Dressing for the Weather

Thanks very much to Patti McWilliams, who posted this great set of ideas to the Guiding Mailing List. Patti has given me permission to re-post them here.

This set of experiments are designed to teach your Guides how to dress properly for outdoor (mostly winter) activities.

Each patrol is given a different experiment to do.  After 30 minutes, reassemble as a unit and take a grand tour together of the different experiments.  Each patrol explains their experiment, observations and how they will put their newly discovered skills into every day practice.  Then do the ‘Dressing Daisy’ exercise and at campfire, share the Daisies you have created.

 

EXPERIMENT #1 - FINGERS OR THUMBS

QUESTION
What really works better, gloves or mitts?  Does it matter what material they are made of?  Does it help to layer your hand coverings?

ANSWERS BEFORE YOU DO THE EXPERIMENT
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THE EXPERIMENT

MATERIALS
An assortment of mini mitts, fleece mitts, woollen mitts, gloves, waterproof mitts, a pan of ice, a dish of snow.

METHOD
Put on one type of covering on one hand, one on the other.  Put your hands in the snow for a while, lay your hands on the ice for a while.

OBSERVATIONS (WHAT HAPPENED)
Which are warmer?
Which stays dry?
Which would be best for the wind?
When would you wear mitts?
When would you wear gloves?

Now what type of hand warmers will you choose to wear when we go on outings?  Will you bring a change in your backpack?  Why?

 

EXPERIMENT # 2 - BRRRRRRRRRRRRR

QUESTION
Does being cold really affect how well or how quickly we can do things?

ANSWERS BEFORE YOU DO THE EXPERIMENT
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THE EXPERIMENT

MATERIALS
Small cooler with snow or ice water, shoes with laces, stop watch.

METHOD
Have someone time how long it takes you to tie your shoe.  Put your hands in the cold water for 15 seconds.  Now have someone time you as you tie your other shoe.

OBSERVATIONS (WHAT HAPPENED)
 

Name Time Before Ice Time After Ice
z z z
z z z
z z z
z z z
z z z

What affect do you think chilly fingers have on tying shoes, or buttoning your coat or finding warm clothes in your backpack?

Why is it important to keep your hands warm?  What do you think is the best way to do that?

 

EXPERIMENT #3 - PUT A LID ON IT

QUESTION
What happens when you leave the top of your head uncovered in the cold weather?  In hot weather?

ANSWERS BEFORE YOU DO THE EXPERIMENT
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THE EXPERIMENT

MATERIALS
5 pop cans, hot water, a pan of ice, a hat for one of the cans, ear warmers for another can, a ball cap, a lamp.

METHOD
Fill three cans with hot water.  Put a hat on one, a warmer on one, no hat on the last.  Place the 3 hot cans on the pan of ice.  Fill two cans with cold water, put a ball cap on one and nothing on the other.  Sit then on the counter.  Shine the lamp on them.  Leave them, come back and check on them every once in a while.

OBSERVATIONS
What is happening to the water in the pan of ice with:
- The can with a hat?
- The can with an ear warmer?
- The can with no hat?

What is happening to the water in the cans on the counter with:
- A ball cap?
- No hat?

What does this mean when you go outside?  What will you wear on your head next time, and why?
 

EXPERIMENT #4 – LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS

QUESTION
Why are layers important when we’re on an outing?

ANSWERS BEFORE THE EXPERIMENT
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EXPERIMENT

MATERIALS
Tape with good dancing music!

METHOD
Check your body temperature before you start to dance.  Is your skin dry or moist?  Are you cold or warm?  Now, put on the tape and dance away.

OBSERVATIONS
What was your body temperature like before you started to dance?
What was it like while you were exercising?
What was it like right after you stopped exercising?
What was it like 5 minutes after you stopped exercising?
Do you feel like putting more clothes on or taking some off?

What type of clothing will you choose when we go out?  How many layers will you start with?  What will you do when you start to warm up?

 

EXPERIMENT #5 – WARM, TOASTY FEET

QUESTION
What socks should you choose for your feet?  Which boots are best for you?

ANSWERS BEFORE THE EXPERIMENT
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EXPERIMENT

MATERIALS
A felt pack boot, a pointy fashion boot, a gum boot, cotton socks, wool socks, a pan of ice.

METHOD
Place each boot on the ice.  Place one of each type of sock on the ice.  After waiting a little while, put your hand in each boot, leave it there for a while.  Put one dry sock and one wet sock from the same pair on your hand.  Take off your shoes and check out your own socks.

OBSERVATIONS
Which boot is warmer inside?

Which type of sock is warmer?  Does it matter whether they are wet or dry?

What if you layer the socks, what happens?

What are your socks like now?  Dry?  Wet?  Warm?  Cold?  Why is that?  If we were outside how would your feet and toes feel right now?

What type of boots will you be wearing on our next winter outing, and why?  What type of socks will you choose?  Why?  Will you bring extra socks?  Why?
 

EXPERIMENT #6 - THE WICK

QUESTION
What types of pants are best to wear when we go on outings?

ANSWERS BEFORE THE EXPERIMENT
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EXPERIMENT

MATERIALS
Clothesline, pegs, blue jeans, wind pants, jogging pants, pan of water.

METHOD
Suspend the pants from the clothesline.  Put one pant leg of each pair so it just touches a pan of water.

OBSERVATIONS
What is happening to the jean pant leg in the water?

What is happening to the wind pant leg in the water?

What is happening to the jogging pant leg in the water?

What will happen if you wear jeans when we go on a winter outing?  What will you choose to wear when we go on winter/rainy outings?  Why?

 

DRESSING DAISY

Each Patrol is given a large sheet of paper.  They are asked to trace one of their patrol members.  The traced Guide is now DAISY.
 

PATROL 1
Daisy is going cross-country skiing.  Please dress her ready to get on the bus for the 2 hour drive to the mountains.

PATROL 2
Daisy is getting ready to march in the parade.  It is snowing out.  The ground is covered with wet snow.  It is just below freezing.  Please dress her so she can march for 1 hour.

PATROL 3
Daisy has been skiing for 30 minutes now.  Please dress her for the weather.  It is just below freezing.  There is a north wind.

PATROL 4
Daisy is going to join the others at the campfire.  It is snowing out and –10 degrees.  There is a wind.  Please dress her for the weather.

PATROL 5
Daisy is going for a hike up the mountain.  It is very hot out.  There are a few rain clouds in the sky.  Please dress her for this 4 hour hike.  
 

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