Homeschool Scouts: Badges You Can Count as Language Arts Curriculum

A great perk of being a Boy Scout and a Homeschooler is that you can integrate badge earning into your curriculum. There are numerous badges you can use for science, social studies, and even art. In this case, I would like to discuss what boy scout badges can be used for language arts curriculum.

While earning the Journalism Badge, the student will learn about freedom of the press and begin to explore newspapers, magazines, radio and television as news sources. They will learn about different types of news stories. They will also report on an event through writing, radio or other broadcast, and photography. This badge deals with a good deal of reading, and writing. You can work grammar into this project by helping the child edit his work.

While earning the Public Speaking Badge, a student would learn to create an introduction, a three to five minute talk, and impromptu speech, and a presentation with visual aids. They will also learn to lead a discussion. The student will do a great deal of writing and brainstorming in preparation for their public speaking events.

Earning the Reading Badge requires the student to learn how to locate books in a library. They will need to check out and read different types of literature. They will read books and periodicals that teach about the world. They will keep a reading log. Students will also learn how to order items from catalogs, learn internet safety, and to read to others as a volunteer.

Earning the Communications Badge, which is required to reach the Eagle scout rank, teaches a great deal of language arts related skills. They include, journaling, observing forms of communication, sharing stories, and listing different forms of communication. The student will explore different types of communication, and write and present a five-minute speech. The student will attend public meetings to observe and plan and carry out a teaching activity. They may also write a letter to an editor, create a web page, or use desk-top publishing to produce a newsletter, brochure, or flier. The student must also plan a troop court of honor in which they write a script for the program and serve as master of ceremonies.

While completing these badges will not make a complete year's curriculum, they can be an important part of a year's lessons. Remember, a year of Language Arts curriculum will include grammar, reading, and writing, and these badges can easily fill one of these requirements.