4-H in the Classroom
Positive Youth Development & STEM Activities to Enhance Your Classroom
The Nebraska Extension’s “4-H in the Classroom” creates learning opportunities which foster Positive Youth Development as students gain a sense of Belonging, Independence, Mastery and Generosity through hands on activities. In addition, many lessons aim at exciting students about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and are aligned with classroom Science standards.
There is no cost to participate in a “4-H in the Classroom” program. If you are interested in offering one of these programs to your students please contact Karly Black at karly.black@unl.edu or 852-2970 to schedule a day and time.
Kindergarten
My Clothes and the Weather
One 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.K.12.3
A meteorologist predicts upcoming weather events and their reports influence what people wear. Clothing protects us from the sun, rain, wind and cold weather and different types of clothing is best to wear in different kinds of weather. Youth will explore types of weather, complete a weather experiment, and create a craft to help them forecast the weather.
Germbusters
One 45 Minute Session
Kids don't always listen when you tell them to wash their hands, but it's a message worth repeating. Hand washing is by far the best way to prevent germs from spreading and to keep kids from getting sick. A 4-H representative will bring a hand washing kit to your classroom and teach proper hand washing techniques. Students will play a game which reinforces when it is important to wash their hands. In addition to the hand washing activity, the game illustrates how easily germs spread.
First Grade
Constellations
One 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.1.11.3.A
The Earth is constantly orbiting around the Sun, moving locations in space. On top of that, the Earth is rotating around as it orbits. These two things cause us to see different constellations during different seasons. Youth will explore the movement of stars, learn story behind different constellations, and create a constellation craft.
Emotion RULER
Two 45 Minute Sessions
Emotions matter because they drive learning, decision-making, creativity, relationships, and health. Youth will learn to recognize emotions in themselves and others, gain an understanding of the causes and consequences of emotions, and explore ways to help regulate emotions effectively.
Second Grade
Bee Pollination Design Challenge
One 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.2.7.2.B
Bees have gone extinct and plant life is declining rapidly in their region. Everyone is trying to grow their own fruits and vegetables without bees, but with little success. Without a solution soon, we will all starve. The student’s will design a hand pollinator that could be used to keep the flowers and plants reproducing and feeding humanity.
Ozobot Obstacle Course
One 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.2.3.1.B
The pocket-sized Ozobot robot follows a line and can be programmed with markers and paper. Students will explore the engineering design model by brainstorming with a small group a unique obstacle course, building their program, testing their obstacle course, and sharing their successes and failures.
There is “STEM”-thing in my Food?!
Two 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.2.3.1.B
Advancements in food science and food technology help todays famers feed the world. They allow for food to be safely preserved and packaged, so they can be eaten in the future. Students will become food scientists as they mix, taste test, and package their own trail mix recipe.
NASA Expeditionary Skills for Life: Cultural Competency (Photovoice)
One 45 Minute Session
Communication is important among members of a team in order to accomplish their goals. Each member of a team is different. They each have cultural backgrounds, experiences and sometimes languages that can influence their communications, perspectives and opinions. These differences can have value as each member contributes to achieving the team’s goals. The lesson takes students beyond their own beliefs and teaches them how to understand, appreciate and value the beliefs of others.
Third Grade
Hot Wheels Physics
Two 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.3.1.1.A, SC.3.1.1.B
Hot Wheel cars turn difficult physics concepts into fun activities that your students will remember and learn to apply. Students will explore Newton’s Three Laws of Motion with hands on fun with Hot Wheel cars.
NASA Expeditionary Skills for Life: Self-Care Team-Care (Lettering in Stress)
One 45 Minute Session
Before you can contribute to a team, you must first be able to take responsibility for yourself. This ability includes being mentally, physically and emotionally ready to go on the voyage. Everyone has the occasional difficult day, so knowing how to support your team members is also important. Students will gain confidence in dealing with unfamiliar situations and be able identify reasonable responses to the specific stress situation.
Fourth Grade
Laparoscopic Surgery
Two 45 Minute Session
A biomedical engineer’s job is to apply concepts of biology and physiology into creating items to be used in medicine. Youth will design a medical instrument to perform laparoscopic surgery.
NASA Expeditionary Skills for Life: Leadership Followership (Depending on Others)
One 45 Minute Session
Lots of people like to be the leader, but leaders need a team to follow them. Different quests require different skills, which means different types of leaders are needed throughout an expedition. Understanding when to lead and when to follow, and the importance of both roles, will be explored in this lesson.
Fifth Grade
Build a Micro Satellite to Explore Earth’s Systems
Two 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.5.13.4A, SC.5.13.4E
Students will gain an understanding of how the Earth is a large system which is interconnected through the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere. Knowledge will be applied through the designing and building of a micro satellite to complete a mission orbiting the Earth.
Decisions Worth Millions
One 45 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.5.13.4C
Due to the limited supply of fresh water, contamination is an important environment concern. Humans have the greatest impact on the quality of water which has increased the need to study and understand hydrology. Students will participate in a role play game where they apply their knowledge of the water cycle and how the different Earth’s spheres interact to make sustainable environmental choices for a community.
NASA Expeditionary Skills for Life: Self-Care Team-Care (Pipeline)
One 45 Minute Session
Before you can contribute to a team, you must first be able to take responsibility for yourself. This ability includes being mentally, physically and emotionally ready to go on the voyage. Everyone has the occasional difficult day, so knowing how to support your team members is also important. Students will work together as a team to complete a marble maze.
Sixth Grade
Water the Incredible Journey
One 30 Minute Session Nebraska Standard: SC.3.1.1.A, SC.3.1.1.B
While water does circulate from one point or state to another in the water cycle, the paths it can take are variable. Students become water molecules as they simulate the movement of water through the water cycle.
Ozobot Dice Challenges
One 45 Minute Session
The pocket-sized Ozobot robot follows a line and can be programmed with markers and paper. Students will work with a team to complete coding design challenges which there robot must complete in a set amount of time. Each design round will be influences with the roll of the dice!
NASA Expeditionary Skills for Life: Teamwork Communication (Rocket Power Challenge)
One 60 Minute Session or Two 30 Minute Sessions
To launch an expedition into orbit, everyone on the team needs to do their part. Of course, that begins with knowing what each person’s part is, making sure team members are ready to perform their part and that they get it done, and dealing with any unexpected challenges that develop along the way. Launching an expedition, like teamwork, takes practice and patience.