Improve communication skills/financial situations & pratical living skills through STEM activitiesPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Hart County CES

Title:
Improve communication skills/financial situations & pratical living skills through STEM activities
MAP:
Strengthening Life Skills for Youth and Families
Agents Involved:
Huffman, Cline
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
4-H Youth Development Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
4-H Volunteer Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Securing Financial Stability (general)
Situation:

How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, select clothing to emphasize one’s best appearance, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, and form relationships with others—all of these skills are basic to everyday life. Many schools no longer include family and consumer sciences classes in the curriculum. Reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught to youth at home or at school. 

 

As with any other Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum area, when it comes to development of life skills and communication skills a strong case can be made for the need to go beyond mere transfer of knowledge to giving youth the opportunity for a variety of supportive, related learning experiences to significantly increase the program’s influence. 

 

4-H often offers basic learning activities on a topic of interest to youth but the addition of activities which support that interest (such as fair exhibits,related subject matter workshops or day camps, field trips, and decision-making judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills in youth. In a study by Olson, Croymans and Ji (2014), 4-Hers reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences. 4-H is also helping youth to develop skills in science, engineering and technology to make them more marketable in the workforce.

 

While many communication and life skills can be learned through self-directed projects or school enrichment, it’s beneficial for youth to have the added experience and guidance of a trusted adult and the opportunity to form relationships with caring mentors. For many adults, long-term volunteering is not always possible but shorter-term volunteer roles create doable opportunities for more people to tuck volunteering into busy schedules. Special interest clubs and groups that meet for a few weeks or months broaden the possibilities. The volunteer efforts of multiple adults may be required to take the 4-H experience from club meetings alone to also include exhibits, field trips and more.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
Initial Outcomes:
Evaluation:

Outcome: 

Indicator: 

Method: 

Timeline: July 2019- June 2020

Learning Opportunities:

Learning Opportunities (repeat as needed):

 

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H SET
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology
Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Council
Date: Fall 2019 – Spring 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Rocketry Projects
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Rocketry
Inputs: 4-H Leaders
Date: Spring 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Demonstration
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Project Books
Inputs: 4-H Council 

Date: Spring 2020


Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Talk Meet Contest
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Project Books
Inputs: 4-H Council
Date: January 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Community Club Presentations
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Leaders
Date: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Reality Store Curriculum
Input: Hart County School System; Local Businesses
Date: Spring 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Dollars & Sense
Content or Curriculum: Dollars & Sense Curriculum
Inputs: Hart County School System
Date: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Character Counts
Content or Curriculum: Character Counts Curriculum
Inputs: Hart County School System
Date: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020

 

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Afterschool Projects
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Project Books
Inputs: 4-H Leaders
Date: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Market Premium Show
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Animal Science Kit Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Council; Local Businesses
Date: Summer & Fall 2019; Spring 2020

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Country Ham Project
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Country Ham Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Council; Local Businesses
Date: Spring and Summer 2019

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Training
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Animal Science Kit Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Council; Local Businesses
Date: Spring 2020

Audience: Grandparents
Project or Activity: Grandparent Support Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Grandparents and Grandchildren Together
Inputs: Family Resource Centers
Date: July 2019 – June 2020

Audience: General Population
Project or Activity: Smart About Money: Living on a Budget
Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life
Inputs: Community Action
Date: Fall 2019 – Spring 2020




Success Stories

4-H Project Kits Provide Educational Opportunities for Youth During the Pandemic

Author: Laura Huffman

Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming

In 2020 families have experienced a time like no other.  When the COVID-19 global pandemic forced families into quarantine youth and families began spending more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. Due to this situation the Hart County 4-H Program began designing and creating 4-H Grab n Go Kits for youth to have a hands on learning experience while at home.  The goal of the Hart County 4-H Grab n Go Kits were to maintain way

Full Story

Work Readiness Day

Author: Laura Huffman

Major Program: 4-H College and Career Readiness (8-12 Grade Only)

The Hart County Extension Office and the Hart County Chamber of Commerce collaborated with the Hart County School System to offer a Work Readiness Day for all high school juniors to better prepare students for the workforce.  The goal of the Work Readiness Day was to create an awareness about career opportunities within the county and show students what is require to help them succeed in the workplace. 171 High School Juniors started the day by touring two of the local manufacturing compani

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County