4-H School Enrichment - Elementary
2020-2021
Virtual or In-Person Options!
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Email: thurston-county@unl.edu
Website: thurston.unl.edu
Location: 415 Main St, Pender, NE 68047
Phone: 402-385-6041
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionThurston/
Twitter: @UNLThurstonCty
Jennifer E. Hansen, Extension Educator
We're Your Local Experts!
Stacey Keys, Extension Assistant
Dear Administrators and Teachers,
School Enrichment programs are a cooperative effort between schools, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Nebraska Extension, which complement the educational goals of all organizations. The materials used in 4-H are based on research and produced by specialists from the University of Nebraska, National 4-H, and various universities and organizations throughout the United States. The lessons use the Experiential Learning Model: Do, Reflect, and Apply to develop critical life skills.
4-H School Enrichment resources include teacher guides, student manuals, DVDs, teaching kits, and staff presentations. All lessons are FREE, unless otherwise designated!
If you have any specific topics or areas that you would like resources on please let's have a conversation! Especially in the areas of College & Career Readiness, STEM, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email. We hope these programs will enhance your existing curriculum and you will take advantage of these programmatic opportunities. We look forward to working with you.
Table of Contents
STE(A)M - Science, Technology, Engineering, (Art), Math
- Mars Base Camp 4-H STEM Challenge
- Game Changers
- Discover Your Computer Code
- Rockets to the Rescue
- Wired for Wind
- Ag-Citing Science
- Farm Web
- Embryology
- Solar Eclipse
Personal Development & Leadership
- Read for Resilience
- Bully Dance
- On Your Own & Okay
- Health Rocks!
- Leadership Summit
College and Career Readiness & Financial Literacy
- Leap into Careers!
- Making Cents of It
- Money Makes Cents
- Discover Your Future
- Career Explorer App/Website
Entrepreneurship
- TEC Box
- Get Fit with 4-H
What is 4-H?
STE(A)M - Science, Technology, Engineering, (Art), Math
Mars Base Camp 4-H STEM Challenge
Suggested grade levels: 3rd-8th
Sessions: Four, 30-45 minute sessions
The race to land humans on Mars is on! The 2020 4‑H STEM Challenge will explore sending a mission to Mars with the activity, Mars Base Camp. Developed by Google and Virginia Cooperative Extension, Mars Base Camp is a collection of activities that teaches kids ages 8-14 STEM skills like mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, and agriculture.
Supported by national partners—Bayer, Toyota, and U.S. Air Force—Mars Base Camp is the perfect topic to empower young people to explore a wide range of subject areas in an exciting thematic package, one that allows kids to think about the same problems that today’s top scientists and engineers are working on right now.
Featuring four hands-on activities that can be enjoyed with or without internet access and individually or all together, the challenge teaches kids STEM skills like mechanical engineering, physics, computer science and agriculture.
Game Changers
Suggested grade levels: 4th-8th
Sessions: Three, 30-45 minute sessions
Game Changers is a collection of three activities that teaches kids computer science (CS) skills through game play, puzzles and animation all centered around topics they care passionately about. Developed by Google, 4-H, and West Virginia University Extension Service, it includes a computer-based activity on Google’s CS First platform and two unplugged activities that can be done all at once or individually.
Discover Your Computer Code
Suggested grade levels: 2nd-12th
Sessions: Two-Three, 30-45 minute sessions
Rockets to the Rescue
Suggested grade levels: 4th+
Sessions: Three, 30-45 minute sessions
Rockets to the Rescue is an engaging activity that gives young scientists an opportunity to let their imagination take flight and explore how aerospace engineering addresses real world problems, such as delivering food and supplies in emergency situations. Participants will apply lessons in science, math and physics to design and build an aerodynamic Food Transportation Device (FTD) that can deliver a payload to a desired target using different trajectories.
Wired for Wind
Suggested grade level: 5th—8th
Sessions: Two-Three, 45-60 minute sessions
As the world’s demand for clean energy sources increases, so has the interest in wind power. This experience will help youth better understand the physics of wind energy and how it can be used to conserve energy and save our planet from the pollution and harm caused by burning fossil fuels. During this experiment youth will design and build two types of wind turbines, then test them to determine which design is more effective in harnessing wind power. Youth will then experiment with different blade pitch angles to determine how each one affects the wine turbines; rotor speech and performance.
Ag-Citing Science
Suggested grade level: K-4th
Sessions: Each session is about 30-45 minutes. The program is designed to be taught in full but individual lessons can be utilized individually
Nebraska is home to 47,400 farms and ranches utilizing 93% of the state’s total land area. In order to ensure that Nebraska’s youth have the knowledge and appreciation for Nebraska’s largest industry, this systematic program consists of a series of monthly lessons that teach agricultural facts and celebrate the abundance provided by American agriculture.
All of these lessons are interactive and meet several state standards. Lessons include:
· Hot House Detective
· Pumpkin Life Cycle
· Positively Popcorn
· It’s Made from What?
· Our World
· Wad a Watershed
· Pizza Farm
· My Cheeseburger Came from a Farm
· Pig Basics
· Parts of a Chicken
· Egg Reader
The 4-H program feels very passionate about teaching our youth about agriculture, so if you are interested in this program or want more information, please let us know. We can go over the different topics covered in more detail.
Farm Web
Sessions: 30-45 minute sessions
Agriculture provides for our daily needs; food, clothing and shelter as well as farmers growing plants and raising animals that are used for fuel and fiber. In this curriculum, students will explore the role of agriculture in their daily lives and understand how most of the necessities of life can be traced back to the farm. Students will engage in a real-life scenario where they will put their heads together to make a pictorial chart.
Embryology
(Spring Semester)
Suggested grade level: K+
Sessions: Three, 30-45 minute sessions
4-H Embryology teaches students about science and respect for life. Students hatch chicks in the classroom and witness the exciting miracle of life. Students take the responsibilities of caring for the fertilized eggs and then the chicks after they have hatched. Following each session, the hatched birds are given to local farmers.
Solar Eclipse
Suggested Grade level: K-12
Sessions: 45 mins sessions
We will have lessons that make it easy to incorporate the eclipse into the classroom. We’ll provide history on solar and lunar eclipses, then bring you up to speed on the great solar eclipse of 2018. We’ll include fun trivia and activities that can be adjusted based on grade level. Each proposed activity will align with state standards.Personal Development & Leadership
Read for Resilience
Sessions: Each session is about 30-45 minutes. The program is designed to be taught in a customized format for whatever your class may need.
We play an important role in young children’s emotional development in addition to helping them cope. Using children’s literature in an interactive way, we can help children heal. Using an engaging format, Read for Resilience may help children better understand their experiences and improve their coping skills.
Lessons include the books:
- What is Coronavirus? (physical distancing)
- A Terrible Thing Happened (emotions)
- Becoming a Super Hero: A Book for Children Who Have Experience Trauma (feelings)
- Bubble Trouble: Using Mindfulness to Help Kids with Grief (loss & grief)
- Everybody Needs a Buddy (caring for others)
- Giraffes Can't Dance (unique strengths)
- How is Daniel Feeling? (identify feelings)
- "I Have a Little Problem," said the Bear (frustration)
- I'm Here (community, empathy, and kindness)
- My Heart Fills with Happiness (celebrating what makes you happy)
- Once I was Very Very Scared (stress)
- Owl Babies (separation anxiety)
- Saturday (adapting to changes)
- Say Something! (voice, creative, and courage)
- Swimmy (teamwork)
- The Big Umbrella (kindness, hospitality, inclusivity, and acceptance)
- The Goodbye Book (saying goodbye emotions)
- The Good Egg (acceptance and self-care)
- The Invisible String (sadness, anxiety, loss, or grief)
- The Tenth Good Thing about Barney (loss of a pet)
- The Way I Feel (connecting emotions and their meanings)
- Wemberly Worried (worry and anxiety)
- What Color is Your Day (connecting feelings to colors)
Bully Dance
Suggested grade level: 2nd—4th
Sessions: One, 45 minute session
Bully Dance is a DVD program that deals with conflict resolution. This DVD shows a bullying situation; where no one stops the dance until serious harm is done. It compels viewers to take stock of their actions and find ways to end peer abuse. The purpose of this program is to provide a starting point to address bullying in your class, the playground, and the school community. There are numerous lessons provided.
On Your Own & Okay
Suggested grade levels: 3rd—4th
Sessions: Three, 30-45 minute sessions
About 90% of third graders indicate that they are being left home alone for at least 20 minutes during a typical week. This class will cover a series of lessons about what to do when you are left home alone. Handouts supplement the topics. Topics include:
· Are You Ready?: Youth Assessment, family rules
· Who’s There?: Communication safety tips
· Where To?: Walking to/from school, emergency numbers
· Be Prepared: First aid youth assessment, home hazards
· Snack Attack: Kitchen safety, recipes for snacks
Health Rocks!
Suggested grade level: 2nd—8th
Sessions: Each session is about 30-45 minutes. The program is designed to be taught in full but individual lessons can be utilized individually
Health Rocks! is a curricula for a healthy living program where youth participate in hands-on activities that educate them on the consequences of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. The program aims to:
· Reduce youth smoking and tobacco use.
· Help youth build life skills that lead to healthy lifestyle choices with special emphasis on youth smoking and tobacco use prevention.
· Help youth understand influences and health consequences of tobacco, drug, and alcohol use to make healthy choices.
· Engage youth and adults in partnership to develop and implement community strategies that promote healthy lifestyle choices.
· Build positive, enduring relationships with youth involved as full partners through widely varying “communities of interest” to address youth risk behaviors.
Leadership Summit
Sessions: Five, 45 minute sessions
Cost: $5/student
At a critical time when early middle school students choose to take the wrong “trail” in life, help prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders and role models through Leadership Summit! Middle school youth will see the world from a new perspective and learn to be more effective leaders as well as team members after participating in this program. Leadership discovery and personality trait assessment sessions followed by engaging interactive leadership development activities will build knowledge of interpersonal and teamwork skills.
College and Career Readiness & Financial Literacy
LEAP Into Careers
Suggested grade level: K-4th
Sessions: Four, 30-45 minute sessions
It’s never too soon to encourage students to take the LEAP! The jungle they will face in the world of careers can be pretty overwhelming. How does one decide at 8, 9, 10, or even 18 what career will be a good fit? How does one prepare for a future in which many professions aren’t even a twinkle in somebody’s imagination? The best backpack of skills we can send with young learners is the thirst for knowledge. In this information age. We can’t hope to teach them everything they’ll need to know for a future career. They’ll need to continue to learn over their entire lifetime. The LEAP curriculum was developed to help youth understand various career opportunities in the Nebraska Career Education Career Fields and Clusters. Students design a Learning Experiences Action Plan (LEAP). They’ll create a road map to follow that will help them take full advantage of the many learning opportunities along the path to employment.
Making Cents of It
Suggested grade levels: 2nd—3rd
Sessions: Three, 45 minute sessions
You’re never too young to start learning how to spend and save money. This program will help students learn more about money through listening to stories and doing “hands-on” activities. Topics will include: history of money, wants and needs, savings, counting money and making change, and consumer sense.
Money Makes Cents
Sessions: Five, 45 minute sessions
Adapted from the 4-H curriculum "Reading Makes Cents," students take a deeper dive into their financial understanding and education. The lessons engage youth with stories, hands-on activities, and practical application. Topics covered are: History of Money, Managing Money, Earning Money, Spending & Saving Money, and Checks & Consumer Sense.
Discover Your Future
Suggested grade level: 5th-8th
Sessions: Three, 45-60 minute sessions
Youth will discover their personal College and Career interests and aspirations. They discover careers, learn the college lingo, and develop their own SMART college goals.Career Explorer App/Website
Suggested grade level: 5th-12th
Sessions: 45 minute session
Entrepreneurship
TEC Box (Tinker. Explore. Create.)
Suggested grade level: 3rd-5th
Session: Four, 45 minute lessons
A makerspace program, where you will invent a new product and explore entrepreneurship.Target Audience Programs
Get Fit with 4-H
Suggested grade level: 3rd
Sessions: 45-60 minute sessions
Get Fit with 4-H will provide easy to use tools and nutritional information that youth will be able to use on a daily basis. Youth will engage in physical activities, such as, walking, running, stretching, aerobics, and yoga. As well as, nutrition and healthy food preparation lessons. Get your 3rd grade class moving!
4-H School Enrichment Purpose
The purpose of a 4-H school enrichment program is to:
· Encourage long-term involvement in 4-H for enhanced positive youth development.
· Enhance the relationship between 4-H and the school system (public or private).
· Provide non-formal education to complement formal education, leading to better educated youth.
· Enhance the subject matter area being studied.
· Foster and promote enthusiasm and support for participation in 4-H programs, events, and activities.
4-H School Enrichment Quality Standards
What does a quality experience look like?
· Delivered by 4-H staff, trained volunteers or teachers.
· A sequential and varied learning experience supporting the school curriculum.
· Youth are able to articulate that this is a 4-H sponsored project.
· An evaluation is completed by teachers and/or school participants.
Nebraska Extension - Thurston County
Stacey Keys, Extension Assistant, stacey.keys@unl.edu
Email: thurston-county@unl.edu
Website: thurston.unl.edu
Location: 415 Main Street, Pender, NE, United States
Phone: 402-385-6041
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLExtensionThurston/
Twitter: @UNLThurstonCty