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Winter 2007
Teaching
Techniques that Work
There are endless theories or
guidelines about teaching, learning, and education for children of 4-H
Cloverbud age. Let’s cut to the chase about what works for
this age group. Below are 10 time-tested techniques to put into action
as 4-H Cloverbud leaders:
- Use cooperative-learning techniques as children work on activities
together.
- Allow children to be creative and make choices during the activities.
- Accommodate short-attention spans with short-termed activities.
- Engage children in non-competitive activities to foster internal
motivation without setting up categories or classes that create inequities.
- Make considerations to ensure that the activities are safe.
- Allow children to gain confidence and promote self-esteem by mastering
4-H Cloverbud activities.
- Serve as a nurturing role-model with enthusiasm and interest.
- Value sharing and respect among 4-H Cloverbud members.
- Focus on the process of doing the activities, rather than the product.
- Make activities fun and positive experiences.
These techniques are not just about children
gaining knowledge or specific content, but rather gaining life skills
for healthy development: life skills of getting along with others, self-confidence,
and decision making. These life skills will benefit children for a lifetime.
Scott D. Scheer, Ph.D.
State Specialist, Preadolescent Education
4-H Youth Development, The Ohio State University
Back to the Top
4-H
Cloverbud Fun at the Fair
The
county fair offers a great venue for showcasing the 4-H Cloverbud program.
There are many fun activities that counties across Ohio are doing. This
article is intended to give you some ideas that you might use at your
own county fair.
When planning a 4-H Cloverbud fair event,
keep these points in mind:
-Provide activities where
all children can gain confidence and build on their self esteem.
-Design activities to be non-competitive.
-Give equal recognition to all participants.
The following are some ideas for 4-H Cloverbud
county fair activities. Due to space limitations in this newsletter, there
isn’t room for complete explanations of each event, so an
e-mail contact has been provided.
Please follow up with one of these OSU Extension staff members for more
details.
*Equine Fun Day – a 4-H
Cloverbud “horse show” that mimics a real show by offering
classes such as stick horse showmanship, barrel racing and lead in line
(Cloverbud leads their advisor
or parent). Contact reed.192@osu.edu
*Show and Tell – individuals
or groups present a topic of interest. Contact reed.192@osu.edu
*Big Wheel Adventure – plastic
big wheel bikes maneuver through an obstacle course or track. Contact
wittenaur.3@osu.edu
*Rooster Crowing and Duck Run
– both events held simultaneously. Ducks waddle down an alley
made with chicken wire fence. Contact wittenaur.3@osu.edu
*Hobby Horse Show, Clover Clues
Games, Calico Critters (dress up). Contact wittenaur.3@osu.edu
*Activity Stations – Cloverbuds
rotate between three stations. Contact nichols.210@osu.edu
*Fair Scavenger Hunt, Games and
Crafts – Contact gwilliams.1@osu.edu
*Pet Parade – Contact murphy.53@osu.edu
*Craft Corner – one hour
make and take craft. Contact mcclaskey.12@osu.edu
*Veggie Mania – decorate
and display a garden veggie. Contact roth.4@osu.edu
*Peter Pumpkin Club (display pumpkins),
Sawdust Scramble (search for money in sawdust), Fitness and Nutrition
Day (games and activities related to nutrition). Contact russell.388@osu.edu
I hope you can use some of these ideas
to have alot of “Cloverbud Fun at Your Fair”!
Vicki L. Reed
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Muskingum County, Ohio
Back to the Top
Family
Flower Power
Materials:
construction paper, markers or crayons
A family is made up of people that we love.
They may not be naturally related to us (for example step families, foster
families) but our lives are made even more special because they are part
of us.
Give each child a sheet of construction
paper. Tell them they are about to make a family flower. Have them give
examples of how to draw the flower. Ask them to begin by drawing a circle
on their paper and have them write their name in the middle of the circle.
Then ask them
to draw a petal around the circle for each member of their family. Put
each person’s name on his or her petal. For example, one family
might consist of a mother and child.
When everyone is finished, have each child
stand up and tell the group who makes up their family flower picture.
Application: Every flower is different,
just like every family is different - and that is great. Encourage children
to pay attention to other families they see at the grocery store and other
public places so that they will become more aware of diversity within
families.
Source:
Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum - Series II
“Valuing Families.” Authors: Joyce Shriner, Hocking County;
Demetria Woods, Miami County. OSU Extension.
Back to the Top
Family
Composition
Materials:
construction paper, magazines, scissors, and glue
Explain to the group that any number of
people can belong to a family. Some families have one parent, some have
two, and some have many. Family members can be any age. Ask the members
how many people are in their families. Have the children look through
the magazines and cut out pictures of several families. They can make
a collage of families by gluing the pictures on the construction paper.
Application: Have the children work with the parent
to make a list of families they know who have different numbers of members.
Have them start with one and see how high they can go.
Source: Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum - Series II
“Valuing Families.” Authors: Joyce Shriner, Hocking County;
Demetria Woods, Miami County. OSU Extension.
Back to the Top
Family
Potpourri Picture
Materials:
2 (5oz.) bags of potpourri, paper plates, glue, newspaper, hole puncher,
family photographs, drinking cups (9oz.), markers or crayons (optional),
and 1½ ft. yarn pieces
Preparation: Ask each member to bring a wallet
size or 3½ inch by 5 inch family photo, (If most of the children
do not have photos, they may draw and color a family picture in the center
of their plates instead). Cut yarn into 1½ ft. pieces, one per
child.
There are about as many kinds of families
as there are different types of people living in them. A nuclear family
is made up of children and the mother and father to whom they were born
or adopted. Different relatives like mom, dad, children, grandma, and
an uncle, living together form an extended family. One parent lives with
the children in a single- parent family. In a blended family or step family,
people live together who used to live in other families. No matter
what kind of family you have, all families are special.
Spread newspaper over tables. Tell the
group they are about to make a lovely picture frame for their family.
Pass out a paper plate to each child and a half cup of potpourri. Have
them punch two holes along the top edge of the plate (younger members
may need assistance). Carefully glue the family picture in the center
of the plate. Place glue around edges of the plate. Lightly sprinkle potpourri
on glue. Allow to set for a while, then gently shake off excess. Use
yarn to make hanger for frame. Place ends of yarn through holes in plate.
Secure by tying ends into a knot. Trim extra yarn.
Application: Think about other things that are
special about your family. Ask the group if during the discussion they
recognized their family. Can they think of other types of families (foster,
adoptive)?
Source:
Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum - Series II
“Valuing Families.” Authors: Joyce Shriner, Hocking County;
Demetria Woods, Miami County. OSU Extension.
Back to the Top
Reading
Adventures
This
listing of reading materials can be used as background information, for
sharing before the group activity to set the stage for learning, or for
sharing afterwards to reinforce the activity.
- Adoption is for Always, by Linda Walvoord Girard
- Daddy Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, by Betty Boegehold
- Every Kid’s Guide to Family Rules and Responsibilities, by
Joy Berry
- Every Kid’s Guide to Handling Fights with Brothers and Sisters,
by Joy Berry
- Every Kid’s Guide to Understanding Parents, by Joy Berry
- How Does it Feel When Your Parents Get Divorced?, by Terry Berger
Source:
Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Curriculum - Series II
“Valuing Families.” Authors: Joyce Shriner, Hocking County;
Demetria Woods, Miami County. OSU Extension.
Back to the Top
Campus
Connection
Hello 4-H Cloverbud
Volunteers!!!
Do you have a hard time sitting still?
Do you like to fidget? Don’t worry, movement is one of the ways
our brain develops and grows, especially for children!!
When you are having circle time with 4-H
Cloverbud children by reading a book or sharing with each other, you will
notice that many of the kids just can’t sit still! That is OK! Not
only are their brains growing (as dendrites grow and connect with play
and physical movement), but so are their bodies. Through movement, muscles
and bones are strengthened. Too much “sitting still” at the
computer, on the floor, or in front of the TV does not have the developmental
benefits of play and exploration through movement.
Be careful with bribes or rewards to keep
our 4-H Cloverbud children sitting still and paying attention. Let’s
keep their attention through activities and play that is based on their
own interest, not someone else’s; otherwise the bribes or rewards
will need to get bigger to achieve the same effect (Hunter, 2000).
Our 4-H Cloverbud curriculum, across eight
different subject areas, provides a variety of activities that are short-term
and includes physical movement of both fine and gross motor skills. Therefore
4-H Cloverbud children stimulate their brains and the bodies while having
fun at
the same time.
So if you still fidget and like to move
around a lot as an adult, tell your critics, my brain is still developing
and growing! Don’t let them know that by age 5, our brains have
reached almost 90% maturity.
Well until next time, take care and have
fun. I look forward to sharing more ideas with you soon. Thanks for all
you do as 4-H Cloverbud Leaders and Advisors!!
Scott D. Scheer, Ph.D.
State Extension Specialist, Preadolescent Education
4-H Youth Development, The Ohio State University
Personal
Pizza
Ingredients
needed per person:
½ English muffin
1/8 c. (1 oz) pizza sauce
1/8 c. (1 oz) part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/8 c. toppings (pepperoni, mushrooms, diced ham, cooked
lean hamburger, chopped onion, peppers, black olives, etc.)
Equipment:
Small bowls, 1/8 c. dry measuring cups, plastic knives, pot holders, baking
sheet, serving spatula, plates, and napkins.
Procedure:
Before the meeting, chop the toppings and place each in a small bowl.
Preheat the oven to
350° F. Have
Cloverbuds wash their hands for 20 seconds before starting to prepare
the recipe. Spread 1/8 c. pizza sauce on the cut side of the English muffin
using a plastic knife. Add toppings and sprinkle with cheese. Place pizzas
on an un-greased baking sheet. Bake for about 8 minutes or until the cheese
melts. Serve immediately.
Joyce Shriner
Extension Educator, FCS/County Extension Director
OSU Extension, Hocking County, Ohio
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