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Spring 2007
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Let's
Plan for a Good Cloverbud Year!
The
beginning of a new 4-H year is a most exciting time for both members and
4-H advisors. Returning members anticipate the opportunity to see Cloverbud
friends again. Advisors are happy to be back working with 4-H members.
And by far the most excited are the new Cloverbud members who are finally
old enough to join 4-H.
It
is very important for Cloverbud advisors to take time to put together
a well designed program to help assure their efforts will provide a positive
learning experience for their club members. As the plan is being developed
it is important to remember several very important things that can affect
how successful clubs will be in achieving their goals.
First
and foremost take into account your audience. Families often have busy
schedules and club programs should be designed to accommodate their needs.
Advisors are encouraged to find ways to obtain feedback from parents regarding
meeting times, days of the week and length. It is almost impossible to
meet the needs of all families, but planning meeting times based upon
the audience we serve helps assure higher levels of participation.
4-H Cloverbud Advisors should also keep
the following in mind as they develop their yearly program. Member learning
and participation in Cloverbud programming will be enhanced by:
- Well planned meetings
- Meetings that include a variety of activities
- Activities which are age-appropriate
- Meetings that are around 60 minutes in length
- Regular communication with parents
- Providing a printed schedule/program to families
Good luck as you prepare for another 4-H
Cloverbud experience.
Ken
Lafontaine
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
OSU Extension, Hardin County, Ohio
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Wildlife
Learning Activities
“Getting
Familiar with Wildlife”
Materials:
pictures or live specimens of wildlife (fish, wild flowers, butterflies),
and large sheet of paper to make a list
Wildlife are plants and animals that have
not been domesticated. People often think of wildlife as the deer or rabbit
they hunt or the fish they catch. Wildlife includes the following: ducks,
rabbits, moose, deer, squirrels, turkeys, robins, wild flowers, coyotes,
frogs, elk, butterflies, mockingbirds, beavers, fish, foxes, bears, raccoons,
and many other species.
Have
the children sit on the floor in a half circle. Explain the term wildlife
and have them brainstorm as many examples of wildlife species as they
can. Discuss with them all the various types of wildlife and list them.
Have pictures of wildlife (squirrels, fish, etc.) or live specimens (fish,
wild flowers, butterflies, etc.) in which the children can learn more
about. Are any considered endangered species? What does “endangered
species” mean?
“Nature Walk”
Materials:
crayons, markers, pencils, and construction paper
Take the children for a nature walk in
a wooded area, park, field, or grassy area. Familiarize children with
the term wildlife and have them look for wildlife such as birds, squirrels,
insects, wild flowers, etc. Ask them to be very quiet and listen to the
sounds of nature. What does it sound like? Have them pick some wild flowers.
What do they smell like?
Application: After the nature walk, have the children
draw with markers, crayons, or pencils on construction paper what they
saw when they were on the nature walk. Ask them to think for a minute
of what they saw and then draw it.
“Critter Creek Hunt”
Materials:
jars, water source, tubs and nets (optional)
Take the children to a shallow stream,
lake, or pond so they can observe aquatic wildlife. Have the children
wade into the shallow water in search of insects, fish, or plants. The
children can place anything they find into small jars and take them for
further study. Make this a great learning experience.
Note to the Volunteer: Make sure the children are watched
carefully when around water
sources. If wading into water is not an option, you can make a wonderful
experience on shore. Just take a large bucket and scoop water and aquatic
wildlife and place in large tubs on shore. Maybe catch some small fish
or insects with nets and place in tubs. The children then can simply observe
the tubs of aquatic wildlife fun.
Source: Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum - Series II “Wildlife”.
Authors:
Michael Gower, Ft. Recovery, OH;
Lisa Wittenauer, Medina County, OSU Extension
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911
for 4-H Cloverbud Volunteers
Are
you a new 4-H Cloverbud Volunteer or are you looking for some fresh and
easy ideas to do with your Cloverbuds. When you are in a 4-H panic who
do you call? Here are some resources and ideas to help make our 4-H Cloverbud
programs simple to organize, hands-on, and more educational.
1.) Cloverbud
Activity Kits: Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Volunteers can now
borrow 4-H Cloverbud Kits from their local OSU Extension Office. As
a result of a generous grant from the Ohio 4-H Foundation, three kits
have been developed for each county in Ohio. The kits focus on lessons
taken directly from the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum – Series
II. The three kits are: The Science of Sound, Our Country, and Food
Fun. Contact your OSU Extension Office to borrow a kit or you can make
your own kit by printing the materials from the web: www.ohio4h.org/youth/cloverbud/cloverbudresources.html
2.) Click it,
Print it, and Do it! Are you looking for an activity
to help your Cloverbuds learn about a new topic? These topics are ready
to print and do! Here are the topics that are currently posted: The
4-H Pledge; Weave a Flag; Listening and Coloring; Comparing Apples to
Apples; Valentines for Community Service; and Be a Nature Detective.
Find these on the web at: www.cloverbudconnections.osu.edu
3.) Ohio 4-H
Cloverbud Curriculum – Series I & II: Both
of these curriculums include short term, fun, cooperative, noncompetitive
activities that can be used by adult volunteers with Cloverbud children.
These are available for purchase from your OSU Extension Office or by
checking on the web: www.ohio4h.org/youth/cloverbud/ cloverbudresources.html
4.) 4-H Cloverbud
Volunteer Guidebook: The guidebook provides 4-H Cloverbud
volunteers with information about the goals and “how to”
strategies of the 4-H Cloverbud program. You can purchase or borrow
a copy of the guidebook from your OSU Extension Office.
5.) 4-H Cloverbud
Training Video: The video was developed to assist 4-H Cloverbud
volunteers in planning and organizing a 4-H Cloverbud program. Contact
your Extension Office to borrow the video or by checking on the web:
www.ohio4h.org/youth/cloverbud/cloverbudresources.html
6.) Ohio 4-H
Cloverbud Connections Website: 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.
Bruce
Zimmer Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Ohio
State University Extension, Monroe County, Ohio
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Campus
Connections
Hello
Ohio CloverBudders! It feels good to make another 4-H Cloverbud Connection
with you!
This is our time of the year as plants,
people, and places are beginning to bud as Spring starts to take over.
As I write this column there is snow on the ground, but the sensations
of a season change are ever present. Think about incorporating Spring
themes into your 4-H Cloverbud activities with the children.
Before beginning a 4-H Cloverbud group
get-together, have the children share with each other about what Spring
means to them. Ask the children what they see, feel, hear, smell, and
taste that helps them know it is Spring. With this simple activity the
children are able to enhance life skills of feeling confident about themselves,
getting along with others, and making decisions about the meaning of Spring.
Here are a few mind stretchers for 4-H
Cloverbud children that are related to the Spring Theme:
1) How many colors are in
a rainbow?
2) How long does Spring last?
3) What food products are
made from tomatoes?
4) Do you say potato or pot(ah)to,
tomato or tom(ah)to?
Alright, let the fun begin! Thanks
for all you do as a 4-H Cloverbud volunteer to help improve the lives
of children throughout Ohio!!
Scott D. Scheer, Ph.D. State Extension Specialist,
Preadolescent
Education 4-H Youth Development,
The
Ohio State University
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Trail
Mix
Ingredients:
2 cups crispy cereal squares (combine flavors- corn, rice, etc.)
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, Ohio
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