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Developing Sustainable In-School 4-H Programs
| Name | Robin Currence | | Situation | 4-H has much to offer youth, and should be available to all. Without enough community volunteers, agents turn to schools to reach "the masses". In Chester County, teachers at several schools and I have worked to find the right balance of 4-H program requirements so that classroom teachers will feel comfortable implementing 4-H clubs into their schedule. | | Response | Working with a science coach at Chester Park School of Inquiry, a year-round school, I am developing a template for in-school 4-H. First we agreed to establish a club within each classroom. I prepared a "4-H Kick-Off" speech and packets for every teachers. In the packet was a script/lesson plan for establishing a 4-H club in the classroom, with one type of plan for grades K - 2 and another for grades 3 - 5. Also included were 4-H supplies such as a 4-H flag set, 4-H pledge poster, 4-H
membership cards and pledge cards. In addition, each teacher received a lesson plan for a 4-H activity based upon the science standards for that grade (Ex. For kindergarten, the first activity was on wood - observing a small slice of a tree; for grade 5, a water experiment based upon the study of the ocean). Each teacher will conduct at least one club meeting per month, and will conduct the activity/lesson at her convenience. All supplies were provided for the first set of activities. A "4-H Kick-Off" was held for each grade, with teachers going back to the classroom to
immedidately begin establishing 4-H clubs.
| | Impact | Verbal feedback has been very positive. Teachers report that students are excited about being part of 4-H and having a club. Teachers were very positive in their response to the effort when they learned that they would receive all supplies and lesson plans. Of those teachers evaluated, all felt that the program was effective and that the program was useful to their curricula. All of the students understood that they were participating in a 4-H club; all teachers felt that the length of time for presenting the club format was appropriate; and all teachers felt that the materials for the club were helpful. |
Last update7/8/2008
This website is maintained by Dawn Lee.
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