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As the 2026–2027 school year gets underway, local classrooms have access to a dynamic menu of interactive programs designed to ignite curiosity and reinforce academic concepts—all aligned with Nebraska state education standards.
Delivered through Nebraska Extension in Madison County, the 4-H School Enrichment Program offers research-based, grade-appropriate curriculum that enhances traditional classroom instruction. From engineering and agriculture to life sciences and hygiene, these engaging lessons give students the chance to learn by doing—one of 4-H’s most effective educational principles.
Educators can choose from in-person instruction, check-out kits, or virtual options, with all materials delivered directly to classrooms. The flexibility and convenience make the program a favorite among teachers and school administrators across the county.
Check out the program offerings below then contact the office as soon as possible to schedule your classroom, organization, or your 4-H club meeting.
For more information, contact:
Nebraska Extension in Madison County
1305 S. 13th Street
Norfolk, NE 68701
Sarah Polacek, 4-H Educator
Phone: 1-402-370-4040
E-mail: spolacek2@unl.edu
Jayd Krueger, 4-H Associate
Phone: 1-402-370-4040
E-mail: jroberts41@unl.edu
To register for the classes:
- Email 4-H Staff sharing your interested in the 4-H program for your classroom.
- 4-H staff will contact the teachers by e-mail to set up dates and times.
- An invoice will be sent to you after confirmation of the programs.
4-H School Enrichment -
In person instruction, Kits for check out and Virtual Options Available!
2026–2027 Program Highlights
- 👩🔬 Imagine Now! STEAM and Nebraska Extension Science Day
Students in Kindergarten through 6th grade dive into hands-on activities across science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). This year’s event takes place October 13 or 15 at the Madison County Fairgrounds.
Cost: $6.00 per student.
- 🌍 21th Annual GIS Day
Students explore real-world applications of geographic information systems (GIS) through interactive lessons and activities. Held November 10 and 12 at the Nebraska Extension Office in Norfolk, with free afternoon sessions.
- 🚜 24rd Annual Ag Literacy Festival
A fun and educational introduction to Nebraska agriculture, including lessons on farm animals, crops, and the food system. Scheduled for March 23, 2027, at the Madison County Fairgrounds.
Cost: $1.00 per student.
- 🐣 Poultry Embryology
Students observe the 21-day development of a chick embryo and witness live hatching in their classroom.
Dates: Spring 2027
Cost: $35.00 per classroom.
- 🤖 OZOBOTS Coding Experience
This tech-savvy program introduces students to basic coding using handheld robots. It includes two classroom visits and interactive lessons.
Available upon request
Cost: $25.00 per classroom.
- 🧼 Learn About Germs and Handwashing
Using a Glo-Germ kit, students learn about bacteria and proper hygiene techniques.
Cost: $5.00 per classroom.
- 🌾 Wheat Science – Bread in a Bag
A fun plant science lesson where students learn about wheat production and make bread from scratch.
Cost: $3.00 per group of 2–4 students.
- 🦋 Caterpillar to Butterfly
Students observe the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies during this three-week life cycle lesson.
Available upon request
Cost: $25.00 per classroom.
- 🐞 Life Cycle of Ladybugs
An engaging biology unit focused on the predatory role and life stages of ladybugs.
Available upon request
Cost: $20.00 per classroom.
4-H Foundational Programs
Ag-Citing Science - AgCiting Science is a series of lessons designed to be taught in multiple deliveries including school enrichment, club workshops, afterschool programs, and more. Lessons available include topics such as Our World, Pizza Farm, Legen-Dairy, Positively Popcorn, Pumpkin Life Cycle, Hot House Detective, and My Cheeseburger Came from a Farm. Contact Jayd at jroberts41@unl.edu to plan your classroom experience.
Egg-Streme Engineering - Exploring Helmets : A Three-Part Lesson
Have you ever bumped your head? How did it feel? Helmets are essential for protecting against head injuries. They are commonly worn while playing football, riding your bike, or working in construction. This three-part lesson is focused on engineering a helmet that can effectively safeguard an egg during a collision with a wall.
- Part 1: Testing Materials (1 hour)
In the first part, we will test various building materials to see how well they
disperse energy during an impact.
- Part 2: Designing and Building (1 hour)
Using the insights gained from the first part, we will move on to design,
construct, and test our helmets to determine how much force our creations can
withstand before the egg cracks.
- Part 3: Marketing Strategy (1 hour)
Finally, in the last part, we will analyze our results and formulate a marketing
strategy to promote our helmets to our target market.
Contact Sarah at spolacek2@unl.edu to plan your classroom experience today! No cost.