4-H – A hands on approach

ASHEBORO It is that time again. I have to get my mind thinking about school and the programs that we can offer our school systems. North Carolina Cooperative Extension and 4-H are grounded in education and that positions us to be helpful collaborators with our local school systems. Together we know what it takes to help youth achieve in the school setting.

We offer Health Rocks for students in middle school. We implement chick embryology in the second grade. We offer water conservation lessons in third grade; bicycle safety education in fourth grade and environmental field days in fifth grade.

Keeping kids in school and on task is not always easy. For youth who feel that school content is too hard or their test scores indicate they are not passing a course, the idea of dropping out can look like an ideal solution. Unfortunately, this is all to often the case. Dropping out of school is NOT an ideal solution. Youth who have been introduced to 4-H through a community club, school enrichment or special interest program know our programs are hands on.

Using a hands on approach allows youth to become involved in an activity, determine what was useful or what they learned and then provides an opportunity to think about how to apply what was learned to another activity. This is called the experiential model. We believe that kids who are involved with a set of materials that they can manipulate will construct their understanding of the activity by being included!

This model allows youth to experience an activity; share the results; analyze and reflect on that experience; connect the learning to real world examples and finally to apply what was learned to another situation. When a young person, engaged in a learning situation makes a connection, the result can be powerful! Schools do these same things with kids each and every day. That is why I am convinced that 4-H is a natural partner in connecting youth with experiences that will enrich what is happening in the classroom.

* The 4-H column appears each Wednesday. 4-H is open to youngsters, ages 5-19. Contact: Barbara Dunn Swanson, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, 112 W. Walker Ave., Asheboro, NC 27203; 318-6000 in Asheboro, 819-6000 in Archdale/Trinity, 218-4000 in Liberty/Greensboro.

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4-H - A hands on approach