Den Shield

Before the meeting: 

1. Set up the meeting space for painting and make sure to protect the workspace and floor. 
2. Inform Cub Scouts and adult partners that they will be painting during the meeting and to bring an old t-shirt or craft apron. 
3. Draw an outline of a shield on the plywood using a pencil.  Using the table saw to cut out the shield. 
4. Spray the shield with primer and let dry fully before the meeting. 
5. Use the painter’s tape to tape off a top section of the shield about 6 inches from the top. 
6. Use the painter’s tape to then create equal sections on the shield for each member of the den. 

During the meeting: 

1. Gather the Cub Scouts and adult partners and share with them that for this activity they will design and make a den shield.   Tell them that knights in medieval times used a shield to protect themselves but they also used it to identify who they were and where they came from.  During this time most people could not read so people would use symbols instead of words.  Most shields were decorated with symbols that may show what part of the country they were from or what family they were from. 
2. Ask Cub Scouts what one symbol they would use to identify themselves with.  Have them draw that symbol on page 40 of their Tiger handbook. 
3. Once everyone has completed their drawing give each Cub Scout a section of the den shield to paint their symbol on.  Ask them to include their initials next to their symbol. 
4. As Cub Scouts are painting their symbol ask adult partners to help paint the top section.  
5. Allow the paint to dry and then spray on a coat of clear coat/finish.