Contents New Website for Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Volunteers Left, Right, Center, Keep Cloverbud Camera Adventure Produce Handling Game Cloverbud Connections Fresh Fruit Trifle Recipe

New Website for Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Volunteers

The editors of Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Connections have launched a new website for volunteers. The site is geared toward 4-H volunteers who work with K-2 youth in 4-H's Cloverbud program.

The website is located at www.cloverbudconnections.osu.edu and provides volunteers access to Cloverbud activities, program ideas, and research based articles about working with K-2 youth. Web users can type in keywords and locate and search topics to help them as a volunteer. If a reader wants to share an activity or program idea with other readers, they can submit their idea to the editors on-line. The editors will also notify readers when a new newsletter has been posted to the web for viewing.

Ohio 4-H Professionals have also found the site helpful since they can print Cloverbud factsheets from the site or refer potential volunteers to the site for more information. The site also connects county OSU Extension offices with potential Cloverbud members so they can be referred to a local club in their community.  

The website was made possible with a grant from the Ohio 4-H Foundation and was designed by Beth Sabatino, from The Ohio State University, and is being maintained by Monroe County Extension Support Staff member Jennie Shaw.

Submitted by: Bruce Zimmer

Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension, Monroe County, Ohio

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Left, Right, Center, Keep

This is a great game to play with all ages, children and adults. I have played it with all age groups and it is always enjoyed. It is a great way to reinforce right and left, plus teaching fair play and sharing.

What you need :   

• a minimum of 3 wooden blocks for each group of 5-10 players

(blocks need to be large enough to have a letter written on each side but small enough that all three blocks can be held in a child's hand at the same time ñ these can be purchased in the craft department of many stores or cut out your own)

• Using a permanent marker ñ write one letter on each side of the block as follows - one K, one C, two sides will have R and two sides will have L. So the blocks will contain one K, one C, 2 R's and 2 L's. I place the R and the L on opposite sides of the block.

• 3 pieces of wrapped candy per player ( I like chewable wrapped candy as opposed to hard candy. Lollipops work well too! )

• people to play

Instructions to play:

The players sit in a circle facing one another. Each person receives three pieces of candy. They place their candy in front of them. One person begins by picking up all three blocks and rolls these into the center of the circle.

 

•  For example ñ lets state that the dice rolled come up with K, C , R

The person who rolled the dice will then K = Keep one piece of candy, C = place one piece of candy into the Center of the circle and R = hand one piece of candy to the person sitting on their Right. The next person (go around the circle either direction ) takes the three blocks and rolls.

•  For example ñ this person gets L, L , C. This person would then hand the person on their Left 2 pieces of candy and place one piece of candy into the Center of the circle. The game continues. A person can be completely out of candy and then a few rolls later receive some from a ì neighborî A person rolls the number of blocks corresponding to the number of pieces of candy that he or she has.

•  For example ñ one piece of candy ñ roll one block, 2 pieces of candy ñ roll 2 blocks, 3 pieces of candy ñ roll 3 blocks, more than 3 pieces of candy ñ still you roll 3 blocks as that is the maximum number of blocks.

Several circles can be playing at one time. I suggest having a teen leader or adult volunteer supervise each circle of players. The game ends when only one person has any candy left and the last two players with candy have rolled a final time. The person ending up with the last piece of candy is then allowed to take all the candy from the center of the circle and distribute it to all the players. With little ones, sometimes a small talk on sharing is needed!

Submitted by: Barbara Phares

Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension, Mercer County, Ohio

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Cloverbud Camera Adventure

Taking pictures and learning about cameras can be a lot of fun for Cloverbud members. Over a period of two Cloverbud meetings we explored cameras, how to take pictures, and then viewed our developed pictures. At the first meeting we talked about the basics of what the camera was and its basic parts. You could even use an old camera purchased from a thrift store that could be taken apart to show the parts. Using a working camera, we show them how to load the film. We also used a coloring page we found on the Internet to let the kids color the parts of the camera. We showed the kids different types of cameras, such as digital cameras, Polaroid, video cameras, 35 mm, 110 etc.

For the fun part, we purchased disposable cameras for the kids to share. The Cloverbuds were given a list of basic pictures we wanted them to take. They went around in groups of three and took turns taking pictures. We kept a record of who went when, so everyone could have a turn. The Cloverbuds took a picture of someone moving and jumping, an indoor picture with and without a flash, a picture of a friend, a certain place inside the building we met in.....etc. The second session we got the pictures back and had the kids learn a little about their pictures. We also enlarged a few of the pictures so we could talk about them. We then let the kids make mini scrapbooks using a three ring notebook, plastic cover sheets, construction paper, glue sticks, regular scissors, and decorative edged scissors and photo cut outs. We have a machine for punching different sized paper cutouts, and stickers. We helped the Cloverbuds write a phrase or label the pictures with names. When the kids were done with their albums we sat in a circle and let the them show their albums and their favorite pictures. The kids had a great time. This camera activity was held over two sessions with about three hours total. If you plan to replicate this activity you might find that close to four hours will give you plenty of time. We were very rushed with the photo picture taking part. We hope you enjoy this fun activity with your Cloverbuds.

Submitted by: Dawn Rondot & Dana Hoover, 4-H Cloverbud Volunteers

Saints of the World, Our Lady of Perpetual Help 4-H After-School Program

Franklin County, Ohio

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Produce Handling Game

A perennial favorite with Cloverbuds in Cuyahoga County is the "Produce Handling Game." It helps young members learn to identify fruits and vegetables, using only the sense of touch (and possibly smell). They can also imagine themselves as working in the produce department of a local grocery.  If the right mix of produce is used, it can also teach members which vegetables come from roots, stems, leaves, or are fruits of plants.

Items Needed:

      1 recycled copy paper or printer paper box with detachable lid (the kind that holds about 10  reams).

       pictures of fruits and vegetables from magazines, garden catalogues, etc.

       small piece of felt or other cloth

       variety of vegetables and fruits from garden or store (onions and ripe tomatoes not recommended!)

Instructions:

                1.      Cut out pictures of vegetables and fruits, and glue to outside of box to decorate.

                2.      Cut small window (about 6 x 8 in) in one side of box.  Glue or staple cloth over     

                         window like a curtain, so players can't see inside.

                3.      Put produce in box where players can't see what goes in.  A good mix would be                            things like bell pepper, sweet potato, carrot, celery stalk, leaf lettuce bunch,                               lemon or lime, kiwi fruit.

                4.      Players take turns reaching inside (no peeking!) and guessing one or more                           vegetables or fruits that are inside, using only sense of touch, feeling shapes                               and textures of items inside.  Players can whisper their guess to game                                     moderator so as not to "spoil" turn of next player.

          5.    After everyone has had a chance to guess, take lid off and reveal what is inside.

Submitted by: Greg Seik

4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

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Campus Connections

Read and succeed with the 4-H Cloverbud program!!  It is undisputed that for children to be successful in school and later in life they must learn to read and write. We develop our literacy skills throughout life, but the time between birth and age eight is considered the most critical period for literacy development. Literacy education should not just take place in schools if children are to flourish with reading and writing - families and communities must be involved; hence the perfect connection with 4-H Cloverbuds.

When working with 4-H Cloverbud children there are some key concepts to remember for enhancing their reading and writing skills (National Association for the Education of Young Children and the International Reading Association, 1998):

Reading aloud to children is the most single important activity for building skills essential for reading success

High quality book reading occurs when children feel emotionally secure

Asking predictive and analytic questions in small group settings affects children's vocabulary and comprehension of stories

Bridge stories to children's own lives

Repeat readings is a positive

Connect letters with sounds they hear

Children's ability to read words is tied to their ability to write words

Real reading is comprehension, not flash card recognition

Rereading short selections increase confidence, fluency, and comprehension in reading

Integration of reading and writing through lists (grocery, recipes), and descriptions (objects, animals, plants) are beneficial

Helping children learn to read and write is helping them read and write to learn.

Did you know at the end of every curriculum piece in Series I and II is a list of books under the heading ìReading Adventures?î The content of the books match the subject area of each particular curriculum piece. Since reading aloud is a sure way to help the kids with their literacy skills, don't forget about using the recommended books or other children books that are available from your local library.

Scott D. Scheer, Ph.D; State Extension Specialist,

4-H Youth Development, Preadolescent Education

The Ohio State University

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Fresh Fruit Trifle Recipe

This recipe will be very easy for Cloverbuds to make. It's also nutritious and refreshing. Always remind the Cloverbuds to wash their hands before they prepare food.

Ingredients :

Fresh Fruit (Strawberries, Peaches, Blueberries, or your favorite)

Fruit Flavored Low or No Fat Yogurt (Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry, or your favorite)

Angel Food Cake - cut in small cubes

Wide mouth clear plastic cups (approximately 8 ounce size)

Spoons

Napkins

Preparation:

Wash fruit. Slice the fruit, if needed. Put a layer of fresh fruit in the cup. Add a layer of angel food cake cubes. Then, add a layer of yogurt. Top with a slice of fresh fruit. Enjoy!

Submitted by: Joyce Shriner

Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Sciences

Ohio State University Extension, Hocking County, Ohio

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