Merit badges of the world, Unite!

Another summer merit badge.

A travelling companion and I in Red Square
in 1986, under the watchful eye of Comrade V.I. Lenin

Younger Daughter requested that we resume our study of communism for the summer.  Failed economic/political systems – what fun! 

Communist History Merit Badge

1. Describe the difference (theoretically) between these systems: socialism, communism, capitalism, libertarianism, and a mixed economic system.

2.  Read a biography of Stalin, either in a book or online. Explain how Stalin came to power.

3. Pick 5 of the following events in Soviet history.  Define or describe what happened and the consequences of the event. Include dates.

a. Collectivization of agriculture under Stalin

b. Non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany

c. The Battle of Stalingrad

d. Khrushchev’s Thaw

e. Cuban Missile Crisis

f. Leonid Brezhnev and gerontocracy

g. Soviet intervention in Afghanistan

h. Samizdat

i. Gorbachev’s Glasnost and perestroika

j. Dissolution of the USSR

4.  List the benefits and disadvantages of the Soviet economic system.

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(that's supposed to be a hammer and sickle)

If you had to add one requirement, what would you add? 

It was very hard for me to reduce this topic to even this size.  When I showed this to YD, she said, “Can I do more than just this?”  Of course, that was before summer vacation actually started.

For instance, I did not include even one question about this guy,
when clearly he was venerated by many, at least in public.

Last night Older Daughter asked YD why she is so keen to study the history of communism.  YD said, “Because it seems like such a wonderful concept, gone horribly wrong, and I like that.”  Which part do you like?  “All of it – the beginning concept, and the part where it goes horribly wrong.”  To me, it just seems tragically sad.   But then, so is a lot of other history.

Inspirational posters in Armenia SSR
In red:  "We will fulfill XXVII Party Congress Decisions"
In blue:  "Towards a new quality of labor and life"

Inspirational setting for inspirational posters

Best Summer Merit Badge?

This one is just as much for me as for the kids.  They would vote this to be “The Least Popular Summer Merit Badge” while I would vote it to be “The Most Needed Summer Merit Badge.”

I am thinking of making it mandatory.  Like, if you don't do this, I am not taking you out for ice cream this summer.

The Cleaning Up Merit Badge

1.  Clean your bedroom.  Floor space must be visible and vacuumable.  Shelves must be neat, clothes must be put away in drawers and closets.

2. Dust all surfaces in your bedroom.

3.  Go through your clothes and fill one kitchen trash bag (or 2 grocery bags) with clothes that you don’t wear.

4.  Do one of the following:

a.  Sweep out the garage (only needs to be done once)

b.  Clean the inside of the van

c. Wash the outside of the van

d. Sweep and mop the basement.

You may work cooperatively with someone else on this, as long as it is really cooperative, and not argumentative.

Summer Science

Last month, on the drive home from college, my son asked me, “So, have you made any summer merit badges for Younger Daughter yet?” 

Knowing that he did not have a summer job lined up, I revealed my secret plan to him.  “I have this great idea!  You are going to teach chemistry to Younger Daughter this summer!” 

This idea solves two dilemmas.  The 10^th grade chemistry class is difficult, so YD could use as much advance preparation as possible.  Son could use some goals and purposeful activities for the summer.

And thus, the Summer Chemistry Merit Badge was born.  Here are the requirements we came up with.

* * * * * *

The Summer Chemistry Merit Badge

1.   Cut a round onion into small chunks. Separate the onion chunks into three equal portions. Leave the first portion raw. Cook the second portion of onion chunks until the pieces are translucent. Cook the third portion until the onions are caramelized, or brown in color. Taste each type of onion. Describe the taste of raw onion versus partially cooked onion versus caramelized onion. Explain what happens to molecules in the onion during the cooking process.  (Note: this also counts toward the “Science of Cooking” merit badge.)

2. Learn the layout of the periodic table of the elements.  Memorize the name, symbol, atomic number, group, period, block of 5 elements.

http://www.webelements.com/

3. Perform chromatography and describe what is happening in the chromatography process.

4. Learn the factor label method.

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#1 is taken directly from the Boy Scout chemistry merit badge.  #2 is what I thought would be important and not annoyingly difficult.  That web site has a nifty interactive periodic table.   #3 and #4 are Son’s suggestions.  I have no idea what the factor label method is.  Maybe I should try for this merit badge.

We also came up with this merit badge, as a complement to the Chemistry badge.

* * * * * *

The Summer Science of Cooking Merit Badge

1. Complete Requirement 1 of the Chemistry Merit Badge.

2. Perform the chocolate-cake-in-a-mug experiment (see separate page) and show your recorded results.

3.  Predict and then observe the psychological change in your mother when you make an entire meal and serve it to the family.  Meal must be pre-approved for nutritional value, taste, and ease of preparation.

4.  Make homemade ice cream.  Explain what a phase change is, and how salt is involved.

* * * * * *

And here is the “Chocolate-cake-in-a-mug” experiment.  Son’s task on Monday is to test it to make sure that the batter does not overflow and create a mess in the microwave.  His other task for Monday is to mow the lawn.  I wonder which one he will do first.

* * * * * *

Chocolate Cake in a Mug Lab Experiment

Lab Equipment for Recipe 1 and 2

1 large coffee mug

Measuring spoons

Mixing spoon

Stopwatch or other accurate timer

Clean ruler

Recipe 1

2 Tablespoons flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 Tablespoons cocoa

1/8 teaspoon baking powder

pinch salt

2 Tablespoons egg (whip with fork) OR egg substitute

1 1/2 Tablespoons milk

1 1/2 Tablespoons oil

1 Tablespoon chocolate chips

1/8 tsp vanilla

Recipe 2

2 Tablespoons flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 Tablespoons cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

pinch salt

2 Tablespoons egg (whip with fork) OR egg substitute

1 1/2 Tablespoons milk

1 1/2 Tablespoons oil

1 Tablespoon chocolate chips

1/8 tsp vanilla

1.  Do not do this experiment all in one day.  That would be too much chocolate cake at once.  Before starting, check that you have all the ingredients on hand.

2.  Predict the outcome of each recipe.  Explain why this prediction is not a hypothesis.

3.  Make each recipe 3 times  - that’s a total of 6 small cakes-in-a-mug. Use the same size/kind of mug each time. (Note that the ingredients are halved from the original recipe.)  Measure the ingredients accurately.

4.  Measure and record your observations about the following.  For c and d, please record the observations of 2 people (yourself and one other).

a.  Height above or below the rim of the mug immediately upon removal from microwave, in centimeters.

b. Height above or below the rim of the mug 1 minute after removal from the microwave, in centimeters.

c. Taste it, and describe the texture of the cake.

d. Overall taste of the cake (rated on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being awful and 5 being the best unfrosted chocolate cake ever). 

e. Did the chocolate chips sink to the bottom?

Protocol

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.

Add the chocolate chips and vanilla, and mix again.

Put the mug in the microwave and cook for exactly 1 minute.  Remove from microwave and record your observations.

Remove from mug and share half with someone.

Summer Merit Badges

I have a deep failing as a work-at-home Mom: it really irks me when I am working and others around me are playing.  Add to this the fact that my workload usually intensifies during the summer, and we’ve got major irkiness in the Common Household.  Starting about 10 years ago, I began making a ‘summer learning chart’ as an incentive for my kids to do something constructive, or at least stay the $&#@ out of my office.

At the start of this summer, I was at my wits’ end at the thought of Youngest Daughter spending the whole summer wasting her wits on computer games.  Here is the solution which YD and I developed together:  Summer Merit Badges!  (See below for badge requirements.)

Notice how the Cooking Merit Badge is a thinly veiled attempt to get the children to help with dinner preparation.  (I am not posting the "Summer Chore List" which was a blatant attempt to get the children to clean the house.  It was a complete failure.)

The front of our spiffy merit badge bookmarks

Once our college kids moved out, I spent about 20 minutes putting my atrocious art skills to use to make Merit Badge bookmarks.  Youngest Daughter and I had a 30 second ceremony to award each other our merit badges.  YD was awarded badges for Cooking, Music Appreciation, Writing, and Reading.  I was awarded the badge for Reading.

The congratulatory back of the bookmarks

How do you manage to keep your wits during the summer school break?  Or is that not an issue for you?

Summer Merit Badge Requirements

Science Merit Badge

1.  Write a valid hypothesis approved by Dad.  Does not have to be an experiment that could be done at home.

2. Design an experiment.

3. Perform the experiment.

4.  Write a conclusion, approved by Dad.

Cooking Merit Badge

1. Cook one tasty, approved-by-Mom dish.

2. Make a variation on an existing recipe.

3.  Make two cooking experiments.

4.  Learn a new cooking skill.

Music Composition Merit Badge

1. Compose a song based on the chord progression Cmin – A flat maj – E flat maj – B flat maj.

2. Arrange an existing song.

3.  Compose a song using a scale.

4.  Compose lyrics to go with any song.

Music Appreciation Merit Badge

1. Listen to and identify three different types of music.

2. Identify 5 facts about a composer.

3.  Put on a concert.

Playing Outside Merit Badge

1. Take a nature hike.

2. Ride either bike or scooter for 5 hours (not all at once!)

3.  Play Tag, Capture the Flag, or other physical game, outside with your family.

4.  Go swimming.

Acting Merit Badge

1. Do the “one-line Shakespeare” exercise with a Shakespeare play.  (Take a few lines from each scene of the actual play, and use them to reduce the play to its crucial elements.)

2. Play a family charade game.

3. Perform a play or skit with entire family (except for Dad)

4. Perform improvisation.

Writing Merit Badge

1. Do writing challenges with at least one other person.

2. Write a skit or play.

3. Write a short story.

Fishing Merit Badge

1.  Go fishing with Dad.

2.  Catch a fish and release it.

3. Put on your own worm.

4. Play ‘Go Fish’.

Reading Merit Badge

1. Read 5 fiction books.

2. Read 1 non-fiction book.

3. Read one classic that you haven’t read before. (no double-counting this book in part of the other requirements)

4. Read one play.