Before the meeting:
- Decide which leader or den chief ate the cookie.
- Gather supplies.
- Find an adult volunteer or den chief to be the “cookie eater.”
- Set up the crime scene.
- Use an ink pad to transfer the “cookie eater’s” fingerprint to the cup of milk.
- Use chalk to transfer the “cookie eater’s” shoe print near the scene.
- Leave a plate with cookie crumbs on the scene.
- Leave bit of sugar and baking soda near the plate.
- Rope off the area with rope or crime scene tape.
During the meeting:
- Tell Cub Scouts they are going to be investigators by figuring out who ate the cookie.
- Have Cub Scouts share their observations about the scene.
- What do they see?
- What is missing?
- Give Cub Scouts a set of gloves to wear.
- Have Cub Scouts collect fingerprints from one another, adults, and den chief (see requirement 2 “Fingerprint Fun.”)
- Have Cub Scouts collect shoe imprints from one another, adults, and den chief (see requirement 3 “Gumshoe.”)
- Allow Cub Scouts to compare the collected fingerprints and shoe imprints they have collected to the fingerprints and shoe imprints left at the crime scene.
- Once Cub Scouts have discovered “the eater,” congratulate them and let them eat a cookie.
- If they ask about the sugar and baking soda, have the “cookie eater” share that they were trying to make cookies of their own, but then decided eating already made cookies would be easier.
Tip: By doing this activity, you can also complete requirement 2, 3 and 6
