Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Marsha Hagler
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Kentucky 4-H recognizes a strong background in science, technology, engineering and mathematics can benefit young people, not only as they progress through school but as they enter the job market. In 4-H, our educators work to help youth develop an understanding of a variety of STEM-related disciplines. 4-H robotics is a popular STEM offering. Robotics projects can range from junk drawer robots, which teach young people basic robotic construction using everyday items, to robots so large the
Author: David Appelman
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
In Bracken County, 4-H Tractor Driving has a long history of its importance to the youth and adults that farm our steeper land. This tradition and focus was one of the main programs our former 4-H agent, Mr. Tom Stephenson emphasized during his career. This year, at our local fair, our leaders started the Tom Stephenson Memorial Tractor Driving Contest. It included both youth and adults from the area. The contest followed the current 4-H course guidelines in both the
Author: Marsha Hagler
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Over 50% of Nelson County students receive free or reduced price school meals. The most recently posted school assessment testing (2016-2017) shows that 50% of elementary school and 61% of middle school student perform at the novice and apprentice level for math. This is higher than the state average. In response, Nelson County 4-H and the two of the Kentucky 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology(SET) Board members partnered with 29 classrooms teachers at 5 elementary a
Author: Paula McCuiston
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
According to an eight-year longitudinal study conducted by the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University demonstrated that compared to non-4-H youth, participants in 4-H: * Reported better grades and an elevated level of engagement at school * Are nearly 2x's more likely to plan to go to college and are more likely to pursue a STEM career * 4-H girls are nearly 3x's more likely to participate in STEM programs Since one of the fastest grow
Author: Lamar Fowler
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
What do you get when you mix kids that love cooking with kids that love robotics? Cooking with Robotics is the answer. Thanks to a grant from Toyota Motor North America we have started this club. The goals are to provide dehydrated fruit to the Free Kitchen here in Grant County to help those in need and to help youth improve the communication skills of speaking and listening. So far we have used readily available kitchen utensils to prepare fruit for dehydration to understand the needed pre
Author: Lamar Fowler
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art and Math. In collaboration with the Grant County Public Library we held a STREAM event based of the book “What Really Happened to Humpty?” For this six week program we begin with reading the book. The next meeting covered the Crime Scene as youth gathered evidence. For the next week we worked with DNA extraction and finger prints. The engineering challenge was creating a safe container for eggs to be dropped from fifteen feet. Spl
Author: Louis Milligan
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
A Family Youth Resource Center Coordinator at Mcferran Preparatory Academy contacted Agent and requested information about possible Robotics program being offered to students at her school. Historically youth especially minority male and females students are represented in STEM fields and often do not have access to STEM relates programs and activities. Establishing a Robotics program would inspire youth participation in science and technology and to get exposure to the field while also discover
Author: Dora Centers
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
The unemployment rate for Knott County KY as of October 2018 is 6.8% compared to the statewide rate of 4.1% and national rate of 3.5%, according to the US Berea of Labor and Statistics. Therefore, it is especially important to involve youth in 4H SET learning opportunities becausedata suggest that at least 20 percent of U.S. jobs require a high level of knowledge in any one STEM field (Rothwell, 2013). The Kn
Author: Dianna Reed
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
The Johnson County Extension Council identified offering local options for acquiring life skills as a program priority for the 2018-2019 Plan of Work. To address this need, local schools, teachers and extension personnel worked together to provide an opportunity in the area of Science, Technology and Engineering for local students. For the past few years free workshops called Science Discovery and Biotechnology Basics were offered to elementary students in grades 4-6 at the Johnson County Extens
Author: Glenna Bentley
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
The Lewis County 4-H program teamed up with the 4th grade science teacher at Central Elementary to help students learn about electricity. The teacher teamed up with 4-H because she needed to teach youth about electricity and how it changes. Her goal was to have students make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric current. In the past she had not been able to satisfy this goal completely. The 4-H pr
Author: Mike Meyer
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
In November, volunteer leaders from the Humane Society of Harrison County reached out to our Harrison County 4-H Photography Club for assistance. Each year, the society puts together a calendar of adopted animals throughout the community which acts as a fundraiser to support the shelter's need for pet food and supplies. The calendar consists of animals currently in need of adopting, as well as month sponsors who had adopted from the shelter. The 4-H Photography Club members
Author: William Crawford
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Independent school districts in Kentucky typically are smaller than their county run counterparts. While in many instances this allows for more specialized attention to certain issues, it also can create instances where limited staff positions and facilities hinder the ability to offer specialized forms of instruction. The presence of Agricultural Education programs virtually are non-existent in these city systems. Students in these and other public school districts should have access to c
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
On Tuesday, December 11, 2018; 4-H Robotics members attended Central Baptist Preschool to give a Robotics presentation for the 4 and 5 year old participants. This came as the response to a request from Preschool teacher, Amy Williams. Amy inquired about this topic in hopes to spark these young minds into the world of robotics and Science, Engineering, and Technology. Mission accomplished! Three 4-H members: Dallas Hall, Lillian Hall, and Wyatt Jackson did an outstanding a
Author: Renata Farmer
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Technology is a growing field in the job market and it touches most every part of our daily lives. Statistics show that there is a shortage of people to fill this field. With the 4-H Science, Engineering & Technology program, Knox County 4-H has helped to develop the skills needed to advance in an increasing demand for knowledge in technology. In 2010, Knox County 4-H was awarded $10,000 in grant funding to establish a Robotics Club. In 2018,Kentucky
Author: Alexandria Bryant
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
The Kentucky Department of Education states, “By creating more opportunities for computer science learning for Kentucky students, we will reach, keep and engage more students in learning, create a pool of more qualified people to fill existing job openings and stimulate suppressed economic regions of our state by developing a high-tech skilled workforce. Computer science and coding utilize critical thinking and problem-solving talents that benefit all career paths.” Career opportunit
Author: Carrie Derossett
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Tractor SchoolProgram Year: 2018-19By: Carrie Derossett, Logan County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development Education The 4-H Tractor Driving Contest has been going on for many years at the Kentucky State Fair. 4-Hers take an exam about tractors and mowers, perform a safety check, and drive a tractor or mower through an obstacle course. In our area, we have not had an organized practice for these 4-Hers. They had just been practicing at h
Author: Anna Meador
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
As a parJade Baker shows off the vascular system of her pig kidney.t of our Allen County 4-H initiative to expand 4-H programming into new project areas, brand-new SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) Day Camps were developed to provide youth with quality science hands-on learning experiences. During these Senior 4-H'er, Tristan Skipworth, leading workshop series through dissecting a pig heart.two SET Day Camps, 18 participants learned about the similarities of human and anim
Author: Lena Mallory
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Reaching youth to teach life skills is the cornerstone of 4-H programs! Youth participate in 4-H programs through schools, community and project clubs, day camps/workshops, and residential camps/conferences. These are your traditional avenues for youth participation, but there are exceptions and youth audiences we tend to not think of.The Purchase Youth Village (PYV) is a Level II Juvenile Psychiatric Treatment Facility located in Marshall County. The facility offers psychiatri
Author: Kelsey Chadwick
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
In today's global society, science, engineering, technology, and mathematics are more important than ever, However, according to the U.S. Department of Education, "only 16 percent of American high school seniors are proficient in math and interested in a STEM career." In order to increase STEM programming in our county, Carlisle County 4-H partnered with the Carlisle County STARS Family Resource Center to offer six hours of programming at their summer day camp for fourth-grade stud
Author: Dominique Wood
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Computer programming is expected to be the fastest growing occupation in the next 10 years. With only 400,000 graduates in computer science, it is expected to leave a deficit of one million coders. Additionally, on a National level, only 1 in 10 schools teach computer science. Finally, 60% of math and science jobs are computing jobs that need real exposure and practice in programming. The Livingston County 4-H has been implementing 4-H Coding curriculum since 2017 with the intr
Author: Charles Comer
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%. STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of innovators. It is c
Author: Lois Carter
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Based on information from the Engineering For Kids website, according to the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%. STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy, and are a critical component to helping the U.S. win the future. STEM education creates critical t
Author: Torey Earle
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Technology Occupations, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm, Employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. These occupations are projected to add about 557,100 new jobs. Demand for these workers will stem from
Author: Torey Earle
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Leadership development, career exploration, decision-making skills, youth voice and personal development are important parts of the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development program and are offered through state 4-H Teen Leadership Boards. In its fourth year, the Kentucky 4-H SET Leadership Board, ten youth from Extension Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have worked to expand their reach and demonstrated strong leadership and programming skills.Major accomplishments this year include:Hosting the Kentuck
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
This summer 130 students from Sowing Seeds with Faith Summer Camp entered the world of robotics and learned the basics of coding. Utilizing Ozobots, students solved puzzles, designed mazes, and developed codes to get their Ozobot from one endpoint another. Ozobots have color sensors which recognize color patterns students draw on paper with markers to control the actions of the robot. The Ozobot will follow a solid black line but when students add short color sequences that mat
Author: Tyrone Gentry
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Youth lack exposure to broad Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities exposing them to future careers and problem-solving skills. The Department of Commerce reports that STEM occupations are growing at 17% that is almost twice other occupations at 9.8%. In order to provide youth exposure to STEM skills and careers, the Green County Cooperative Extension Service and 4-H program participated in a juvenile mentoring program with the National 4-H Council and the Office of Ju
Author: Brandon Darst
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
According to National Science Foundation, “In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.”Local teachers in Madison County had been searching for new act
Author: Amanda Sublett
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
The 4-H National Youth Science Day Challenge, Code Your World, was taught to every 4th and 5th grader, approximately 550 kids, in the Taylor County and Campbellsville Independent School systems during October. Code Your World integrates CS First, Google’s introductory computer science curriculum, with 4-H’s research-based youth development model, to show kids how they can use code both as a form of personal skill development and as a way to understand the world around them. &nb
Author: Amanda Sublett
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
Taylor County is a rural county with over 111,756 acres of land utilized as farms and several youth live on farms and operate tractors and/or lawn tractors frequently. 5 4-H’er participated in the Lawn Tractor or Tractor Driving contests or both at the county level. 4-H members performed a safety check, and drove a lawn tractor or tractor through an obstacle course. The goal is to finish the course in a timely manner without running into poles or crossing the outlined course.
Author: Tanya Dvorak
Major Program: Science, Engineering and Technology 4-H Core Curriculum
In Kentucky, only 2.6% of workers are currently engaged in STEM occupations, one of the lowest rates of STEM employment in the U.S. (Kentucky Center for Education & Workforce Statistics, n.d.). Dawson (2007) posited young people need to be highly literate in science to be prepared to research issues, think critically and question issues and claims in society today, especially in the field of biotechnology. In addressing biotechnology education, Boone, Gartin, et al. (2006) and Wilson, et al.
