I Heart String Art

Before the meeting: 

1. Inform the parents and legal guardians in the den that at this den meeting Cub Scouts will work on making string art that represents one of their favorite family faith traditions.  Ask parents and legal guardians to help their Cub Scout to think of what they may want to make.   
2. Prepare the meeting space for Cub Scout to work with hammers and nails, give at least arm’s length distance between Cub Scouts. 
3. Review how to make string art, you may use this YouTube video on beginner string art.  
4. Use the Heart String Art template and make a string art as a sample and to help identify areas that Cub Scouts may need extra help with.   
5. Secure additional adult supervision to assist with project. 

During the meeting: 

1. Inform Cub Scouts that they are going to make something that represents a family faith tradition.  This can be  a decoration or a symbol of faith. 
2. Have Cub Scouts use the 5” x 5” white piece of paper to draw their design. 
3. Provide each Cub Scout with a square wooden board and tape. 
4. Ask Cub Scouts to carefully tape their template onto their wooden board. 
5. Have Cub Scout put on their safety glasses. 
6. Tell Cub Scouts to carefully use their tack to pierce holes in their template where the nails should go. Instruct Cub Scouts to push hard enough to puncture the wood beneath the template.  
7. Advise Cub Scouts to remove their template. They should see where each nail should go. 
8. Ask Cub Scouts to use their hammer to nail each nail into their board in the designated spots. Nails should not hammer all the way into the wood. Instead, leave approximately ¼” of the nail sticking out of the wood. Remind Cub Scouts to be careful and try to keep their nails straight. 
9. Tell Cub Scouts to take the end of their yarn and tie around the bottom-most nail leaving a 2-3” tail. Ask Cub Scouts to wrap the yarn around the nails, moving back and forth across their design as much as they can, keeping the string taut. 
10. Encourage Cub Scouts to use every nail at least once. 
11. When Cub Scouts have completed their string art have them share what they made with the den.