H: STEM - Electricity

Content

This department gives 4-H members an opportunity to display their knowledge and skills gained relating to computers, drones, electricity, energy, geospatial, robots, rockets, drones, welding and woodworking.  Through participation in this department, 4-H members will present their knowledge in these areas as they relate to STEM.

 

General Rules:

  1. The name and county of each exhibitor should appear separately on the back of each board, poster or article and on the front cover of the notebooks so owner of the exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated from the exhibit.
  2. Each individual is limited to one exhibit per class.
  3. Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling. 
  4. Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding firearms, items with a blade, and other related items.
  5. Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding use of copywritten images.
  6. Team Entries: To qualify for entry at the Nebraska State Fair for any team exhibit, the exhibit and all supporting information must clearly be the work of a team instead of an individual, and must have at least 50% of all team members enrolled in 4-H. Additionally, all enrolled 4-H members on the team should complete and attach an entry tag to the materials. A supplemental page documenting the individual contributions to the project should be included. The entry will be judged as a team, with all team members receiving the same ribbon placing.
  7. State Fair qualified videos, presentations and other electronic exhibits should be submitted to https://go.unl.edu/2026nesfstem by August 15th, 2026. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing
  8. Posters in this department can be any size up to 28 inches by 22 inches when ready for display. Example: trifold poster boards are not 28 inches by 22 inches when fully open for display. 
  9. Several classes require a display board which should be a height of 24 inches and not to exceed 1/4-inch thickness. A height of 24 7/8 inches is acceptable to allow for the saw kerf (width) if two 24-inch boards are cut from one end of a 4 foot by 8-foot sheet of plywood. Nothing should be mounted within 3/4 inch of the top or bottom of the board. (Example: Woodworking & Electricity.) 
  • Fabricated boards such as plywood, composition board, or particle-type lumber may be used for demonstration displays. 
  • Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit. 
  • Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling. 
  • Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible (1. Hypothesis 2. Research 3. Experiment 4. Measure 5. Report or Redefine Hypothesis). All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display.  
  1. If the project (i.e. picnic tables, wishing wells, swings, chairs, bridges, doghouses, etc.) is designed to be used outside, it will be displayed outside. 
  2. All outside projects MUST have entry tag and supporting information placed in a protective bag to prevent damage from weather events such as rain and be ATTACHED to projects with string, zip ties, etc. 
  3. Recommended QR Code Generator: https://www.qr-code-generator.com/ 
  4. Entries: Each 4‑H member is limited to one item per class

 

STEM Resources:

Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hstem.  

 

 

ELECTRICITY

 

MAGIC OF ELECTIRICTITY – UNIT 1 *Not State Fair eligible

For classes 911-914, please refer to 4-H manual

 

*H 870 911  BRIGHT LIGHTS  Create your own flash light using items found around your house. Flash lights should be made out of items that could be recycled or reused. No kits please.

*H 870 912  CONTROL THE FLOW  Make a switch. Use the following items: D cell battery, battery holder, insulated wire, 2 or 2.5 volt light bulb, bulb holder, paper clip, cardboard, and two brass paper fasteners to create a circuit that you can open and close.

*H 870 913 CONDUCTING THINGS  Make a circuit with a switch and a light bulb that can be used to test different household items for their ability to act as an insulator or conductor. You must find five items that are conductors and five items that are insulators. Create a table that illustrates your results.

*H 870 914 IS THERE’S A FORK IN THE ROAD  Use the following items to construct one parallel and one series circuit. Items: D cell battery, battery holder, insulated wire, bulb holder and a 2 or 2.5 volt light bulb.

 

INVESTIGATING ELECTRICITY – UNIT 2 *Not State Fair eligible

For classes 915 917, please refer to 4-H manual

*H 870 915 CASE OF THE SWITCHING CIRCUIT  Use the following items: two D cell

batteries, two battery holders, light bulb, bulb holder, a 3inch by 6-inch piece of cardboard, six brass paper fasteners and approx. two feet of 24 gauge insulated wire to build a three-way switch. Write a short essay or create a poster that illustrates how three-way switches function.

*H 870 916 ROCKET LAUNCHER  Construct a rocket launcher out of the following materials: a plastic pencil box that is at least 4inches by 8inches, single pole switch, single throw switch, normally open push button switch, 40 feet of 18 or 22 gauge stranded wire, 4 alligator clips, 2 by 6 board 6inches long, 1/8 inch diameter metal rod, rosin core solder, soldering iron or gun, wire stripper, small crescent wrench, pliers, small Phillips and straight blade screwdrivers, drill, 1/8 inch and ¼ inch drill bits, rocket engine igniters, additional drill bits matched to holes for two switches. You must successfully build a rocket launcher and light two rocket igniters with your launcher. You DO NOT have to actually fire a rocket off of the launcher. Create a poster using photographs to show the “step by step process” you used to build your launcher.

*H 870 917 STOP THE CRIME  Build an ALARM using the following materials: On/Off push button switch, mercury switch, buzzer, vibrating or piezoelectric, 9volt battery,

9volt battery holder, 4 inch by 4 inch by 1/8 inch Plexiglas board to mount circuit on; rosin core solder, soldering gun/iron, two feet of 22 gauge wire, wire strippers, hot glue sticks, hot glue gun and a plastic box with a lid to mount your alarm circuit on. Create a poster using photographs to show the “step by step process” you used to build your alarm.

 

ELECTRICITY- WIRED FOR POWER – UNIT 3

 

H 870 001 ELECTRICAL TOOL/SUPPLY KIT  Create an electrical supply kit to be used for basic electrical repair around the house. Include a brief description of each item and its use. Container should be appropriate to hold items.

H 870 002 LIGHTING COMPARISON  Display studying the efficiency of various lighting (incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, Light Emitting Diodes, etc.). Exhibit could be a poster display, or an actual item.

H 870 003 ELECTRICAL DISPLAY /  ITEM  Show an application of one of the concepts learned in the Wired for Power project. Examples include: re-wiring or building a lamp, re-wiring or making a heavy duty extension cord or developing an electrical diagram of a house. Exhibit could be a poster display, or an actual item

H 870 004 POSTER  Poster should exemplify one of the lessons learned in the Wired for Power Project. Posters can be any size up to 28 inches by 22 inches.

 

ELECTRONICS – UNIT 4

H 870 005 ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC PART IDENTIFICATION  Display different parts used for electrical/electronic work. Exhibit should show the part (either picture or actual item) and give a brief description, including symbol of each part and its function. Display should include a minimum of 10 different parts.

H 870 006 ELECTRONIC DISPLAY  Show an application of one of the concepts learned in the Entering Electronics project. Examples include: components of an electronic device (refer to p. 35 of the Electronic manual).

H 870 007 ELECTRONIC PROJECT  Exhibit an electronic item designed by the 4-Her or form a manufactured kit that shows the electronic expertise of the 4-H’er. Examples include: a radio, a computer, or a voltmeter.

H 870 008 POSTER  Poster should exemplify one of the lessons learned in the Entering Electronics Project. Posters can be any size up to 28 inches by 22 inches.

 

CAREERS (*Not State Fair Eligible)

*H 870 010 CAREERS INTERVIEW  Interview someone who is working in the field of electricity and research that career. Interviews can either be written or in a multimedia format (CD/DVD). Written interviews should be in a notebook. Written reports should be 3 to 5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, and 1” margins. Multimedia reports should be between 3 to 5 minutes in length.