Modesty
Most people do not naturally possess an attitude of modesty as characterized by humility and simplicity. We
instinctively seek recognition and attention. We want others to honor us for who we are and what we have done,
when doing the right thing should be reward enough.
Otter - Do 4 requirements including the 2 starred
________1.* The way we present our outside should match who we are on the inside. If you dress immodestly,
people will assume that you also live immodestly since that is how you present yourself.
Look through your clothing and ask yourself the following questions:
Do your shirts reveal your abdomen or back?
Do you have to suck in your stomach to zip any of your pants?
Do any of your shirts or pants have inappropriate sayings on them, or sayings in inappropriate places such as
across your bottom?
Do any of your jeans ride so low that your underwear can be seen?
Do any of your skirts ride excessively high above the knee when you are seated? Do any of the slits come too far
up your leg?
Do your shorts show your bottom when you bend over?
If you answered yes to any of these questions ask yourself why your wear that particular piece of clothing and
consider replacing it with something less revealing.
________2.* Learn to show modesty toward others. Don’t be selfish and don’t live to make a good impression on
others. Instead, be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Find and opportunity with a friend or family
member to draw praise and attention to them rather than yourself. For example, maybe you and your sister each
painted a picture for your mom. Instead of asking if she likes yours better, point out how beautiful your sister’s
picture is and draw your mother’s attention to your sister’s artwork instead of your own. Or maybe you play soccer
and you scored 3 goals while your friend didn't’t score any. Instead of drawing attention to the goals you made, find
something good to praise your friend about, such as a good defense or lots of energy.
________3. Make a piece of artwork that shows what modesty means to you.
________4. Have you ever wanted to be the center of attention? Have you noticed that in order to get that
attention you may behave in ways that are overly dramatic? For one week, think about your behavior when you are
trying to get attention. Do you whine? Do you get very loud? Do you brag? How does this type of behavior make
you feel when you see it in others? What is a better way to express yourself? Also notice if you try to steal the
attention away from someone else. If your sister is getting a lot of attention because of something wonderful that
she accomplished, don’t try to take the attention for yourself, but instead, praise your sister and enjoy her moment
with her.
________5. Create a collage that expresses modesty.
________6. Write a short paragraph about what modesty means.
Dolphin - Do 5 requirements including the 2 starred
________1.* The way we present our outside should match who we are on the inside. If you dress immodestly,
people will assume that you also live immodestly since that is how you present yourself.. Look through your
clothing and ask yourself the following questions:
Do your shirts reveal your abdomen or back?
Do any of your shirts or pants have inappropriate sayings on them, or sayings in inappropriate places such as
across your bottom?
Do you have to suck in your stomach to zip any of your paints? Do any of your jeans ride so low that your
underwear can be seen?
Do any of your skirts ride excessively high above the knee when you are seated? Do any of the slits come too far
up your leg?
Do your shorts show your bottom when you bend over?
If you answered yes to any of these questions ask yourself why your wear that particular piece of clothing and
consider replacing it with something less revealing.
________2.* Learn to show modesty toward others. Don’t be selfish and don’t live to make a good impression on
others. Instead, be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Find and opportunity with a friend or family
member to draw praise and attention to them rather than yourself. For example, maybe you and your sister each
painted a picture for your mom. Instead of asking if she likes yours better, point out how beautiful your sister’s
picture is and draw your mother’s attention to your sister’s artwork instead of your own. Or maybe you play soccer
and you scored 3 goals while your friend didn't’t score any. Instead of drawing attention to the goals you made, find
something good to praise your friend about, such as a good defense or lots of energy.
________3. Create a short skit about modesty and perform it for your family or troop.
________4. Create a collage that expresses modesty.
________5. . For one week, keep a list of immodest behavior demonstrated in the books your read and the
movies and TV shows that you watch. At the end of the week, review your list. Could the author or director have
still told the story if they had their characters behave in a more modest manner? If not, was the story still worth
telling? Think about what you read and watch and whether or not you need to make changes in your own behavior.
________6. Choose a woman of modesty and read her biography. How did living modestly affect her life and
those around her? Examples may include Biblical characters, women in business such as Mary Kay Ash, or even
women in history such as Laura Ingalls Wilder.
________7. . Have you ever wanted to be the center of attention? Have you noticed that in order to get that
attention you may behave in ways that are overly dramatic? For one week, think about your behavior when you are
trying to get attention. Do you whine? Do you get very loud? Do you brag? How does this type of behavior make
you feel when you see it in others? What is a better way to express yourself? Also notice if you try to steal the
attention away from someone else. If your sister is getting a lot of attention because of something wonderful that
she accomplished, don’t try to take the attention for yourself, but instead, praise your sister and enjoy her moment
with her.
Butterfly - Do 6 requirements including the 2 starred
________1.* The way we present our outside should match who we are on the inside. If you dress immodestly,
people will assume that you also live immodestly since that is how you present yourself.. Look through your
clothing and ask yourself the following questions:
Are any of your tops so sheer that others can see your bra or too low-cut, allowing cleavage to show?
Do your shirts reveal your abdomen or back?
Do any of your shirts or pants have inappropriate sayings on them, or sayings in inappropriate places such as
across your bottom?
Do you have to suck in your stomach to zip any of your paints? Do any of your jeans ride so low that your
underwear can be seen?
Do any of your skirts ride excessively high above the knee when you are seated? Do any of the slits come too far
up your leg?
Do your shorts show your bottom when you bend over?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask yourself why your wear that particular piece of clothing. By
wearing revealing clothes you are sending a message to boys that you do not respect your body and therefore they
do not have to either. A modest woman does not lead others into temptation and by wearing revealing clothes you
make it harder for the boys to do the right thing and show you the respect that you deserve.
________2.* Learn to show modesty toward others. Don’t be selfish and don’t live to make a good impression on
others. Instead, be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. For the next week, every time you find
yourself seeking praise or attention, find something to praise in someone else instead.
________3. Create a recipe for cooking up modesty. What type of ingredients would you need? Self control?
Modest dress? Unselfishness? What quantities would you need of each and how should they be mixed together?
Create recipe cards for your modesty recipe and give them to your troop mates.
________4. Write a short story about modesty.
________5. Interview 3 people of 3 different age groups and find out their views on modesty. Come up with at
least 10 interview questions to cover topics such as dress, language, TV, etc. Compare the answers you received
to your own views and discuss them with a parent.
________6. . For one week, keep a list of immodest behavior demonstrated in the books your read and the
movies and TV shows that you watch. At the end of the week, review your list. Could the author or director have
still told the story if they had their characters behave in a more modest manner? If not, was the story still worth
telling? Think about what you read and watch and whether or not you need to make changes in your own behavior.
________7. Choose a woman of modesty and read her biography. How did living modestly affect her life and
those around her? Examples may include Biblical characters, women in business such as Mary Kay Ash, or even
women in history such as Laura Ingalls Wilder. (If you did this requirement as a Dolphin, pick a different woman to
read about.)
________8. Look at our culture in America today and identify 6 areas in which modesty is frequently lacking. What
can you do in your own community to promote modest behavior? Create a poster or flyer that promotes modesty
and post it somewhere in your community.
Eagle - Do 7 requirements including the 2 starred
________1.* The way we present our outside should match who we are on the inside. If you dress immodestly,
people will assume that you also live immodestly since that is how you present yourself.. Look through your
clothing and ask yourself the following questions:
Are any of your tops so sheer that others can see your bra or too low-cut, allowing cleavage to show?
Do your shirts reveal your abdomen or back?
Do any of your shirts or pants have inappropriate sayings on them, or sayings in inappropriate places such as
across your bottom?
Do you have to suck in your stomach to zip any of your paints? Do any of your jeans ride so low that your
underwear can be seen?
Do any of your skirts ride excessively high above the knee when you are seated? Do any of the slits come too far
up your leg?
Do your shorts show your bottom when you bend over?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask yourself why your wear that particular piece of clothing. By
wearing revealing clothes you are sending a message to boys that you do not respect your body and therefore they
do not have to either. A modest woman does not lead others into temptation and by wearing revealing clothes you
make it harder for the boys to do the right thing and show you the respect that you deserve.
________2.* Learn to show modesty toward others. Don’t be selfish and don’t live to make a good impression on
others. Instead, be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. For the next week, every time you find
yourself seeking praise or attention, find something to praise in someone else instead.
________3. Research the dorm conditions at 6 different colleges. How many have co-ed dorms? How many have
co-ed bathrooms? Are there more modest living conditions on campus or would you have to live off campus if you
attended this college.
________4. Organize a Modesty Fashion Show. Find local businesses in town who carry stylish, but modest,
clothing and ask them to participate. Put on your show for local moms & daughters. A fun spin on this idea is to
put on a fashion show that specializes in modest prom dresses.
________5. For one week, keep a list of immodest behavior demonstrated in the books your read and the movies
and TV shows that you watch. At the end of the week, review your list. Could the author or director have still told
the story if they had their characters behave in a more modest manner? If not, was the story still worth telling?
Think about what you read and watch and whether or not you need to make changes in your own behavior.
________6. Look at our culture in America today and identify 6 areas in which modesty is frequently lacking. What
can you do in your own community to promote modest behavior? Create a poster or flyer that promotes modesty
and post it somewhere in your community.
________7. Drugs and alcohol diminish the brain’s capacity for rational judgment and modest behavior. Find at
least 3 organizations committed to the elimination of underage drinking and drugs in your community. Dedicate at
least 4 hours of volunteer service to one of these organizations.
________8. Create 3 object lessons that can be used to teach others about modesty. An example might be to
have 3 young ladies come up in front of the troop. Give the first girl an unopened bag of M&M's. Give the 2nd girl a
bag of M&M's that have already been opened. Give the 3rd girl a bag of M&M's poured directly into her hand. Ask
the girls which of the 3 would be the most tempted to eat the M&M's immediately? Explain that the more immodest
that we choose to dress, the more temptation it is for a young man to have pure thoughts.
________9. With your parent’s permission, check out the results of The Modesty Survey at http://www.
therebelution.com/modestysurvey/ . This is a 148 question survey that was answered by more than 1600
Christian young men. The questions cover everything from dress and make-up to posture and movement. Review
what you discover with your parents. Did any questions in the survey have unexpected results to you?