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Is your Cloverbud program going as well as you'd like? Are the activities useful and fun? Should anything be done differently? To answer these questions, turn to program evaluation!
Here's how to get started:
• Decide on the questions you want answered. Examples include:
• Decide what information you need. Evaluation uses many types of information - opinions and attitudes of children, parents, or volunteers; attendance numbers; observations of behaviors or interaction between children. Sometimes there is a particular standard against which to measure if you are doing well, such as a specific enrollment number.
• Decide how to get this information. Common methods include simple surveys or small group interviews, as well as drawings, photographs, and games. Information can be gathered one time, more than one time, or over a period of time.
• Analyze your information. Look at what the numbers, words, attitudes, and behaviors are telling you.
• Use what you've learned. Make needed changes or improvements - or feel confident you are on the right track. A final note: You can involve the children by asking them what questions to ask, how they would go about getting information, and what it means. Be creative! If you are interested in evaluating your program, work with your county Extension Educator on any evaluation efforts or ideas.
Source: Kristi Lekies Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development Ohio State University Extension, State 4-H Office Glass Magnets
Materials: Clear, round, flat (on one side) glass stones (found in craft stores) Used or new holiday cards or stickers Round magnets Tacky craft glue Scissors Paper plates
Directions: 1. Pick out a glass stone you want to use for your magnet. 2. Choose a card with a picture that will fit inside your glass stone. Put the stone on top of the card to see how it will look through the stone. 3. Hold the stone on top of the card and trace around the stone. 4. Cut around the tracing on the card. (picture) 5. Put tacky glue on the flat side of the glass stone and place the picture on the stone with the picture facing up so you can see it through the top of the stone. 6. Glue the round magnet to the back of the card. 7. Place on a paper plate to dry.
Hang on your refrigerator or give as a gift. You can use any kind of cards or stickers. Use stickers with initials and personalize your magnets.
Message Tiles
Materials: White ceramic tiles (I used 4¼ inch square tiles) Stickers Clear gloss glaze (found in craft stores) Felt Tacky glue Colored markers Scissors Small paint brushes
Directions: 1. Lay a ceramic tile on a piece of felt and outline the tile with a marker. 2. Cut out the felt and glue it to the bottom of the ceramic tile. 3. Choose 2-4 small stickers to use and stick them in the corners of your ceramic tile. Be creative-decorate as many corners of the tile as you want. (Remember to leave room in the center of the tile for messages) 4. Take a small paint brush and paint on the clear glaze over the stickers. Don't paint the whole tile-just over the stickers. 5. Let dry. 6. Take a marker and write a message in the middle of the tile. It will wipe off with a damp paper towel.
Put by the phone or on the kitchen counter and use it to write messages or notes to your family!
Source: Lesley Jirles, 4-H Program Assistant, Ohio State University Extension, Guernsey County, Ohio
Touchdown! Homerun! Hole in One! The words we use in sports… they are familiar to us all. When we hear them, we can easily picture what they mean: excitement, winning and fun!
One of the most difficult aspects of working with Cloverbuds is that our activities are to be non-competitive. We live in a competitive world, and even Cloverbuds participate in competitive events when not in 4-H, like tee ball, pee wee football and youth soccer. So how is it possible to keep the competitive edge out of Cloverbuds?
One way is to realize that we can include sports in our teaching - we simply need to emphasize the aspects other than competition. Cloverbud age children can be learning the concepts of cooperation, sportsmanship, and loyalty through sports and they can participate in activities that encourage team-building and skill-building.
In 2006, the 4-H Cloverbud Priority Team created a Sports Kit to help Cloverbud volunteers focus on those valuable sports concepts. The kit includes ideas for ice breakers, games and activities, crafts, books, guest speakers and snacks. Discussion questions are also included to get feedback from Cloverbuds on their ideas about sports.
The kit also allows for skill-building in various sports activities. In the games, “Dunk It” and “Swing Away” members get to practice shooting hoops and batting. “Sports Bingo” is a non-competitive game where members learn more about the equipment and playing fields of different sports.
“Respect-acles” is a craft where eye glasses are made from pipe cleaners. When worn, these lenses help Cloverbuds look at others with respect and see that even though they may have different skills, they can still be friends.
The “Sports” kit is available on-line if you would like to have a copy for yourself. The kit can be found at http://www.ohio4h.org/youth/cloverbud/cloverbudresources.html and clicking on the Sports kit link.
Source: Janine Yeske & Bruce Zimmer Extension Educators, 4-H Youth Development Ohio
State University Extension, Jefferson & Monroe Counties, Ohio
Hello again! It feels good to make another 4-H Cloverbud Connection with you!
Autumn is a wonderful time of the year to be outside with 4-H Cloverbud activities. The great outdoors stimulates our senses with the birds singing, the wind blowing, and the sun shining. At the same time, with children playing outside, they are at greater risk of having accidents. Accidents are the leading cause of injury and death for children. Therefore, “safety” is an important piece of our program for young children.
4-H Cloverbud activities are designed to be safe and fun. Special consideration must be given to ensure the safety of Cloverbud-aged children. Many 5 to 8 year-olds are not aware of realistic dangers surrounding animals, kitchen appliances, and outdoor activities (bicycle riding, etc.). Children often do not understand adult instruction, nor the consequences associated with not following directions (Shutske,1995). Consequently, 4-H Cloverbud activities must be low risk and safe, especially since a child may not participate as directed.
As a 4-H Cloverbud Leader, your time and attention given toward making 4-H Cloverbud activities safe is essential for promoting healthy development. By making the activities safe, they can be successful. When children experience success, they gain in confidence and self-esteem by safely mastering 4-H Cloverbud activities. Self-esteem and optimism are by-products of doing well and being successful (Seligman, 1995).
Remember the ultimate goal of 4-H Cloverbuds is the same as the overall 4-H youth program, which is the development of 4-H youth to become capable, competent, caring, and contributing citizens. I look forward to sharing more information with you in the future.
Thanks for all you do as a 4-H Cloverbud volunteer to improve the lives of children throughout Ohio!
Source: Scott D. Scheer, Ph.D. State Extension Specialist, Preadolescent Education 4-H Youth Development, The Ohio State University Ingredients:
OSU Extension, Ross County, Ohio
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OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory
basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression,
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