Communication Merit Badge
1) Attend Communication Merit Badge Class
2) Before Class:
#3 Write a five-minute speech. Be prepared to give it at the Class
(This about your speaking skills.)
Print and use Communication Worksheet
2) Complete The Work Below:
# 6 With your counselor's approval, develop a plan to teach a skill or
inform someone about something.
Prepare teaching aids for your plan.
Carry out your plan. With your counselor, determine whether the person
has learned what you intended.
May be done during the class, if there is time, if not, can be done before or after class.
"aids" = Props, pictures, objects and a like.
Complete the following. One of the following mean you get to pick which one.
# 1 Do ONE of the following: (You pick one and complete)
- For one day, keep a log in
which you describe your communication activities. Keep track of the time
and different ways you spend communicating, such as talking
person-to-person, listening to teachers, the radio, or podcasts,
watching television, using social media, reading books and other print
media, and using any electronic communication device. Discuss with your
counselor what your log reveals about the importance of communication in
your life. Think of ways to improve your communications skills.
- For
three days, keep a journal of your listening experiences. Identify one
example of each of the following, and discuss with your counselor when
you have listened to:
- Obtain information
- Be persuaded
- Appreciate or enjoy something
- Understand someone's feelings
- In
a small-group setting, meet with other scouts or with friends. Have
them share personal stories about significant events in their lives that
affected them in some way. Take note of how each scout participates in
the group discussion and how effectively each scout communicates their
story. Report what you have learned to your counselor about the
differences you observed in effective communication.
- List as
many ways as you can think of to communicate with others (face-to-face,
by telephone, letter, e-mail, text messages, social media, and so on).
For each type of communication discuss with your counselor an instance
when that method might not be appropriate or effective
# 3 See above, do in class.^
#2
Pick a or b and do before or after class. (This about your presentation skills.)Do ONE of the following:
- Think of a creative way to
describe yourself, using, for example, a collage, short story or
autobiography, drawing or series of photographs, or a song or skit.
Using the aid you created, make a presentation to your counselor about
yourself.
- Choose a concept, product, or service in which you
have great confidence. Build a sales plan based on its good points. Try
to persuade the counselor to agree with, use, or buy your concept,
product or service. After your sales talk, discuss with your counselor
how persuasive you were.
#4
Before or after class. (This about your listening skills.)Interview someone you know fairly well, like, or respect because of his
or her position, talent, career or life experiences. Listen actively to
learn as much as you can about the person. Then prepare and deliver to
your counselor an introduction of the person as though this person were
to be a guest speaker, and include reasons why the audience would want
to hear this person speak. Show how you would call to invite this
person to speak.
# 5
Do before or after class. Many meeting are now online and can watched at anytime. (This about your listening skills.)Attend a public meeting (city council, school board, debate) approved by
your counselor where several points of view are given on a single
issue. Practice active listening skills and take careful notes of each
point of view. Prepare an objective report that includes all points of
view that were expressed, and share this with your counselor.
#6 Maybe done in Class if time. See above ^ (teaching skills)
# 7 Pick a or b and do before or after class. (This about your writing skills.)Do ONE of the following:
- Write to the editor of a
magazine or your local newspaper to express your opinion or share
information on any subject you choose. Send your message by fax, email
or regular mail.
- Create a web page or blog of special interest
to you (for instance, your troop or crew, a hobby, or a sport). Include
at least three articles or entries and one photograph or illustration,
and one link to some other web page or blog that would be helpful to
someone who visits the web page or blog you have created. It is not
necessary to post your web page or blog to the internet, but if you
decide to do so, you must first share it with your parents and counselor
and get their permission.
- Use desktop publishing to produce a
newsletter, brochure, flier or other printed material for your scout
troop, class at school, or other group. Include at least one article
and one photograph or illustration.
#8
Before or after class. (This about your speaking skills.)Plan a troop or crew court of honor, campfire program, or interfaith
worship service. Have the patrol leaders' council approve it, then write
the script and prepare the program. Serve as master of ceremonies.
(This can be MC for Troop 373 or the OA or for a
Cub Scout Pack event,since you became a Boy Scout ).
# 9 Career opportunities will be done in Class.