile of books inside. Talk with your adult about what changed when you used more force.

  3. Requirement 3

    Make something useful from household materials

    Tip: Turn a cardboard tube, box, or cup into something handy, like a pencil holder or a toy car garage.

    For example: Turn a cereal box into a mail holder, tape toilet paper tubes together to make a pencil cup, or make a car ramp garage from a shoebox. Your adult handles any cutting.

Places to visit

Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.

  • A science center or children's museum

    Ramps, ball runs, and pulleys there let you test pushes and pulls in a big way.

    How: Have your adult look for family days or free admission days on the museum's website, and go with your den or family.

Talk about it together

  • What surprised you most when you rolled things down the ramp?
  • When do you use a push or a pull during your day?
  • What problem at home could you solve with something you build?
  • If you could invent any gadget, what would it do?

Helpful reads

For leaders & parents

  • Set up a ramp station with different rolling objects so Lions can test and compare.
  • Collect clean recyclables ahead of time and keep scissors and glue supervised.

People & places that can help

  • Your den leader — Can share den plans and help you sign off what you've done.
  • Public library — Picture books and videos on the topic; librarians can help find more.
  • A local science center — Hands-on exhibits about motion and force.
  • Gizmos and Gadgets adventure page (opens in a new tab) — Ramp, force, and building activities for dens.
  • PBS KIDS (opens in a new tab) — Science and engineering games about ramps, pushes, and pulls.

Pairs well with

Counts toward

More Lion adventures

Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.