Extension
It Starts With Us
4-H Communication and Expressive Arts
4-H Communication & Expressive Arts
Averbeck, Donahue, Kelley
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 Communications & 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)
Strong writing, reading and presentation skills present youth with the dexterity of being good communicators as well as allowing them to form receptive relationships with peers and adults. When young people are confident and capable in presenting their thoughts and feelings they are more likely to accept roles of responsibility in their communities and enhance their contribution to society. This development of internal and external assets, as researched by the Search Institutes “The 40 Developmental Assets” helps to develop youth into competent, caring and contributing adults. (Jones, K.R. 2006)
Youth will utilize the skills gained through education and involvement in Extension programs 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 become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others
• Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in 4-H Communications & Expressive Arts Programs
• Youth will construct a speech that has a clear introduction, body and closing;
• Youth will make a presentation before their family, a group of their peers (such as at a 4-H club meeting), a school or county qualifying event;
• Youth will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups;
• Use their communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H or other organizations.
• Youth apply elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts in creating and performing
As a result of this program, youth will know how to:
• Research a presentation topic prior to developing a speech or demonstration;
• Write an outline, including an introduction, body and conclusion for their speech or demonstration;
• Create a formal presentation, speech or outline using the written outline;
• Be prepared to present before their family, a group of their peers(such as at a 4-H club meeting) and a school or county qualifying event;
• Youth can identify key elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts
Outcome: Youth will feel comfortable modeling their project.
Indicator: Youth participation.
Method: Number of youth that participate in the 4-H Spring Showcase
Timeline: May 2020
Outcome: Youth will learn, plan, prepare and present a speech or demonstration.
Indicator: School clubs and county, multi-county and state communication event.
Method: Observation.
Timeline: December 2019 – June 2020
Outcome: Youth will apply communication skills learned in other parts of their lives.
Indicator: Responses to follow-up questionnaires.
Method: Questionnaires
Timeline: July 2019 – June 2020
Audience: 4-H School Clubs, 4-H Project Clubs, Community Clubs
Activity: 4-H Spring Showcase
Content or Curriculum: Agent designed
Inputs: *See List below
Date: May 2020Activity: 4-H School Clubs, Communication Events
Content or Curriculum: Speech and Demo lesson is part of every curriculum
Inputs: *See List below
Date: September 2019 – May 2020Activity: 4-H Record Books
Content or Curriculum: Corresponding Record Books
Inputs: *See List below
Assistant and secretary staff.
Date: June 2020Activity: 4-H Achievement
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Leadership Achievement Curriculum
Inputs: *See List below
Date: September 2019– April 2020*Inputs:
4-H School Club programs
Multi-County and State events
Volunteer leaders and community leaders as judges
Assistant and secretary staff
Guest speakers
4-H After-school programs
UK Inputs
Grants will be pursued by individual counties for program implementation.
Facilities to be utilized could include: local county extension offices, community centers, schools, churches, child care facilities, etc.
The efforts of paid staff will be to make connections with local collaborators to either train staff and/or volunteers to implement program or to provide the program themselves. It will be a total collaborative effort of community partners with the local extension office to provide funding, space
