Boy Scouts of America

Scouting America logo
Feedback

Feedback

Please provide feedback on your experience of this adventure or activity
Report Quality Assurance
If there are errors or issues with this adventure/ activity, please go to the Report Quality Assurance Page.
Adventure/Activity Feedback Form
This feedback helps identify things den leaders like and opportunities for improvement.
Feedback Form
Cub Scout Adventures > 
Bear >
 Champions for Nature Bear > 
Human Air Pollution Detectors
Back to: Champions for Nature Bear
Print This Page
Bear – 3rd Grade
Champions for Nature Bear
Elective
Requirement 4

Human Air Pollution Detectors

Bear – 3rd Grade
Champions for Nature Bear
Elective
Requirement 4

Human Air Pollution Detectors

Snapshot of Activity

In this activity, Cub Scouts will be “indoor pollution detectors” to investigate air pollution. 

Indoor
2
2
2
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.
  • One electric fan  
  • One onion cut up in a tightly sealed plastic bag  
  • Timer 

Before the meeting: 

  1. Cut up the onion, and tightly seal it in a plastic bag. 

During the meeting: 

  1. Space individual Cub Scouts evenly around the room. Tell them that they will be “indoor air pollution monitoring instruments.”   
  2. Place a fan in the front of the room and turn it on. Show Cub Scouts the bag with the onion in it. 
  3. Ask the “monitoring instruments” to close their eyes tightly and use only their sense of smell for this activity. They need to keep their eyes closed until you tell them to open them. 
  4. Tell Cub Scouts to raise their hands as soon as they detect onion smell “pollution” and to leave their hands up as long as they continue to smell it. 
  5. In front of the fan, open the bag with the cut onion.  
  6. Use a stopwatch or watch with a second hand to time how long it takes for all of the “monitoring instruments” to detect the “pollution.”  
  7. Allow the fan to continue to run.  Record how long it took for indoor air pollution to spread through the room.  
  8. Close and seal the bag as soon as each child has detected the “pollution”. Place the bag in a drawer or outside.   
  9. If possible, open a window and place the fan so that it is blowing in fresh air from outside. 
  10. Restart the stopwatch.  
  11. Ask the “monitoring instruments” to lower their hands when they can no longer smell the onion “pollution”. 
  12. Record how long it takes for fresh air to sweep the “pollution” from the room.  
  13. Have the children open their eyes.  
  14. Discuss how long it took for everyone to detect the “pollution,” and how it took for it to go away. 

Other Activities Options

You can choose other activities of your choice.

Bear – 3rd Grade

Acid Rain Investigation

Indoor
3
3
2

Cub Scouts conduct an acid rain experiment. 

See Details
Bear – 3rd Grade

Air Pollution Investigation

Indoor
3
3
2

Cub Scouts investigate air pollution. 

See Details

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.