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Cub Scout Adventures > 
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 Estimations AOL > 
Stick Method
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Arrow of Light – 5th Grade
Estimations AOL
Elective
Requirement 3

Stick Method

Arrow of Light – 5th Grade
Estimations AOL
Elective
Requirement 3

Stick Method

Snapshot of Activity

Use a stick to estimate the height of a tall object. 

Outdoor
3
2
1
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.
  • Measuring tape to share 
  • Straight sticks, can be found in nature not store-bought, one for each Cub Scout 

Before the meeting: 

  1. Become familiar with measuring a height from a distance by watching the YouTube video How to Measure a Tree’s Height Using a Stick. ( 3 minutes 26 seconds )  
  2. Review the two different stick methods below and determine which you plan to use with your den.  
  3. Find an area with tall items to measure such as trees, flagpoles, or tall buildings.  
  4. Be sure the area has access to sticks.  The “Use a Partner” stick measurement requires a pencil-sized stick, whereas the “Use your Steps” requires a Cub Scout arm-length stick.   If you do not have an area with sticks, plan to bring them on your own.   
  5. Set up measure area.  Both methods need a measurement using a measuring tape.  
    • The “Use a Partner” requires a spot where cub can measure their height.  
    • The “Use your Steps” requires a 100-foot pacing course. In this case, mark 100 feet on the ground.  Mark a starting point and an ending point.   

During the meeting:  

  1. Explain how to use the stick method for measuring larger items that you cannot measure with a tape measure such as flag poles, trees, or towers.   When using the stick method, you turn the stick into a unit of measure and use it to estimate the height of objects.   Below are two different ways to use the stick method.  

    Using a partner:  

    • This method requires relatively flat ground to get a good estimation.  
    • Using the measuring tape, measure the height of one Cub Scout or other object you want to use as the measurement tool.    Have the Cub Scout (or object), stand next to the item you are estimating (Tree, building, etc.)   Step back and hold a straight stick upright at arm’s length in front of you.   
    • With one eye closed, sight (look) over the stick so that the top of the stick appears to be touching the top of the Cub Scout’s head (or the top of the object).    
    • Place your thumbnail on the stick where the stick appears to be touching the base of the item you are measuring (base of the tree). The base of the item or your thumbnail to the top of the stick is now your unit of measure.  Keep your thumbnail in place.  
    • Move the stick up the estimated item and count how many times this measurement goes up the item.   Record that number by writing it down.    
    • Multiply the number of “sticks high” by the height of the Cub Scouts that stood next to the item (or the object) from step 1.   This will tell you the approximate height of the item measured (tree) 

    Using your steps: (More challenging mathematically)  

    • This method requires relatively flat ground to get a good estimation. 
    • Set up a 100-foot course on flat ground.   
    • Cub Scouts need to determine the length of the Cub Scout’s steps.   Cub Scouts walk at a normal speed from one end of the course to the other, counting steps as they go.   Have Cub Scouts write down that number.  Divide the number of steps into 100, and you will figure out the length of one step.   Example:  If it took you 50 steps to go 100 feet, 100 divided by 50 is 2, so your step length is 2 feet.    Have Cub Scouts write down that number and circle it.  They will use it later.  
    • Find a stick the length of your arm. Hold your arm out straight with the stick pointing straight up (90-degree angle to your outstretched arm).  Your arm is parallel to the ground and the stick is perpendicular to the ground.  
    • Walk backward from the object you are measuring, until you see the tip of the stick line up with the top of the object (aka tree). Your feet are now at approximately the same distance from the tree as it is high. 
    • Set down your stick.  Count your steps as you walk towards the building.  If you lost count, no worries, go back to your stick and try again.  Write down the number of steps it took from the stick to the object.  
    • Multiply the number of steps you took by the length of your steps (which was calculated and circled during the 100-foot count).  
    • This number will tell you the approximate height of the item measured (tree) 
  2. Demonstrate one of the methods Cub Scouts watch.   
  3. Guide Cub Scouts as they try the method on their own.  

Other Activities Options

You can choose other activities of your choice.

Arrow of Light – 5th Grade

What is a Theodolite?

Outdoor
3
4
3

Create a theodolite to estimate the height of an object. 

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.