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4-H K-3rd Grade Youth Program

The North Carolina 4-H K-3rd Grade Youth Program promotes the positive development of youth by giving them the tools to become competent, caring, contributing citizens. This is accomplished through positive interactions with parents (or partners) with whom the children team up for 4-H learning experiences. The curricula for this multi-state, interdisciplinary program are designed to promote developmentally appropriate, cooperative, and experiential learning for children 5 to 8.

Curricula

 About the Curricula
Parent/Partner Guide (in PDF - need Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Unit I: North Carolina 4-H/K-3rd Grade Youth Program

A. Background

  1. History
  2. Philosophy
  3. Objectives

Unit II: Developmental Tasks

A. Parents of the 5- to 8-year-old

  1. Life Stage Development

B. The 5- to 8-year-old

  1. Growth Characteristics of the 5- to 8-year-old

Unit III: Learning Theories

A. Experiential Learning Model
B. Cooperative Learning Strategy
C. Creating the Learning Environment

Unit IV. Organizing and Maintaining a K-3rd Grade Community Club

A. Marketing

B. Recruitment

  1. Parent Teams
  2. Sponsors
  3. Limited Resource Parents

C. Coaching the Parent Team

D. The 4-H Club Meeting

  1. Symbols, Colors, Pledges
  2. Experiential Activities
  3. Recreational Play

Unit V: Curricula

A. Youth Project Books

  1. Step 1
  2. Step 2

B. Parent Activity Guides
C. Curricula Areas

Unit VI: Awards and Recognition

A. Celebrations

  1. Parents/Partners
  2. Members

Unit VII: Evaluation

A. Process
B. Curricula
C. Parent Interactions

 The curricula for the K-3rd Grade Youth Program, which uses the 4-H experiential learning model as a foundation, assist youth in gaining knowledge in age-appropriate subjects. The program offers learning activities which encourage and strengthen positive interactions between parents and children. For each curriculum, there is a Step I mini-project workbook for children 5 and 6 (with little required reading); a more advanced (with some reading required) Step II mini-project workbook for children 7 and 8; and a group activity guide for adult leaders to use to extend and reinforce the workbook instruction.
About the Program Guide
The K-3rd Grade Youth Program Guide is a manual designed to assist Extension staffs and parents (or partners) as they design and implement effective, age-appropriate, cooperative learning experiences for children 5 to 8. Three evaluation forms are included in the guide for assessing the impacts on children.
Purpose
Participants in the 4-H K-3rd Grade Program will:
  1. Develop life skills in self-understanding, social interaction, decision making, learning to learn, health, and physical fitness.
  2. Gain knowledge and participate in age-appropriate subjects and learning experiences through curricula built around the 4-H experiential model.
  3. Strengthen positive parent-child interactions with structured activities.
Audience
Using the National K-3rd Youth in 4-H Guidelines for Programming, the North Carolina K-3rd Grade Youth Program Guides are designed for county staff and parent (or partners). Each three-part curriculum is designed for children 5-8 years old and their parents (or partners). Although the curriculum subjects and information emphases have a universal scope and will be used to instruct children across the United States, regional considerations do influence topic choices, and the curricula have special relevance for children in North Carolina and adjoining states.
Related Links
Dr. Shirley Rouse

Background on the Program

 

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