Extension
It Starts With Us
4-H Communications and Expressive Arts
Enhancing Life Skills and Fostering Youth & Family Development
Misty Wilmoth
Communications and Expressive Arts
Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky. The development of communications skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader. Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communication & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capacities. This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development (Jones, K. R. 2006) Research also shows a positive association between arts participation and a number of desirable academic and social outcomes, such as school grades, test scores, enrollment in post-secondary education, attainment of a bachelor’s degree, and higher levels of literacy and civic engagement. (Child Trends, 2012) Kentucky 4-H provides communication and expressive arts by engaging youth in hands-on educational experiences that inspire confidence and foster a love for the arts. Programs and projects are offered in the areas of public speaking, visual arts, and performing arts.
- Youth will utilize the skills gained to serve as leaders in 4-H and other organizations;
- Youth share the elements of the music, dance, drama and visual arts with their community
- Youth will be advocates for the arts
- Youth will construct a speech that has a clear introduction, body and closing
- Youth will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups
- Youth apply elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts in creating and performing
- Youth will gain knowledge in researching, preparing and presenting a speech or demonstration
- Youth can identify key elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts
- Outcome to be evaluated
- Youth plan and implement a communication and expressive arts project (speech, demonstration, drama, photography, etc)
- Indicator of Success for Outcome
- Youth complete a communication and expressive arts project
- Method of Evaluation
- 4-H Common Measures Experience Survey
- Number of youth who completed a speech or demonstration? (PRACTICE)
- Number of youth who completed a state fair arts, photography, or other visual arts project? (PRACTICE)
- Number of youth who completed a drama, music, or dance project? (PRACTICE)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)
Learning Opportunities/Programs
- Public speaking
- Curriculum: Communications Curriculum: Module 1, Communications Curriculum Module 2, Communications Curriculum Module 3
- Training: Agent In-services
- Visual Arts
- Curriculum: Portfolio Pathways, Sketchbook Crossroads, KET Toolkit Visual Arts, Photography Level 1: Photography Basics, Photography Level 2: Next Level Photography, Photography Level 3: Mastering Photography, 4-H Filmmaking DVD, Getting Started in Art
- Training: Agent In-services
- Performing Arts
- Curriculum: Theatre Arts Book 1, Theatre Arts Book 2, Theatre Arts Book 3, KET Toolkit Drama, KET Toolkit Music, KET Toolkit Dance
- Training: Agent In-services
References:
Jones, K.R. (2006). Positive Youth Development and 4-H: Making the Connection. http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/4mo/4mo02oo/4mo02oo.pdf
Child Trends. (2012). Participation in school music or other performing arts. Available at: http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=participation-in-school-music-or-other-performing-arts
