My son is seven and a first year Cub Scout. February is our month to host den meetings. There are eight boys in his den.
I had an idea to incorperate my railroad into the next meeting. I figure I could theme the meeting around transportation. I was hoping some one could give me some ideas of how to do this bearing in mind that the boys are all first graders.
Or maybe somebody could just slap some sense into me instead.
A den of tigers huh?
Well, how elaborate is your railroad. I mean is it a sheet of plywood with some track on it or do you have elaborate detailed easily broken scenery? What scale are we talking about here and do you have some equipment that can handle a little abuse? These things would determine if you want them to actually run/touch the trains or if they are just going to observe some sort of demonstration.
Well, a slong as they won’t break anything too valuable (basically, don’t run your BLI Deisel for them, but a cheaper loco that still runs good).
Also, pick the most colorful loco and add the most colorful (good weathered models might work, but bright colors will be better), crank the throttle up to about 55-65 mile-per-hour on the powerpack, let them watch it, then tell them about it, etc. Maybe let them take a try at the controls as well.
You could work up giveaway explanation sheets (check your son’s school texts and worksheets - simple language, larger typeface, illustrations) and print them off. Key concepts to point out:
The importance of moving things from where they are to where PEOPLE need them. (You can key this to whatever major industry you have on your layout.)
The way a railroad does this.
Historical background of railroads, especially their development in a truck-free (virtually road-free) environment.
The kind of PEOPLE who work for railroads, and what they do.
Note the emphasis on PEOPLE. The idea is that railroads are places where people work, and which do things that people need to have done. First graders have no concept of economics, but they do understand things. Moving a carload of canned corn means nothing to them - but getting one can of corn from Kansas to Mom’s kitchen for dinner does.
On the layout, have them find places where people are doing things, or can do things - load and unload cars, fix locomotives, walk the train before leaving the station (“Have to make sure that all the cars are coupled, that the brakes work and that no cars have broken parts…”)
Dealing with first graders is a challenge. OTOH, most of them have been exposed to the Nightly News and adult-oriented TV fare, and are more knowledgeable than most professional educators are willing to admit.
Just my [2c], a long way short of a full wallet of ideas…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Elective #41 is transportation. The requirement states to visit a train station, bus station, … unfortunately, I assume they mean a real one.
On the other hand elective #16 is Collecting and other Hobbies. You could tell them ahead of time to come ready to tell about something they collect or their hobby. Then start the meeting (after openings “I promise to do my best…” of course) telling them about your hobby leading into them telling about theirs. You could also explain the various aspects of the hobby (carpentry, model building, electrical, math-geometry, collecting, etc.) so they see it more than just a train set.
Elective #17 is “make a model”. When I taught an elementary level class on model railroading I got a bunch of shake the box Athearn kits and let them assemble them. Another time I got a bunch of Bachmann junker cabooses and we detailed and painted them including adding window glass, roof walks, marker lamps, etc.
All of these posts are great.
I would like to add another factor to the meeting. Teach them safety. Tell them why they should never walk on the tracks and be careful at railroad crossings. Believe me, you teach this to them now and they will learn at a young age. They will remember this experience as they grow older.
I am currently a leader for the Boy Scouts (older kids) so I am not real familiar with all of the requirements of the Tiger cubs. I can tell you good luck with your den meeting. Another suggestion would be to take pictures of them by the layout and start a scrapbook or collage to show to the parents at the end of the school year.
Will
I’ve been a Den Leader for a few years and am now a Cubmaster. The most important thing to keep in mind is boys of this age don’t want to hear you talk about trains. They want to run the trains and/or build something. The monthly Cub Scout theme for October '07 was trains, so if you can track down a “Program Helps” book from back then, you might get some ideas.
For that month, our entire pack visited a local rail yard. The trainmaster let the boys climb on a loco, etc.
At our den meeting, we created a modular layout. I precut sections of scrap foam and glued some old brass track on the sections. Then we took a box of craft supplies and each boy decorated his own section by sticking and/or gluing things into the foam. At the end of the meeting, we connected the sections and ran a train. Each boy then took his section home - hopefully to inspire him to continue with the hobby.
Good luck.
Try this website.
http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/advancementandawards/meritbadges/mb-RAIL.aspx
It lists the requirements to earn the Model Railroad merit badge. While it’s fairly advanced for 7 year olds, it might give you some ideas.
dan.
Yes you are crazy.All of us with children are. Have you every heard Bill Cosbys skit on being a parent ? It is funny ! He discusses how before you have children you are sane , have degrees etc … after children you become brain damaged. For example you start repeating yourself with words like No ,NO , NOOO - stop , Stop , STOP STOOOOPPP . Any way he does a great job of it. If you get a chance listen to it you will get a belly laugh. Few suggetions . One - put away all expensive items that , if they get broken you will not have a cow over and thus ruin a great day for all involved. Two - let them run some trains . Three - keep it relatively short - their attention span is shorter . Four- combine multiple activities into this one event ie - visit a local caboose that may be on display , provide an inexpensive kit for them to take home (anything maybe even some small figures ) , give them some picture of engines , make a game out of teaching wheel set ups (for example 4-4-0 , 2-8-0 etc…) five - feed them before they start eating your layout , just kidding , but maybe let them pretend to be hobo’s and cook some beans and franks over the grill . But the main thing is be prepared in advance and in charge (not like Hitler ) . Any time spent getting set up , looking for stuff , running around etc you quickly loose their interest and attention . Be in charge by being organized , leading them into each new phase , in other words be a step ahead of them and let them follow your lead. By the way I wanted to say I think it is tremendous that you take the time for your children and other children.[tup] Many of my family are teachers , I cant tell you how many times they have to drive children home from after school events because the parents are SO SORRY they will not even to bother to pick up their children and take them home , much less give their kids the time of day . Keep up the good work [:)] &n
BAKBLAST,
Go ahead and show it to them!
I got my start at age 5 and was running 3 trains in Sears and Roebuck store display window and I didn’t break anything!
What a great day I had!
Do you know anyone who has any of the "DReam, Plan, Build DVD videos that Model Railroader sells?
Maybe borrow one or two and show them also, because my girlfriends Grandsons just go BONKERS watching those videos that I have and they help me with my layout, and have NOT broke anything, and I HAVE let them personally handle a $300 BLI steam engine.
All these guys who say, NO NO NO, apparently don’t remember being young.
Remember this, their visit to your train layout may inspire them for a lifetime and get their interest in something constructive and keep them away from drugs, gangs and other bad stuff out there.
I’m also a private pilot and belong to an organization called the EAA and we have a program for kids from 8 to 17 called “Young Eagles” that hopes to interest youth in aviation and the related sciences and professions.
It started in 1992, and today some of those first kids in the programs are military pilots, commercial pilots and some are even Space Shuttle astronauts!
My layout today was inspired in me in December 1956 at age 5.
TheK4Kid