Lesson Overview

Target Age: 13 Years Old (7th/8th Grade)

Context: Homeschool, Troop Meeting, or Classroom

Objective: Learners will define "Obedient" within the context of the Scout Law, distinguish between blind obedience and "Smart Obedience" (safety and ethics), and demonstrate how following directions contributes to the success of a team.

Materials Needed

• A deck of playing cards or a simple board game
• One blindfold
• Household/classroom objects to create a small "obstacle course" (pillows, chairs, books)
• Paper and markers
• A copy of the Scout Law

1. Introduction: The Chaos Challenge (The Hook)

The Activity: Invite the learner to play a quick game of "No-Rule Cards." Deal the cards and tell them to start playing. When they ask for the rules, say, "There are no rules, just do whatever you want." After two minutes of confusion, stop the game.

Talking Points:

• "How did that feel? Was it fun to have 'total freedom,' or was it just frustrating?"
• "In Scouting, 'Obedient' is often the word people like the least because they think it means being a robot. But without rules and people willing to follow them, the 'game' of life—or a camping trip—falls apart."
• Learning Objective: Today, we’re going to discover why being obedient is actually a leadership skill that keeps people safe and successful.

2. Body: I Do, We Do, You Do

Part I: The "Why" of the Scout Law (I Do)

Explain the concept of obedience using the Safety & Trust Model. In Scouting, being obedient means following the rules of your family, school, and troop. It also means obeying the laws of your community and country.

Key Concept: "Smart Obedience." Being obedient doesn't mean doing something that is dangerous, mean, or illegal. It means trusting that the rules are there to help the whole "Patrol" win. It’s about being reliable.

Part II: Scenario Analysis (We Do)

Discuss the following scenarios together. Ask: "What is the obedient choice, and what happens if you ignore it?"

1. The Flash Flood: You are on a hike. The Patrol Leader tells everyone to move to higher ground immediately. You see a cool rock by the stream you want to grab first. (Discussion: Why is immediate obedience vital here?)
2. The Pocket Knife: The rule is "No Totin' Chip, no knife use." You see a friend using a knife without their card. He tells you not to tell the Scoutmaster. (Discussion: Who are you being obedient to here—your friend or the safety rules of the BSA?)
3. The Boring Chore: Your parents ask you to clear the table. It’s not a "safety" issue, but it is a rule of the house. (Discussion: How does this form of obedience build character for bigger things?)

Part III: The Trust Walk (You Do)

The Activity: Set up a simple obstacle course in the room.
1. The student is blindfolded.
2. The "Leader" (teacher/parent) gives specific, one-step directions to guide them through the room (e.g., "Step three inches left," "Lift your right foot six inches").
3. The Twist: Halfway through, the Leader should give a "silly" command (like "Bark like a dog") and then a "dangerous" command (like "Walk straight into this wall"—but stop them before they do).

3. Conclusion: Recap & Reflection

The Debrief:

• "When you were blindfolded, why did you choose to obey my directions?" (Usually: because I wanted to get through the course safely).
• "When I told you to bark or walk into a wall, why did you hesitate?" (Discussion on the limit of obedience—it must be for the good of the person and the mission).

Summary: A Scout follows the rules because they understand that they are part of something bigger than themselves. Obedience is a sign of respect for others and a way to ensure that everyone makes it back from the "hike" safely.

Assessment (Check for Understanding)

Formative: During the "Trust Walk," does the student follow directions accurately? Can they explain why they chose to stop when a command felt "wrong"?

Summative: Have the student create a "Rule Logic" poster. They should pick one Scout rule (e.g., "Always use the buddy system") and draw two paths:
1. The path of the Obedient Scout (The outcome: safety, fun, trust).
2. The path of the Disobedient Scout (The outcome: lost, scared, lost privileges).

Differentiation & Adaptability

• For the Advanced Learner: Research a historical event where "blind obedience" led to a disaster (like the Charge of the Light Brigade) and compare it to "Smart Obedience" in the military today.
• For the Kinesthetic Learner: Instead of a poster, have them film a 60-second "Scout PSA" video demonstrating the right and wrong way to respond to a leader's command during a campout.
• For the Classroom: Turn the "Trust Walk" into a team competition where patrols must guide their "blind" member through a course using only specific whistle codes or hand claps.

Success Criteria

• Learner can state the definition of obedience in their own words.
• Learner can identify at least three reasons why rules are necessary for a group.
• Learner demonstrates the ability to follow multi-step directions during the hands-on activity.
• Learner can explain the difference between a "good" command and a "wrong" command.