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Stories in Shapes

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Printable worksheet (PDF)

Stories in Shapes is about art all around you. You'll find art in your community, look closely at a piece you like, make your own art with shapes, and learn new ways to share your name. Everyone can be an artist.

Why it's worth it

Art is everywhere: a mural on a wall, a statue in a park, the pictures in your favorite book. In Stories in Shapes you'll go looking for art in your community, look closely at one piece and say what you notice, make your own art from shapes, and learn to spell your name in Braille and sign language. You'll find out there are many ways to tell a story and share who you are.

Start this week

  1. On your next walk or drive, look for a mural, statue, or sculpture and point it out to your adult.
  2. Cut out circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles from colored paper.
  3. Ask your adult to help you find a Braille alphabet and a sign language alphabet chart at the library or online.

Requirements · 4

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 art in your community

    Tip: Look for murals, statues, or art in a library or museum, and talk about what you find.

    For example: Art in your community might be a mural at the library, a statue in the town square, painted tiles at school, or a sculpture outside a hospital. Visit two with your adult and take a photo or make a sketch.

  2. Requirement 2

    With your den or adult partner, look closely at a piece of art or a picture of one; decide what you like and share it with your den, family, or adult partner

    Tip: Pick one piece and look at it for a minute. Then tell your adult the colors and shapes you like.

    For example: Stand in front of one painting for a whole minute. Then tell your adult: "I like the bright blue swirls. It looks like the wind is moving. The little boat makes me think of a storm."

  3. Requirement 3

    Make a piece of art using shapes

    Tip: Cut shapes from paper and glue them into a picture of an animal, house, or anything you imagine.

    For example: Make a picture only from shapes: a triangle roof on a square house, circle wheels on a rectangle bus, or a tiger with triangle ears and a circle face. Give your picture a title.

  4. Requirement 4

    Learn to spell your name in Braille and in sign language

    Tip: Use an alphabet chart to spell your name in Braille dots and in sign language fingerspelling.

    For example: Spell your name in Braille by gluing dried beans or drawing raised dots in the right patterns for each letter. Then fingerspell your name in American Sign Language, one hand shape for each letter.

Places to visit

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

  • An art museum

    You can see paintings, sculptures, and art from all over the world, and many museums have family activity guides.

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

  • A public library

    Libraries often display local art, and many have Braille books and sign language picture books you can look at.

    How: Ask a children's librarian to show you art books, Braille books, and ASL alphabet books.

Talk about it together

  • What piece of art in your community do you like best, and why?
  • What story do you think the artist was trying to tell?
  • What was it like to spell your name with your fingers or with dots?
  • How do people who can't see or hear well share stories and art?
  • What would you put in a mural about your family or town?

Helpful reads

For leaders & parents

  • Plan a short art walk or museum visit for the den.
  • Bring a Braille and sign language alphabet chart for every Tiger.

People & places that can help

Pairs well with

Counts toward

More Tiger adventures

Into this? Explore more

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