Contents Making the Best Activities Better Cloverbud Horse Curriculum Campus Connections Trail Mix

Making the Best Activities Better: Programming Tips for Cloverbud Volunteers

Working with children in the Cloverbud age group (K-2) is lots of fun! They are energetic and enthusiastic, and they are like sponges when it come to learning new things. Much emphasis is made in the Cloverbud program about the unique developmental needs of children in their early school-age years. Any time you get a group of kids together, you have the needs of the group and the needs of the individuals to keep in mind. Here are some thoughts about how Cloverbud kids develop and learn.

• As the small muscles in their fingers and hands develop, children can participate in more complex arts and crafts activities. But Cloverbuds are still perfecting their fine motor skills. As a result, they may take longer to do some activities, like cutting with scissors or writing their name. Itís often tempting to do it for them. But, keep in mind that children gain a sense of independence from their increasing physical abilities. Nothing takes the place of being able to say, "I did it myself!" With some advance planning, the potential trouble spots in an activity can become developmental opportunities. Read through activities and identify how you can plan for success. Keep safety in mind and balance opportunity with potential risk. Extra pairs of helping hands and multiple supplies can make activities go smoothly.
• Plan open-ended activities. Children may get frustrated if they cannot produce an object that looks exactly like someone elseís. Open-ended activities are those that allow for different end results. They focus on the process of doing the activity and allow for creativity and imagination to develop.
• Because differing skill levels will affect how quickly kids complete an activity, have something extra to do for those who finish early. This may be as simple as always having some crayons and paper or keeping a container of play dough handy. Children who have "nothing to do" are more likely to create disruptions in the group. Lots of time kids who get into "trouble" are really just bored and want something engaging to do to keep their interest.
• Variety is the spice of life when it comes to Cloverbud activities. Throughout the year, plan a variety of experiences to provide "sparks" that ignite and help children discover what they like and what they are good at. Who knows, these sparks may develop into long-term hobbies and interests, or even a career. This also takes into account that children in a group have different interests.
• An important life skill for Cloverbuds is learning how to learn. Act as a facilitator of learning instead of thinking that you must be the "expert." Although there are many facts that we can share with children, there are also many situations for which there is no one right answer. Encourage children to talk about what theyíre doing to enhance their learning through reflection. Ask "What do you think will happen?" and "How can we solve this problem?" instead of giving the answer right away. Activities in the Ohio Cloverbud Series I and II curriculum materials include many good questions to ask. Asking these questions will stimulate their critical thinking skills.

Finally, simply have fun! Enjoy their boundless energy and inquiring minds. These are just a few of the ways that you can make the best activities better as you work with Cloverbuds.

Theresa M. Ferrari, State Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, Youth Program Management

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Cloverbud Horse Curriculum

Are you aware that Ohio has a Cloverbud Horse Curriculum? It is full of developmentally appropriate horse-related activities. Included are lessons on: Horse Communication, Barnyard Safety, Hoof Beats, and Horse Breeds and Uses. Like the Cloverbud Series I and II manuals, each lesson is organized with getting started, digging deeper, looking within, bringing closure, and going beyond sections. Highlighted in this newsletter are several activities from the curriculum. Contact your local 4-H Agent to find out how to get a copy of the curriculum.

Source: Ohio's Cloverbud Horse Curriculum

Activity: "What are Senses in People - in Horses?"
(5-7 minutes)

Grade Level: K - 2

Materials:
A sample of Life cereal for each child
A slice of apple
A horse model, or picture of a horse (Refer to Horseless Horse book)

Distribute a slice of apple to each child. Ask the children to identify the object. Ask them how they know that it is an apple. Have them look, smell, and taste the apple slice. "How does a horse decide whether or not to eat something?" Explain that the horse primarily relies on it's sense of smell, but also uses sight and taste when deciding if an object is edible. Have the children eat the apple slice. "Do your hands smell like apples?" "What do you think would happen if a horse smelled your hand right now?" Explain that the horse might bite their fingers because they smell like apples. Distribute the cereal. Ask the children what they see on and in the cereal. Have the children taste the cereal. "What does the sugar do to the taste?" "Do horses like to eat sweet things?" "What is mixed into grain to make it taste sweet?" Explain that molasses is mixed into grain to make it sweet to taste better. Explain that our senses enable us to identify and learn things. Ask the children which senses a horse will use when eating. "What are the other two senses a horse has?" On a picture or model have the children identify the horse's five sense organs.

Application: Have the children tell all the things a horse does not eat.

Activity: "How Does it Feel?"
(3-5 minutes)

Grade Level: K - 2

Materials:
A feather Sandpaper
Burrs Cotton Balls
Ice Cubes

Ask the children if it hurts when a mosquito or fly bites them. "Does it hurt the horse if a fly bites it?" "How do we know it hurts?" "Do horses like to be brushed?" "How do we know that?" "Explain that some things feel good and some things feel bad to the horse. Have each child touch their skin with each material. Ask each child which materials were pleasant and which were unpleasant.

Application: Have members discuss materials that are pleasant and unpleasant to the horse.

Activity: "Simon Says"
(10-12 minutes)

Grade Level: K-2

Materials:
Yarn or bags (cut in 6 inch strips) to make a horse's tail
Twist ties (if using yarn)
Stapler (if using bags)
Behavior check list cards (Refer to Horseless Horse book - "How Horses Talk")

Explain different movements of the horse's head, tail, and feet. Explain how the head, tail, and feet should be moving for various expressions. For example, a horse that is startled will raise its head and snort, a horse that is mad will wring its tail and pin its ears back, a horse that is nervous prances on its feet, and a horse that is happy may just stand still or gently swish its tail. Distribute materials to construct tails. Give the children 10-15 strips. Place strips side by side on table and fasten together with the stapler or twist-tie. Review each movement. Explain to the children that they will be playing Simon Says. Explain that Simon is going to say things like, act like a horse that is angry, and the children should wring their tails. Remember that young children don't like to lose, so leave out the part of the game that eliminates poor listeners.

Activity: "How Horses Ears Work"
(15-20 minutes)

Grade Level: K-2

Materials:
Paper grocery bags cut into 1 inch wide strips by the length of the bag (1 per child)
Pipe cleaners (2 per child) Colored construction paper
Pattern of ears Tape or stapler
Glue Scissors
Hole punch Hand mirror
Paragraphs depicting horses expressing emotions in various situations
(Refer to Horseless Horse book)

Ask the children to pair up. Have them say hello to their partner while facing each other. Then have them turn back to back and say hello. Explain that the horse, unlike people, are able to direct their ears in different directions to hear better. Also explain that the horse expresses itself (communicates) through the use of its ears just as people do with their facial expressions. We will construct horse ears and show how or what horses say by their movements. Then show what the ears should look like and provide a brief demonstration identifying the steps and key points of ear construction. Pass out materials. Have children construct their horse ears. Staple the finished ears onto pipe cleaners (1 ear to 1 pipe cleaner). With adult assistance, place grocery bag (head band) around the top of the head and staple the ends together. The adult should punch holes and anchor the pipe cleaners through the holes on the head band. Show the children how the horse moves his ears. Discuss why the ears move forward, pinned back, one ear forward - one ear back, drooped down on each side, etc. Allow children time to practice moving their ears. Read a descriptive paragraph and have the children manipulate their ears to illustrate the horse's emotions. Allow time for each child to move their ears to the proper position (use hand mirror as needed). Observe their ear placement to ensure they understand the lesson. Be sure to recognize each child's participation.

Application: Ask the children to watch a horse's ears and explain what the animal is expressing.

Activity: "Stick Horse Activity"
(5-7 minutes)

Grade Level: K-2

Materials:
One stick horse or broom per child

Have the children form a large circle with their stick horses. Ask the children to stand with both arms extended out. They should not be able to touch one another. Ask the children to walk, trot, and canter/gallop with their horses. Be sure to request correct leads.

After each gait has been exhibited, have the children reverse direction and exhibit their gaits. Once all gaits have been exhibited in both directions, have the children line up and back their horses. Be sure to provide positive guidance to each participant.

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Campus Connections

Hello volunteers!!!

Yes, our Cloverbud activities are about enhancing the life skills of children (self-confidence, making friends, learning to learn, physical mastery, and making decisions), but it is also about fun and PLAYING! Playing is the wonderful way children participating in Cloverbuds go about their business doing activities.

As children play, they are in their own element, putting their own spin, so to speak, on the activities they are processing and completing. Their minds become engaged in learning activities - from assuming different roles through pretend play to collaborating with another participant in a science experiment.

So let the PLAYING begin!!

Here is a post holiday activity idea from Teaching PreK - 8 Magazine (2000).

"Collect holiday and seasonal cards with pictures. Cut them each into puzzle pieces. Store them in a self-seal plastic bag. Place the bags on a table and have the children work in teams of two and assemble the puzzle pictures."

Thank you for your commitment to improve and "make the best better" for Ohio's five to eight year-old children.

Scott D. Scheer
State Extension Specialist,
4-H Youth Development, Preadolescent Education

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Trail Mix

Ingredients:
2 cups crispy cereal squares (combine flavors- corn, rice, etcÖ)
1 cup "O" shaped cereal
1 cup raisins
1 cup nuts
1 cup pretzel sticks

Put all food in a bowl.
Toss until mixed.
Eat and enjoy.
You may add dried fruit, chocolate chips, candy coated chocolate pieces, and/or popcorn.

Source: Hoover, C. (1995) Super Youth. Ohio State University Extension, Perry and Morgan Counties.

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Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ad. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868