Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Casey Townsend
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
On August 11, 2020, approximately 13 school teachers were trained on how to implement a robotics program at Holy Trinity School. A series of 12 questions were asked pertaining to their comfort levels before the WeDo program vs afterwards on a 5 star scale. The teachers' comfort level for the WeDo information was 3.27 stars before vs 4.73 after, comfort level with the materials was 4.0 stars before vs 4.73 start after, and the We Do lessons learned was 3.55 stars before vs 4.55 after. &
Author: Mary S Averbeck
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
The novel Coronavirus pandemic has changed the way 4-H youth development programs are implemented. Videos, web-based programming, pre-packaged 4-H projects and electronic newsletters are just some of the methods to stay connected with 4-H youth. An inner-city Covington collaboration resulted in a virtual day camp for youth aged Kindergarten through 5th grade in July. Eighty-three youth from 55 low income households participated. Each child received at least one age-appro
Author: Dora Centers
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Knott Co 4-H partnered with Knott Co GEAR Up to reach 8th and 9th graders with a STEM based learning opportunity. The project reached 331 youth throughout the six elementary and two high schools. The GEAR UP representatives distributed the projects making them available at every school location throughout the county. The STEM brown bag project gave the youth parameters and goals to build a bridge with the highest capacity. The outcomes ranged from 7 t
Author: Louis Milligan
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Recent research reports that there is a lack of African American Males participating in STEM related programs and activities.Kentucky State University Extension mission is to reach underserved audiences and increase youth participation through STEM Programming. The 4-H program partnered with W.E. B Dubois Academy for Boys to offer a Virtual CSI program to it students. Ms. Paula Cathey a school counselor contact Louis Milligan, 4-H Agent in Jefferson County about the possibility of 4-H offering s
Author: Mary McCarty
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Covid 19 restrictions in the state of Kentucky led the ANR/4-H Agent developed a virtual 4-H program. Lessons were centered around STEM, Agriculture, and Natural Resources core areas. Programs were advertised on social media and parents enrolled there 4-H via a Qualtrics Survey. Supplies for each program was placed on the porch to be picked up before the meeting date. 4-Hers logged on to Zoom and members present worked through the activities together. 18 4-Hers have
Author: Shelley Meyer
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
COVID-19 hit and brought the traditional 4-H and extension programming to a halt in March of 2020. With 4-H clubs, school programs, and spring and summer activities being unable to finish out their program year face-to-face, Pendleton County 4-H hastily worked to bring about virtual opportunities that would allow the youth of Pendleton County to continue to learn and develop educational skills from the comfort and safety of their homes.Some of the early efforts to carry on youth programming in a
Author: Toni Humble
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
“Grab Bag” programs during the Covid 19 became the new way of teaching and reaching our clientele.The 4-H Agent, Family & Consumer Science Agent, and Nutrition Education Program Assistant, partnered to provide 75 grab and go kits per week that included several SNAP recipes, Plate It Up recipes and material along with information teaching others where their food comes from, how to grow, and then prepare enables them to have access to healthier foods.Other Grab and Go Bags wa
Author: Casey Townsend
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
A hydroponics program was conducted at the Brighton Center in Newport, KY for over the course of 8 weeks. It was led by 5 youth and 1 Program Leader, Yovani Velasquez. They continue to learn about the STEM aspects of soilless systems. 2 heads of Spinach, 5 heads lettuce and 1 Swiss Chard were grown to donate as a service learning project. There are still seedlings left, so they are making improvements from the data that was gathered the first go round. #n
Author: Casey Townsend
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
A six week program took place at Holy Trinity School in Newport, Kentucky with lead STEM Teacher Susan Bier and 30 youth participants. Their comfort level to describe how to program a robot was rated 3.27 stars before the program and 3.8 stars after the program took place. Youth rated 3.23 for their desire to learn more about careers in robotics, coding and programming.
Author: Paula McCuiston
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Virtual 4-H Project DaysOn March 16, 2020 the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service began a quick transition to remote working conditions due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Although programming with youth became difficult, the Hickman County 4-H Agent and the 21st CCLC Grant Program Coordinator partnered and developed a way to reach and involve youth in the county in a week full of 4-H projects. “Project Days in a Box” seemed to be a simpler way to involve
Author: Melissa Schenck
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
With continued restrictions and uncertainty it became clear that a consistent opportunity needed to be provided to young people in Washington County to keep learning by doing. The Science, Engineering, and Technology Box club was developed through a partnership between the Washington County 4-H and the Washington County Family Resource Youth Service Center (FRSYC) coordinators. Each month for three consecutive months, 16 registered families were provided with a monthly subscription box containin
Author: Ralph Hance
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
This year, due to COVID-19, County programing was changed like never before. Schools was closed, and people was not allowed to gather. This makes the job of a County 4-H Agent very hard, as we had to change all of our programing from hands on to virtual and self studies. In Trimble county, and across the state, the County 4-H Agent gathered supplies and equipment to supply residents of Trimble County youth the opportunity to continue learning valuable, fun and interactive
Author: Casey Townsend
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Starting on November 11, 2020 5 youth were taught about the basics of hydroponics. One youth began to research how to incorporate recipes from Tower to Table. Including creating a salad bar, putting basil on pizza and Kale chips.
Author: Esther "Susan" Turner
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
The pandemic of 2020 brought our entire nation to a screeching halt. Except for first responders, the United States and much of the world were on lock-down for much of the spring and summer. As summer turned into fall and the end of COVID-19 not in sight, a group of agents banded together to see how they could continue to meet the needs of their 4-H clientele. And thus, a new experiment of hosting district virtual 4-H clubs was born. This new concept extended the opportunity to learn high
Author: Brandon Darst
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Due to the ongoing pandemic, Madison County 4-H was not able to deliver in-person science, technology, engineering, or mathematics lessons to the local classrooms this year. In response to the restrictions and social distancing guidelines, I decided to offer a dissection series with a live Zoom so we could still participate step by step together. The purpose of this series was to: -Engage youth in a creative and safe environment-Help youth learn science through hands on activities whil
Author: Alissa Ackerman
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
As society continues to experience technology advances, it is difficult to imagine a world without everyday computer and phone devices. These conveniences are made possible with the skills and knowledge of individuals behind the scenes in science, engineering and technology career fields. According to County Health Rankings, the unemployment rate for Clay County is 7 percent compared to the statewide rate of 4 percent. Research also indicates that STEM related occupations are on the rise (Fayer,
Author: Louis Milligan
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
The Family Resource Center Coordinator from Cane Run Elementary contacted Louis Milligan, 4-H Agent in Jefferson Co. about offering a virtual STEM program to her students to help keep her students engaged during COVID. A meeting was scheduled and held with Coordinator Ms. Melissa Escobar to assist with her needs and discuss programs available through 4-H. Both parties decided that robotics would be the most engaging program for the students at Cane Run Elementary.Cane Run Elementary is a f
Author: Casey Townsend
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Youth continue to build on their skills as Plant Scientists @YLD Brighton Center. 10+ Youth and Program Leader, Yovani Velazquez are doing their thing cleaning the Tower Garden to prepare it for strawberry season. The #StrawberryProject is #inspired by the #youth. Wish us a #happy growing. #4hgrowshere ??
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
During the COVID19 pandemic when schools were shut down to in-person learning, Russell County 4-H provided opportunities for youth to explore different science concepts through the “Science in a Box” program. Science is loved by many youth because it offers a hands-on method of exploring sometimes complex scientific concepts. Over the course of six months, six kits of learning materials on various topics were provided to 19 4-H youth. The youth received learni
Author: Casey Townsend
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
On June 15, 2021, approximately 12 youth were taught a lesson by a 4-H and Horticulture Agent on pollination using WeDo Lego Robotics and the Campbell County Extension Educator Garden. A series of 2 questions were asked with follow-up statements to measure their comfort levels before the program vs afterwards on a 5 star scale. The youth's comfort level to describe how to code or program a robot was 2.82 stars before vs 4.22 afterwards, their comfort level to describe
Author: Elijah Wilson
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. To help fulfill our commitment of empowering young people, Cumberland County 4-H and Pulaski County 4-H have partnered with the Office of Diversity within the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Kentucky to establish and charter the Lake Cumberland 4-H Jr. MANRRS chapter. The mission of the MANRRS organization is to promote academ
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
At the end of the school year 2021, Caneyville Elementary School received school administration permission to invite the Grayson County 4-H Agent for programming with students. The agent was able to schedule lessons for April and May with the 4th and 5th grade classes. Primarily focusing on SET activities, the cow eyeball dissection lesson was done with both grades, as the current 5th grade students missed the opportunity in 2020 due to Covid-19. Additionally with the 4th grade students, the age
Author: Aubrey Lawson
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
“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.” (National Science Foundation)By exposing students to STEM and giving them opportunities to explore STEM-
Author: Chelsea Walling
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Approximately 25 high-school age students from the AG Discovery program visited KSU's Aquaculture Research Center Tuesday June 8th, 2021. I led these students on a tour of the active research projects taking place at the ARC and I set up an aquatic species dissection demonstration. We talked about aquaponics and its use in urban areas and examined aquatic species utilized for research at the ARC. We discussed the use of genetics research in aquaculture and the importance of providing economi
Author: Patrice Thompson
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
During the pandemic community engagement and collaborations had been temporarily stagnant. OF course, this was due to many community partners uncertainty on collaborative efforts, community/youth programs, and in-person gatherings. This took a major toll on community partners that had already begun programming or inquired about programming in early 2021. In Spring 2021, as the state opened back up, I was able to reconnect at make new partnerships with community partners that already host o
Author: Brian Walker
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Due to COVID-19 learning was becoming a very diffcult thing to accomplish among children. I was conducting programming for a group online and wanted to do so much more. The person in charged wanted her students to have a STEM week. At first we didn't think we could pull it off becuase COVID was still in effect and things haven't been lifted. I informed my contact that in time things were supposed to change and I told her good things come to those who wait. W
Author: Brian Walker
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
This starts out as a summer camp story. This was my first time conducting a summer camp program. The program was a week long event where the students were bused in to our faculity. That great things about this camp was that we had a group of 17 young men from out of a school in Louisville. These young men were excited to be participating in this camp because there were only so many spaces available and the ones that came were chosen to come. During the week adventur
Author: Chanda Hall
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
For seven weeks, Jefferson County 4-H opened a plethora of experiences for over 120 inner-city youth. Students learned and practiced coding, by utilizing Ozbots in weekly lessons. For the past two years students have worked with Ozobots using the color-coding method. 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
Author: Alexandria Bryant
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
As science and technology fields grow in Kentucky, there is a shortage of people to fill these careers. There is a growing need for knowledgeable scientists to identify problems, find solutions, and educate others. Additionally, women are under-represented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related fields and Marra et al. (2008) found that a gender bias develops during Middle School, leading to disproportionate interest in STEM. In 2013, local Middle School science teachers rea
Author: Torey Earle
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
The following is taken from the Session 7 presentation on SET Abilities during the 2012 4-H Science eAcademy: “Recent research suggests that learning science requires fluency in multiple aspects of conceptual understanding, practices of science, and identification with the scientific community. While 4-H programs have historically emphasized the development of science process skills (which refer to measurable behaviors and transferable abilities reflective of processes involved with s
Author: Rebecca Stahler
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
4-H members contribute thousands of hours of service to their communities each year, resulting in both benefits to others and growth in the 4-H members. Community service has always been an important part of 4-H youth development. Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) is also a highly desired curriculum from 4-H agents. Combine community service and SET and Boyd County 4-H came up with barometer soup!Boyd County 4-H collaborated with the Ashland Community Kitchen to provide hands
Author: Eric Comley
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
In an article written by Dr. Danae Lund for Sanford Health, the exploration of the outdoors by youth and the presence of outdoor play creates five positive long term outcomes. Physically Healthier Children Cognitive and Social / Emotional Development Improve Sensory Skills Increase Attention Spans Grow in Happiness and ImmunityThese five areas were considered in the development and implementation of the Garrard County Creek Day. The program was offered to 25 total
