Boone County CES

Title:

4-H Communications & Expressive Arts

MAP:

Life Skills and Diversity

Agents Involved:

Steve Conrad, Christy Eastwood

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Communications and Expressive Arts

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Agriculture

Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth will utilize the skills gained to serve as leaders in 4-H and other organizations;
• Youth will be advocates for the arts

Intermediate Outcomes:

• 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 visual arts in creating and performing projects

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth will gain knowledge in researching, preparing and presenting a speech or demonstration
• Youth can identify key elements of visual arts

Evaluation:

• Outcome to be evaluated
  • Youth plan and implement a communication and expressive arts project (speech, demonstration, photography, etc)
• Indicator of Success for Outcome
  • Youth complete a communication and expressive arts project
• Method of Evaluation
  • Oral or 4-H Common Measures Experience Survey at conclusion of learning activity 
  • 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 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:

• Public speaking 
  • Curriculum: 4-H Speeches & Demonstrations
  • County, Multi-county and state communications events (Feb, Mar, April and July 2022)
  • 4-H country ham project speeches (July 2022)
• Visual Arts
  • Curriculum: Photography Level 1: Photography Basics, Photography Level 2: Next Level Photography, Photography Level 3: Mastering Photography
  • Photography Club and Mounting summer project classes (monthly May-July 2022)

Success Stories

Art in Bloom

Author: Gina Ligon

Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts

Art in Bloom The Boone County 4-H Floral Design Club began in October 2021 with two volunteers interested in teaching children how to work with cut flowers.   The two volunteers are currently Master Gardener Volunteers that assist with growing a cut flower garden at the Boone County Nature Center Demonstration Gardens.As the club began, six participants showed and learned how to arrange flowers for the very first time.   Three months the club grew to fifteen participants, the volu

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