Month: February 2024

Solar Eclipse 2024

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Have you heard the news? On Monday, April 8, 2024 a solar eclipse will occur over North America with portions of Mexico, the United States, and Canada in the path of totality. What is the path of totality? That means the moon will completely cover the sun, temporarily blocking its light. This can lead to a drop in temperature, animals behaving like it’s nighttime and stars and planets might be clearly visible. Imagine how scared the first people to view a total eclipse must have been!

Roughly 35 Ohio counties will experience complete totality while all other counties will experience a partial eclipse. Introduce your Cloverbuds to the eclipse by using the lesson, Small Moon, Big Sun 1 This is a stand-alone lesson focusing on the concept of the eclipse and a discussion about the solar system. Concerned because you are not a scientist? No problem! The lesson includes the background information to help you explain the event to your Cloverbuds in language they can understand.

Begin your Cloverbud meeting with a discussion about what an eclipse is and learn about the parts of the solar system. There is a cool experiment to help your Cloverbuds understand how the moon, which is much smaller than the sun, blocks the sun during an eclipse. If you have available internet connectivity, you can share the video about gravity which explains why the moon doesn’t fall from the sky. End your meeting with a discussion about what your Cloverbuds think it would be like to live on another planet.

In addition to this lesson, there are some children’s books that can be used to reinforce the key concepts: The Sun is Kind of A Big Deal by Nick Seluk, Eclipse by Andy Rash. and Eclipse by Darcy Patterson. Look for a related Cloverbud Reading Adventure coming soon!

If your 4-H families are planning to view the eclipse, follow these Tips for Sun Safety.

For more information or for other eclipse activities, visit ohio4h.org/solareclipse.

ALL SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING RISKS BORNE BY THE VIEWER. Any and all risks associated by viewing the solar eclipse on any property operated by, or with glasses distributed by the Ohio State University, are borne and accepted solely by the individual taking such action. Instructions on how to use the glasses are printed on the inside of the glasses. Please read them carefully and follow the instructions exactly as written. You hereby release The Ohio State University, its Trustees, boards, officers, employees and representatives from any liability, for any and all claims and causes of action for loss of or damage to property and for any and all illness or injury to your person that may result from or occur during your participation in the activity, whether caused by negligence of The Ohio State University, its Trustees, boards, officers, employees, or representatives, or otherwise. See instructions on glasses before use.

Heart—The Second H

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Did you know? The month of February is American Heart Month. Along with the important job of pumping blood throughout our body, our heart is often associated with feelings and emotions. February is a great time to think about the second “H” in the 4-H Pledge and explore heart-themed activities with your Cloverbuds.

Science with Valentine Candy Hearts

Supplies

  • Three Plastic Cups
  • Conversation Candy Hearts
  • Marker
  • Water
  • Soda (clear soft drink or club soda)
  • Vinegar

What to Do

  1. Fill each cup with one of the following: water, soda, and vinegar.
  2. Label each cup so Cloverbuds know which liquid is in each cup.

Predictions (Hypothesis)

  1. What will happen to the candy hearts when they are placed in a cup? Will they float or sink?
  2. Ask Cloverbuds to predict whether the hearts will float or sink. Record their predictions on the chart.

Experiment time

  1. Drop the same amount of candy hearts in each cup.
  2. What happens right away? What happens after 15 minutes?

Discuss

  1. Were the Cloverbuds’ predictions correct?
  2. Can the experiment be extended or lead to more questions? What happens with hot versus cold water? Oil?

Heart Hop

Supplies

  • Large, full sheet hearts
  • Markers
  • Additional items—markers or crayons

What to Do

  1. Draw a large heart on a sheet of paper.
  2. You need one heart per Cloverbud.
  3. Write a motion or activity on each heart. Examples—10 toe touches, 5 jumping jacks, 3 Frog Hops
  4. Ask Cloverbuds to color or decorate the hearts as they enter the meeting.
  5. Place the hearts on the floor in a large circle.
  6. Ask each Cloverbud to stand behind one heart.
  7. While music plays, Cloverbuds walk around the circle of hearts.
  8. When the music stops, Cloverbuds complete whatever motion or activity is listed on the heart they are standing behind.

Rolling Hearts Craft

Supplies

  • Cardstock—white and pink/red
  • Foil or plastic container large enough for the paper to lay flat
  • Marble
  • Paint—pink, red, purple

What to Do

  1. Lay the paper flat in container.
  2. Place a small dot of paint in each corner.
  3. Lay a marble in container on top of paper.
  4. Cloverbuds should slowly roll the marble into the paint by tilting the container slowly back and forth.
  5. Once the paper has paint across much of the paper, take the paper out to dry.
  6. Once the paper is dry, Cloverbuds can trace and cut out hearts from the “marbled rolled paper”.
  7. Have the Cloverbuds glue the “marble rolled hearts” onto white paper and add a valentine saying or note of appreciation for someone else.
  8. Encourage Cloverbuds to add their own valentine saying to the artwork.

End your Cloverbud meeting with a heart-healthy snack and remind your Cloverbuds that it is important to keep this valuable muscle healthy by eating nutritious foods and exercising.

For more heart-related activities, check out Chapter 12, Heart to Heart: Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Senior Living Center Residents, in the Ohio 4-H Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities. Purchase directly from Ohio State University Extension Publications or from your county Extension office, where Ohio 4-H club advisors, club members, and other Ohio residents get the best price.