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Cub Scout Adventures > 
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 Standing Tall > 
Science Safety Gear
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Bear – 3rd Grade
Standing Tall
Personal Safety
Required
Requirement 4

Science Safety Gear

Bear – 3rd Grade
Standing Tall
Personal Safety
Required
Requirement 4

Science Safety Gear

Snapshot of Activity

Learn about personal safety gear needed for conducting a science experiment. 

Outdoor
3
3
2
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.
  • Safety goggles for each Cub Scout 
  • Latex gloves 
  • Apron or lab coat 
  • Closed toe shoes 
  • Flip flops 
  • Sunglasses 
  • 20 oz. bottles of diet soda, one for each Cub Scout 
  • Package of Mentos, one for each Cub Scout 
  • Index card, one for each Cub Scout  
  • Strip of paper as wide as the roll of Mentos for each Cub Scout 
  • Two pieces of tape for each Cub Scout 
  • Small piece of plywood, approx. 2’ x 2’, if there is no flat surface available 

Before the meeting:

  1. Set up meeting space for Cub Scouts to have room to conduct the experiment. Cover table tops and floor.
  2. Review the during the meeting instructions and complete the experiment yourself wearing safety goggles. Identify areas that may be difficult for Cub Scouts or that may require additional instructions.
  3. Cut the strips of paper so that they can be wrapped around the Mentos. Make the strip a little longer than the roll.
  4. Find a flat surface outside of your meeting location for the Mentos and Diet Coke experiment. This will need to be an area that is ok to get wet with Diet Coke. You may need to bring a small piece of plywood, if there isn’t a flat area.

During the meeting:

  1. Explain that when conducting science experiments, a scientist must have the following gear to stay safe. Ask Cub Scouts why they think each item is necessary.
    • Safety goggles
    • Gloves
    • Apron or lab coat
    • Closed toe shoes
  2. As each safety item is identified demonstrate how to properly wear the item and keep it on as you prepare for the experiment.
  3. Explain to Cub Scouts that they will be conducting a fun science experiment. They will be preparing for the experiment inside, but they’ll need to do it outside.
  4. Hand out a pack of Mentos, a strip of paper, and two pieces of tape to each Cub Scout.
  5. Instruct them to wrap the paper around the Mentos, and tape it. Tell them to fold one end of the paper over one end of the Mentos and tape it. The other end will remain open.
  6. Have Cub Scouts open the pack of Mentos and place all of them in the tube.
  7. Tell Cub Scouts to bring their Mentos tube and go outside.
  8. Ask Cub Scouts to put on their goggles and apron and gather at least 3 feet away from the flat surface.
  9. One at a time, have each Cub Scout take their bottle of Diet Coke to the flat surface. Have them open the bottle. Ask Cub Scouts to put the open end of their tube of Mentos on the card and place it directly over the opening of the soda bottle.
  10. When Cub Scouts are ready, ask them to remove the card and let all the Mentos drop into the soda at once and quickly move out of the way.
  11. Give each Cub Scout a turn.

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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.