Lions, Dimes, Nickles, and Pennies

Before the meeting: 

1. Identify a safe location free of obstacles to run a relay race.   
2. Set up sports cones 10 yards apart. 

During the meeting: 

1. Gather the Cub Scouts and adult partners and share with them that math is an important part of many games.  You may count the spaces you need to go, and the points you earn, or it may even be used to solve a problem to win the game. 
2. Share with the den that in order to do well in this activity they will need to know how to count change.
3. Show each coin and tell the Cub Scouts the value of each coin: 
   • Penny = 1 
   • Nicke = 5 
   • Dime = 10 
   • Quarter = 25 
4. Take a random selection of coins and practice having Cub Scouts count the change.  Give them enough time to practice before running the relay race. 
5. Inform the Cub Scouts and adult partners that this activity will run a relay race.   
6. Explain the rules of the relay race. 
   • The den will be divided into two teams.  They will compete to see what team can complete the relay in the fastest time. 
   • The first team lines up behind a cone.  The game leader stands at the other cone.  
   • The game leader places some coins in the small bowl. 
   • The first player on the team on the signal and at the start of the stopwatch runs to the game leader. 
   • When the player arrives, they look in the bowl and count the change, if they get it correct, they return to their team and the next player goes.  If they get it incorrect, they must run back to the other cone and run back.  The team leader does not change the coins.  The player continues until they get it correct. 
   • Play continues until ever player on a team has run the relay.  
   • When the last player on the team finishes the stopwatch stops and the time is given for the team. 
   • The next team tries to beat that time.  If you have an odd number of den members, have someone play on both teams.