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She Sells Seashells by the Seashore

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Large collection of sea shells

Summertime fun is upon us which means many families might be taking a summer vacation. The beach is a popular vacation spot. And what do people often collect from the beach? Seashells, of course! Talking with your Cloverbuds about seashells is a fun summer activity. Ask an advisor, parent, or youth member if they have seashells they have collected from a recent vacation. Set the shells on a table and take time to explore all the differences.

Explain to your Cloverbuds that seashells are uniquely different in size, shape, and color. No two are exactly alike! Ask your Cloverbuds:

  • How are the edges different? Are they smooth or rough?
  • Are the shells flat or curved?
  • Are the shells pointy or round?
  • What colors and patterns do the Cloverbuds see?

Depending on the age of your Cloverbuds, you might ask them what type of creatures live in seashells—hermit crabs, scallops, snails, clams, and so forth. If possible, show the Cloverbuds pictures of these creatures.

Now ask your Cloverbuds to use their creativity to make their own seashell. Ask them to think about the features they observed. Will their shell be wide and wavy, or small and spiky?

You will need:

  • a plain paper plate for each Cloverbud
  • scissors
  • pencils
  • crayons, markers, or colored pencils
  • glue
  • optional decorations: glitter, sequins, buttons, tissue paper, or sand
  1. To form a basic seashell shape, fold the paper plate in half like a taco shell.
  2. Use a pencil to draw the outline of a seashell such as a scallop, clam, or spiral shell.
  3. Cut out the seashell shape.
  4. Use crayons or markers to draw curved lines or ridges.
  5. Decorate the seashell. Be creative!

Another fun activity is to write questions on a beach ball with permanent marker. Ask the Cloverbuds to stand in a circle and toss the ball. When a Cloverbud catches the ball, they answer the question that is closest to the thumb on their right hand. You might include questions such as What is your favorite ocean animal? What is your favorite fruit? What is your favorite popsicle flavor? and so forth.

There are many fun beach-themed books that your Cloverbuds might enjoy. Check your library for favorites such as “Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach” by James Dean, “The Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister, “Duck & Goose Go to the Beach” by Tad Hills, or “Commotion in the Ocean” by Giles Andreae.

Have a great summer!

NOTE: This summertime topic pairs will with Chapter 19–Nature Fun or Chapter 23–Habitats are Homes found in the Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities.

Image from stock.adobe.com

 

“Bee” A Pollinator

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Spring and summer are exciting for children, and Cloverbud meetings can add to the excitement. Consider this engaging pollinator activity to help Cloverbuds learn about the process of pollination.

You will need:

  • Yellow pom-poms
  • Hot glue – use with adult supervision
  • Black pipe cleaners
  • Jumbo craft sticks
  • lid or plate to hold “pollen”
  • Cheese balls

What to do:

  1. Have the Cloverbuds line up and begin using the hot glue (with adult supervision) to attach their yellow pom-poms. Place the pom-poms close together near the tip of a craft stick. Leave room in between the pom poms to attach pipe cleaners.
  2. Take a black pipe cleaner and wrap it around the stick between the two pom-poms. Twist the second pipe cleaner around the stick to secure them in place.
  3. Shape the pipe cleaner into four bendy bee legs.
  4. Set up the pollination station by crushing cheese balls and placing in a lid or on a plate. Use an empty plate to collect the pollen. You can make the plate look like a flower to enhance excitement.
  5. Take the bee and dip their legs into the container of pollen. Once there is a good amount of pollen sticking to the legs, fly them over to the empty jar lid and drop off some pollen. Continue this step until you feel like the flower has been fully pollinated.

Talk to the Cloverbuds about the importance of pollination. Explain that pollination is a process that helps plants produce fruits such as apples, strawberries, and oranges, and it enables the formation of seeds for new flowers. Thanks to pollination, we have a wide variety of delicious foods to enjoy. Pollination is not just vital for food. It is also essential for producing everyday items like cotton for clothing and wood for furniture. Without pollinators like bees and butterflies, many plants would struggle to reproduce, leading to a shortage of food and materials. Therefore, it is crucial to protect our pollinators by ensuring they have plenty of flowers to visit and suitable habitats in which to live.

Include literacy in this activity by reading The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive.

Incorporating fun and exciting ways to teach various STEAM topics can greatly enhance your Cloverbuds’ learning experience. Hands-on activities make learning fun!

Source: blog.kaplanco.com/ii/pollination-steam-craft

Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Spring Themes

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It is wonderful to connect with you through 4-H Cloverbud Connections! With the arrival of Spring, we get to see blossoming plants, people, and places. Even though we may have some cold mornings on occasion, and even snow, Spring is here. The blossoms on our weeping cherry tree were ready to take off when I took this picture at the end of March.

Consider weaving Spring themes into your 4-H Cloverbud activities with the children. Before starting a 4-H Cloverbud group gathering or meeting, encourage the children to share what Spring means to them. Ask them to describe what they see, feel, hear, smell, and taste that signals the season of Spring. This simple activity helps children build life skills such as self-confidence, getting along with others, and decision-making through Spring theme activities.

Here are a few thought-provoking questions for 4-H Cloverbud children related to the Spring theme:

  1. How many colors are in a rainbow (7, ROYGBIV – red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, and violet)?
  2. How long does Spring last (about 92 days from around March 20 to June 20)?
  3. What food products are made from tomatoes (ketchup, spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, pizza sauce, and others)?
  4. Do you say potato or pot(ah)to, tomato or tom(ah)to (just for fun 😊)?

Alright, let the fun begin! Thank you for all your efforts as a 4-H Cloverbud volunteers to enrich the lives of children throughout Ohio!

Ohio 4-H Project Bingo

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2025 Ohio 4-H Project Bingo Bingo is a fantastic learning tool for Cloverbud members because it makes word recognition, vocabulary building, and phrase comprehension engaging and interactive. Instead of traditional memorization, children actively listen for words, terms, or phrases and connect them to what is on their bingo cards. This helps reinforce spelling, pronunciation, and word association in a fun way. By repeatedly seeing and hearing the words, Cloverbuds develop stronger reading skills and improve their ability to recognize common sight words, new vocabulary, or subject-specific terms like science or math concepts.

The bingo used in this activity focuses on Ohio 4-H projects and helps to introduce Cloverbuds to the next phase of their 4-H membership. Learning about the wide variety of 4-H projects helps Cloverbuds discover new interests and make informed choices when the time comes to select projects. Knowing the range of projects available can help members stay engaged in 4-H by finding new challenges and opportunities each year.

Bingo Game Instructions ​

  • ​Print Your Bingo Cards & Caller’s Card​ – This lesson includes 30 different bingo cards. You can print all the cards or just what you need for your group. ​
  • ​Optional Sight Caller Cards​ – Depending upon the age of your Cloverbuds, they might need help reading and identifying the project Bingo words. This lesson includes an optional set of words you can print and cut apart for the game. This makes it easier to hold up the word in front of the group and help the Cloverbuds find and identify the word on their bingo card. ​

Materials Needed

  • Bingo cards. One card for each Cloverbud
  • Chips, coins, dried beans, or something to mark spaces (or use pencils to cross them off).​
  • Calling cards or optional sight caller cards. The leader will say a flight word from the calling card or draw a sight word from deck of words. Players will match and find the flight word on their bingo card.​

Game Tips

  • Talk about each of the 4-H project words and explain more about what might be involved with the project.​
  • Keep it simple and start with a bingo as across, down, diagonal, or cover all.​
  • Encourage cheering as Cloverbuds find the projects!

Source: This game of Ohio 4-H Project Bingo was created at myfreebingocards.com

Image from stock.adobe.com

Reading is FUNdamental

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five children reading books while lying on the grassWhy is reading important to our youngest 4-H members?  Being able to read and comprehend is the cornerstone of any child’s education.  Reading introduces educational foundation skills, increases vocabulary, and instills a love of books and reading in children at a young age.  Children who read are better able to make the connection between written and spoken words, not to mention the fact that reading is fun!

Reading just one book per day to a child from birth to kindergarten will result in them hearing almost 300,000 words by the time they start school.  Children will also bond with that caring adult who takes the time to read out loud.

The cool thing about books is that they can be used to begin conversations with children about sometimes difficult or challenging subjects.  Reading provides an opportunity for children to safely explore strong emotions.

Cloverbud volunteers can reinforce the love of reading by incorporating a Reading Adventure (or two!) into their annual Cloverbud activities.  Reading Adventures take popular children’s books and pair them with ideas for healthy snacks, games, and activities.  Reading Adventures are designed to be stand-alone lessons that can enhance your already dynamic Cloverbud program; or, they can be used with different chapters found in the Big Book of Cloverbud Activities.  Each Reading Adventure identifies which chapter of the Big Book can be used with that particular adventure.

Most books featured in the adventures are popular books which you may already have on your bookshelf.  If not, these titles should be readily available from your public library or from an online library source.

Check out Reading Adventures.  Check back often as new titles are added as they become available.  Have an idea for a book that would make a great Reading Adventure?  Send your book recommendation to williams.418@osu.edu.

Reading a book can take us places when we need to stay where we are.  And, a child who reads will be an adult who thinks.

Photo from stock.adobe.com by Adobe Stock.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, Oh My!

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The thought of teaching STEM sometimes strikes fear into the hearts of those working with 4-H Cloverbuds. Can Cloverbuds do STEM? Am I able to teach STEM? The answer to both of these questions is a giant YES! Providing STEM as part of your Cloverbud meeting is an excellent way to engage our youngest 4-H members in activities that:

  • facilitate language development
  • encourage independent and collaborative learning
  • allow the development of communication and problem-solving skills
  • are a predictor of future success

WHY SHOULD WE BE TEACHING STEM TO 4-H CLOVERBUDS?

There is a lot of research that supports providing STEM education to young children. A project conducted by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and New America and supported by the National Science Foundation wanted to better understand the challenges to and opportunities in STEM learning, make recommendations to help stimulate research and policy agendas and encourage collaboration. They interviewed prominent early childhood STEM researchers, policy makers and educators and conducted focus groups with teachers, childcare and preschool educators and early elementary teachers. In their report, the researchers suggested that community organizations like 4-H should provide early STEM education. The report also says that children should be engaged with learning environments. That means hands on education which is what 4-H is all about.

In 2014, the National Science Teachers Association voted to adopt a position statement on science in early learning. These key principles help guide the learning of science with young children. Included in these principles are several statements that align well with our 4-H program. One principle says adults play an important role in helping young children learn science. We know this is true in 4-H as we see adult volunteers teaching youth in clubs. Other principles talk about how young people develop science skills in informal settings and through a variety of opportunities which we offer in 4-H. The National Teachers Association also points to experiential learning as being key for young children to develop science skills and this is at the heart of what we do in our 4-H projects.

Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud ActivitiesHOW CAN WE TEACH STEM WITH 4-H CLOVERBUDS?

The big question volunteers and 4-H families might have is HOW? How can we teach STEM topics to our 4-H Cloverbuds? The simple answer is by using the resources Ohio 4-H provides for you. The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities has an entire section devoted to Science and Technology activities. My daughter is an elementary teacher and used the Weather Safety Game in her classroom and said the students really enjoyed it. On these cold winter days, you can make a thermometer with the Make Your Own Thermometer activity. One of the best parts of this resources is the patterns you need for activities such as the thermometer are in the book ready to be copied. Balloon Rockets are an activity I remember from when I was younger, and that activity is also included in the Big Book.

Another section in the Big Book focuses on Environmental and Earth Science. When I was younger, we did leaf rubbings. I am surprised by how many children today have not done that activity. Leaf Rubbings is an activity in the Big Book. Literacy is important with young children. The Sounds of a Nature Hike in this section complements the book The Listening Walk by Paul Showers. Dinosaurs seem to fascinate young children. You can capture your Cloverbuds interest with the activity What to Feed a Dinosaur.

Ohio also provides other STEM related Cloverbud resources. You will find links to resources along the left side of this page. The Cloverbud Meeting Menu provides enough activities for a year of Cloverbud meetings. The theme in 2025 will be flight, so the menu will include STEM topics. Click and Do Activities are easy to do activities around a variety of topics including STEM. You will find some great Reading Adventures that pair a book with related activities. Past issues of the Cloverbud Connection are also a great place to find STEM activities to share with your Cloverbuds. Participating in the Cloverbud Engineering Adventure is another easy way to include STEM as part of your Cloverbud meetings. With the resources we provide, we also try to give users enough background information to be able to teach the activity.

 

When I teach STEM one of the things I often find myself sharing is that STEM is not about being perfect. Often activities and experiments we do have expected outcomes but there are many variables that can affect those results. When flying drones, if the wind is too strong then the drones we have do not fly well. When making elephant toothpaste, the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide makes a difference. There are lots of other examples. Sometimes the learning is in the unexpected result. The question of why this did not turn out like we thought it would, can lead to a good discussion. So even though you may not be a scientist, you do not have to be afraid to try an activity and learn together with your Cloverbuds.

Even if teaching STEM to your Cloverbuds makes you a little nervous, the value to them is great. With the resources available to you, you can be successful and confident. The Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Design Team is always happy to help if you have questions.

 

 

Elephant toothpaste photo from stock.adobe.com

Tis the Season of Giving

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December is the season of giving. There are many community service activities your Cloverbuds can do to help them understand what it means when you say that it is better to give than receive. With parent/guardian permission, do one or two of the following:
box of canned goods for food drive

  • Collect nonperishable items for the local food pantry
  • Sponsor a family in need by providing food and gifts
  • Visit local nursing home or assisted living facilities and play bingo or do crafts with the residents
  • Draw pictures and/or write thank you cards and send them to veterans thanking them for their service
  • Volunteer at the animal shelter or collect food and toys for the animals in the shelter

Of course, all of the above activities can be done anytime during the year, not just in the month of December. Residents in local nursing homes or assisted living facilities enjoy company anytime throughout the year. Be sure to check with the facility before you visit to find out what their rules are regarding visitors.

How do you decide which community service activity your Cloverbuds will enjoy? Give them two or three to choose from and let them vote. Depending on the age of your group, you may need to explain in detail what each activity is. Your project is more likely to succeed if the children have a voice in selecting the activity.

Whatever you choose to do, talk to your Cloverbuds about the importance of helping others. After the activity take time to talk about what they learned, how they felt, and why they think it is important to help others.

As Aesop once said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

 

image from stock.adobe.com

 

Surviving the “Fall Back” Time Change

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Just like that, the end of daylight saving time is upon us again…

Some look at it as an extra hour to sleep, but when those clocks turn back, many are up even earlier thanks to daylight saving time wreaking havoc on sleep schedules.

Children are naturally early risers, so until a child has adjusted to a new schedule, this time change means that they may wake up an hour earlier than normal each morning, a nightmare for some parents, but perhaps a blessing for others whose children sleep too long and struggle to get up for school.

While we have months of darker, longer nights ahead of us, the end of daylight saving time does not mean the end of fun for children. Sure, by the time children get home from school, have a snack, and finish their homework, it is already dark outside, but this is where a little planning and creativity can turn the time change slump into exciting opportunities for indoor and outdoor activity.

Want to get your Cloverbuds outside? Try these low-to-no cost games to get everyone outside and moving.

Firefly

All it takes to play this game is a pocket flashlight that can easily be switched on and off. PRO TIP: It is best to use a small, pocket flashlight with a light beam that is not too bright or easy to spot. You will select one person to be “it” and have them run and hide in the dark. This person is the “firefly” and can move from hiding place to hiding place flashing their light every minute or so. The other players race around to find the firefly. When they catch them, the game is over. The first person to spot the firefly is “it” for the next round.

Do you prefer to have indoor options because of the dark or less than ideal weather? Fear not, get those creative juices flowing and get started. Let’s bring the glow indoors.

Glow-In-The-Dark Dough

Supplies needed

  • 3 cups flour
  • ¾ salt
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 3 cups boiling water
  • fluorescent/neon paint
  • glitter (optional)
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine  flour,  salt,  vegetable oil, and cream of tartar.
  2. Gradually add in  water and stir until the dough is sticky.
  3. Once cooled, divide the dough into multiple portions adding 1 tablespoon of paint (and glitter, if desired) to each portion.
  4. You may add more flour and/or paint and knead the dough until it is no longer sticky.
  5. To make the dough glow, let it sit in direct sunlight or artificial light for a few hours.

Looking for other options? Here are a few more suggestions for those indoor activities…

  • Put on a Play
  • Have a Paper Airplane Competition
  • Bake and Decorate Cupcakes
  • Break out the Board Games

In the event the time change has gotten the best of you or your Cloverbuds, remember that longer days are ahead as time will spring forward on March 9, 2025!

 

Image from stock.adobe.com

What to Do When You AAAAAAACCCHHOOOOOO!

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It is that time of year again! Youth are back in school, cold and flu season is upon us, and once cold weather arrives, we might be spending more time indoors. All these factors mean an increase in the risk of illness. But do not worry. There are a few simple things you can do to stay healthy this fall and winter. After all, the fourth H is Health!

AAAAAAACCCHHOOOOOO! What should you do when you sneeze? Trap it! Sneeze into a tissue (then throw the tissue away) or sneeze into your sleeve at the shoulder or elbow. Even sneezing into your hands is a better choice than letting it fly! If you sneeze or cough into your hands, be sure to wash your hands afterwards.

If you sneeze without trapping it, your sneeze can travel up to 25 feet in 10 seconds! An effective way to demonstrate this concept is to take a 25 feet long piece of string or yarn, ask a Cloverbud to hold one end and pretend to sneeze while you unravel the string or yarn and see how much of the room it covers.

Another important way to stay healthy is by properly washing your hands. Teaching your Cloverbuds the importance of correct hand washing can easily be done with some washable paint, soap, and water.

Supplies

  • washable paint
  • soap
  • sink for hand washing
  • paper towels

What to Do

  1. Place a large drop of washable paint on one hand of each Cloverbud. Ask them to rub it on their hands as if they were using hand lotion. Be sure the paint goes onto the backs of their hands, between their fingers, and around their fingernails. Let the paint dry for 2–3 minutes.
  2. Ask the Cloverbuds to go to the sink and place their hands briefly under the water. Talk with them about how much paint is removed. Ask if this is how they usually wash their hands.
  3. Next, ask Cloverbuds to put their hands under the running water and rub their hands together. Ask them questions such as, did more paint come off or why did more paint come off?
  4. Add soap and see what happens. Ask each Cloverbud to add soap to their hands and wash their hands while counting to five. Discuss questions such as does more paint come off, why do you think more paint came off, did the paint come off some people’s hands more than other, or why do you think that happened?
  5. Lastly, teach Cloverbuds how to wash their hands the correct way. To wash their hands correctly they should use soap and water and scrub their hands for 20 seconds. To know how long 20 seconds is, sing the alphabet song, happy birthday or even Row Your Boat two times. While singing, Cloverbuds should rub their hands together to create a lather and spread the soap all over the fronts and backs of their hands, between their fingers and around their fingernails. You might want to demonstrate how to properly scrub as you explain. When they are done washing, they should rinse all the soap off and dry their hands. Ask the Cloverbuds to wash their hands this way and see what happens to the paint. Pick a song and start scrubbing. Ask questions such as, is all the paint gone or why do you think more paint came off this way?

Explain to Cloverbuds when they rub their hands together lather is created. The germs and dirt are trapped in the soap and gets rinsed away.  Now dry their hands with a towel or air dryer. Tell them another fantastic way to dry their hands is to shake them in the air. Tell them to not wipe clean hands on their clothes to dry them.

Properly washing your hands is the best way to kill the germs that can make you sick. If you do an excellent job of washing your hands, you will stay healthier and so will your family.

A few tips to remember:

  • 20 seconds is how long you need to scrub your hands with soap.
  • Do not play in the bubbles in the sink. That is where the dirt and germs are.
  • Dry your hands properly, not by wiping them on your clothes.
  • Always wash your hands before you eat.

So, the next time you AAAAAAACCCHHOOOOOO, do not worry, you know what to do!

Resources:

 sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/hand-washing

 cdc.gov/handwashing/pdf/wash-your-hands-poster-english2020-p.pdf

 You can check online to find videos that demonstrate the paint experiment and proper wash washing.

Images from stockadobe.com

A Sweet Way to Celebrate 4-H Youth and Their Success

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4-H volunteers are known for their creativity and dedication to encourage the growth of young people. As the 4-H year comes to a close, volunteers often look for unique and engaging ways to recognize the hard work and achievements of their members. One tasty and imaginative approach involves using popular candy bars and candies to celebrate member accomplishments. By associating specific candies with individual strengths, successes, and characteristics, these events create a fun and memorable recognition program that resonates with both youth and their families. This recognition program can be used with Cloverbuds and older 4-H members.

Here are some examples of how 4-H volunteers can compare youth achievements to different types of candy during a year-end recognition event. (Be sure to be aware of any food allergies or existing health conditions before presenting candy to club members.)

  • Milky Way Award: Shoot for the Stars
    This award is perfect for youth who have set ambitious goals and worked hard to achieve them. Just like the vastness of the Milky Way galaxy, these young achievers have reached for the stars, aiming high and hitting their mark in their 4-H achievements. These members have pushed their limits and soared to new heights.
  • PayDay Award: Hard Work Pays Off
    Recognizing youth who may not always be in the spotlight but work tirelessly behind the scenes, the PayDay Award symbolizes that their hard work has truly paid off. Just as PayDay candy bars are packed with peanuts—simple, but satisfying—these members have shown dedication, perseverance, and the understanding that effort yields rewards.
  • Starburst Award: Bright and Full of Energy
    This award goes to youth who light up the room and radiate positivity and enthusiasm in everything they do. Like the bright and bold flavors of Starburst candy, these members bring energy and joy to every event or activity. They are often the ones cheering on their peers, volunteering, or coming up with creative ideas to make the 4-H experience even better.
  • M&M Award: Team Player
    M&M stands for “Magnificent & Motivated,” and this award goes to members who are always willing to collaborate and support others. Just as M&M candies come in a variety of colors, these youth show diversity in their skills and work well with people of different backgrounds and interests and demonstrate the importance of teamwork and cooperation.
  • KitKat Award: Taking Breaks and Bouncing Back
    This award acknowledges youth who have faced challenges throughout the year but have learned the value of perseverance and taking time for self-care. Much like a KitKat bar encourages us to take a break, these youth have shown resilience. They may have stumbled along the way, but they always returned with renewed determination and a fresh perspective.
  • Hershey’s Hugs Award: Compassionate Leader
    This award is given to those youth who have gone above and beyond to show kindness, support, and encouragement to their fellow 4-H members. Just as Hershey’s Hugs are wrapped in sweetness, these members have embraced their peers with kindness, often stepping up as leaders who create a positive, welcoming environment for everyone.
  • Skittles Award: Bringing Color to the Group
    This award celebrates youth who bring creativity and individuality to the 4-H program. Just like the vibrant and diverse colors of Skittles, these young people have unique talents, ideas, and perspectives that make the group more dynamic and fun.
  • 3 Musketeers Award: Unwavering Support
    Named after the motto “all for one and one for all,” the 3 Musketeers Award is given to youth who have been reliable, dependable, and always willing to lend a hand. Like the classic candy bar, these members have a soft, supportive core and are there for their fellow 4-H members when they need help, encouragement, or a friend to lean on.

By using candy bars and candies to represent youth achievements, 4-H volunteers create a sweet, fun, and personalized way to recognize the efforts and successes of their members. These awards not only celebrate individual accomplishments but also highlight the qualities that make each member unique and valuable to their 4-H club. From teamwork to leadership, creativity to perseverance, these awards provide a lighthearted yet meaningful way to wrap up a year of growth, learning, and 4-H friendship.

Depending on the size of your club, maybe you want to group members together and present awards or you could have a special award for each member. What additional candies could you relate to your members? Hopefully these examples will get your tastebuds and creativity flowing!

 

The use of candy brands in this article is solely for the purpose of creative recognition and celebration of youth achievements. No affiliation with or endorsement by the manufacturers of these products is implied or intended.

Images from stock.adobe.com