Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities

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

From Polliwog to Grown Up Frog

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Frogs are fascinating creatures! Here are some fun facts and activities about frogs for your Cloverbuds. There are many interesting facts about frogs, many books to read (both fiction and nonfiction), crafts to do, snacks to make and even songs to sing! Want to learn more about frogs? Let’s hop to it!

Have you ever seen what looked like little jelly eyeballs floating in the water? What could these be? They may have been frog eggs. Frogs lay their eggs in water and the eggs hatch into polliwogs, also known as tadpoles. Polliwogs live completely in the water, they have no legs yet for jumping, just a tail for swimming! As a polliwog grows, it develops legs and becomes a full-grown frog. Once it is a grown-up frog, it can live on the land.

Ribbit, ribbit, how far can you jump?!   (let’s see how far you can jump like a frog!)

Frogs are amphibians. They can live both in the water and on land. Frogs can be very small or very large. Some frogs can weigh up to 7 pounds while others are so small, they can sit on a dime. Frogs live everywhere in the world but Antarctica, and have been around as long as the dinosaurs! Where can you find frogs near you? (Ask Cloverbuds to share their ideas.) *Note: if you have a nearby location with a frog population, you might want to take your Cloverbuds on a frog adventure!

All frogs are green, right? Not true! Frogs can be yellow, red, orange, blue and even purple! What color of frog would you like to be? Check out this frog coloring page for your Cloverbuds to color as they wish. (You might show some pictures of colorful frogs).

There are many frog crafts available that are suited for the Cloverbud age level. Here is one that you can use or feel free to search for other options that your group might enjoy.

Supplies you will need for this craft:

  • Paper plates
  • Frog feet cut from green construction paper (4 per child)
  • Markers/color pencils/crayons
  • Party horns
  • Jiggly eyes
  • Glue
  • Scissors (adults may want to cut the hole so that it is the proper size.)

What to do:

Give each Cloverbud a paper plate. They will fold the plate in half. Have the Cloverbuds decorate the outside of the plate to look like a frog. Cut a hole in the center of each plate at the fold. The hole should be big enough to slide the party horn in snugly. Glue the jiggly eyes on the top side of the plate. Glue the feet on the bottom side of the plate. Insert the horn into the hole in the plate. Complete–a frog ready to catch some flies!

Would your Cloverbuds like a frog snack that will make them smile? Try the Apples Smiles recipe found in Fall Festival: A Harvest of Fun section of the Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities. To make the smiles look like frogs, substitute a slice of strawberry (replacing the marshmallows) to look like a frog’s tongue. To take an extra leap, place a gummy worm so it appears to be hanging out of the frog’s mouth. Enjoy!

Your Cloverbuds might enjoy these books about frogs—How Does A Tadpole Grow? and I Don’t Want to be a Frog. 

Camp songs are always fun! Try this funny song about frogs.

LITTLE GREEN FROG

Um Ah, went the little green frog one day
Um Ah, went the little green frog
Um Ah, went the little green frog
and his eyes went Um Ah, Um Ah, Um Ah Ah
Beep, beep, went the big Mack truck one day
Squish Squash, went the little green frog
and his eyes diddn’t go Um Ah, anymore
’cause they both got eaten by a dog Woof Woof!

Gestures:
Um-Hands in and closed
Ah-Hands out and open
Beep-Pulling Mack truck horn motion
Squish-press hands together like your squishing something
Squash-Same as above

“Toad-ally” funny jokes to share with your Cloverbuds! 

What kind of music do frogs like best? (Hip hop)
Why are frogs such good basketball players? (They always make their jump shots)
Where do frogs go for breakfast? (IHOP)
What do frogs play during recess? (Hop-scotch)
What do frogs eat in the summer? (Hopsicles)

We hope that your Cloverbuds enjoy learning about frogs. A good way to end this meeting may be to ask your Cloverbuds what other animals they would like to learn about.

Sources:
annex.exploratorium.edu/frogs/mainstory/index.html
unsplash.com/s/photos/frog

 

Reviewing Your 4-H Cloverbud Programming

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Portrait Of Excited Elementary School Pupils On Playing Field At Break Time

As 4-H Cloverbud volunteers and educators, we are always focused on planning for the next big event. Many times, we don’t take time to review our programs. The Ohio 4-H Clovebud program several resources that help with program delivery, curriculum, goals, and tools to help with evaluation. As your 4-H season comes to an end for the year, build in time to take a closer look at your Cloverbud program. Spend time with other club volunteers discussing their activities and events. Sometimes we get so busy throughout the season, we plan activities for the “wow” factor instead of selecting the best hands-on educational activities for our Cloverbud members. Not that we can’t bring in fun age-appropriate activities, but we need to provide and teach the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud program curriculum to our Cloverbud 4-H members.

So where do you start? As you reflect on your 4-H club season, think about each one of your meetings and activities. The Cloverbud program should explore areas of healthy lifestyle, earth/environment, citizenship, plants and animals, consumerism and family science, science and technology, personal development, and community expressive arts. The primary goal of the Cloverbud program is to promote children’s healthy development—mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. The program should be fun and positive, leader-directed, activity-based, noncompetitive, success-oriented, and group-centered for youth aged 5 and in kindergarten until they reach age 8 and in the third grade. Did the programs that you provided follow the goals of the Ohio 4-H program and did your programming create an environment for Cloverbud members to develop self-understanding (self-esteem), social interaction skills (getting along with others), decision-making skills, learning skills (learning how to learn), and mastering physical skills?

Here are a few Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Guidelines to help make sure you are on track. One of the best ways to start evaluating the program is asking yourself, where did you get your club resources? Often volunteers search online for activities instead of using Ohio 4-H resources. The Ohio 4-H program has done the hard part for you. Visit ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources for information on the 4-H Cloverbud Volunteer Guidebook, The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities, My 4-H Cloverbud Year, activities, kits, and extra materials used to support Cloverbud programming. Check with your county Ohio State University Extension Office to see if there are free resources, books, or kits for Cloverbud volunteers. 4-H Volunteers must use the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud curriculum when working with Cloverbud members. To use any lesson other than the Cloverbud curriculum, you must submit a written lesson plan for approval to your county 4-H professional.

Did you have a minimum of two youth ages 5-8 and one officially trained Cloverbud volunteer? This can be tricky especially with 4-H clubs with only a few Cloverbud age members. Sometimes it’s hard to have at least two Cloverbuds, so effective communication and planning can help get full participation. There must be a ratio of at least one 4-H volunteer for each six Cloverbud youth.

How often did you meet? Cloverbuds meet a minimum of six times throughout the operating year. The operating year will begin October 1 and end September 31. Offering more than six meetings will help your busy members meet the state requirement.

A great resource is the 4-H Cloverbud Program Foundations available online, ohio4h.org/sites/ohio4h/files/imce/Families/4H%20Cloverbud%20Program%20Foundations%202.20.15.pdf. This tool explains the 10 foundations of the Cloverbud program. Another awesome resource is the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Program table shown below. This reference will help you be sure each one of your activities is best matched for Cloverbud-age members. This helps separate project members versus Cloverbud members, as well as explain criteria for fair, camp, and animal activities.

 

Utilizing these helpful guidelines and tools when reviewing your 4-H Cloverbud programming will help ensure that your members are receiving curriculum designed just for them. The Ohio 4-H program has developed curriculum, tools, and resources to help you enjoy your role as an Ohio 4-H Coverbud volunteer. For more information contact your county Ohio State University Extension Office or visit ohio4h.org/cloverbudresources.

Getting Outside with Cloverbuds

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It’s beginning to feel like spring and summer and it is a great time to be outside.  Being active outside with Cloverbuds is so fun and so very important.  Being outside improves children’s academic performance and helps build critical thinking skills.  They learn about the world around them.  Relaxing in the great outdoors reduces stress, as it does for many adults, too.  Children learn to appreciate the world around them and begin to understand their role within it.

How can you incorporate the great outdoors into your Cloverbud meetings? Could you move your 4-H meeting outside?  Could you incorporate a hike? Could your club recreation activity be outside?

In the Big Book of Cloverbud Activities, there are many outdoor activities to try with your Cloverbud members.  For instance, Chapter 23 is all about habitats as homes for animals. Youth will learn what a habitat is and can even make their own.  Check it out!

Some other ideas to do with children as the weather is warming up:

  • Plant a garden- let the children pick what to plant
  • Go on an insect hunt
  • Blow a dandelion
  • Make hopscotch and play with your child
  • Play with sidewalk chalk
  • Go on a bike ride
  • Take the dog on a walk
  • Make pictures of the clouds in the sky
  • Fly a kite
  • Go fishing
  • Blow bubbles
  • Go on a theme hike (ex. Find things that are purple, ABC hike, shape hike, etc.)
  • Read a book outside
  • Have a yummy picnic
  • Creeking
  • Search local park system and find programs

Encourage youth to find their spark outside this spring and summer.

 

Source: The Nature Conservancy

 

Including Cloverbuds in 4-H Club Activities

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In early 2021, Jamie McConnell (Muskingum County) and Audrey Dimmerling (Columbiana County) published the Ohio 4-H Grab & Go Club Meeting Toolkit. The toolkit provides 4-H volunteers and teen leaders with seven (7) club meeting agendas to help plan for the 4-H year.

Each agenda highlights strategies for including Cloverbuds in developmentally appropriate, non-competitive club activities. Including Cloverbuds fosters their sense of belonging and helps them understand the benefits of being a 4-H member. Older members of your club will enjoy the opportunity to act as a mentor.

Family Meeting/Club Kick-Off

  • Cloverbud families should participate in the family meeting to learn about 4-H and understand expectations. All members benefit from building relationships and older members often enjoy mentoring opportunities.
  • Encourage Cloverbud participation in non-competitive club activities, including reciting pledges together, ordering club t-shirts, working toward club goals, etc.

Icebreakers/Team Building

  •  Cloverbuds can be a part of club icebreakers and team building when appropriate. They can also participate in separate activities to build self-esteem and foster social interaction. Ohio 4-H Clover Cubes is a fun resource to use.

Election of Officers

  • Cloverbuds won’t vote in your election, but they can observe the proceedings or you can teach a lesson from the Citizenship & Civic Education section of The Big Book of Cloverbud Activities.

Public Speaking Activities

  • Cloverbud members can observe 4-H member presentations.
  • Cloverbuds can give individual or group presentations on a topic of choice, about meeting activities, or by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance or 4-H Pledge.
  • Utilize Ohio 4-H’s Cloverbud Choose & Tell Cards for topic ideas.

Educational Programs

  • Allow Cloverbud members to participate in tours and watch guest speakers. Be aware of how program content or safety measures might need to change as a result.
  • Cloverbuds can participate in Show & Tell interviews with volunteers and older club members. All youth will benefit from helping Cloverbuds develop interview skills.
  • Cloverbuds can help with club community service projects.

Fundraisers

  • Cloverbuds can help with age- appropriate, well-supervised fundraisers if they do not compete for rewards. When they participate, proceeds should also benefit Cloverbud members and activities.
  • Utilize the Click It, Print It, Do It Activity Giving, Spending, Saving to teach money management skills.

End of Year Review

  • Recognize Cloverbud participation and member years complete.
  • Hold a graduation ceremony for last year Cloverbuds who will be project members next year.
  • Encourage Cloverbuds to share their favorite activities from the year.

 

Giving Care and Kindness

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Anytime is a good time to give care and kindness to others. February is especially a great time to do that with Valentine’s Day on the 14th. When we show care and kindness toward others, we are giving the gift of compassion. In The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities, there is a curriculum piece titled “Heart to Heart: Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Senior Living Center Residents” (p. 148). There are some easy and fun activities you can engage with your Cloverbud members such “Making Valentine Favors,” and singing the song “I’m a Little Valentine” (using “I’m a Little Teapot” tune). All of these activities can be done with residents at nursing homes, senior centers or at adult day centers.

Through these activities, Cloverbud members can practice care and kindness toward others and become self-aware how good this feels. The kids learn skills of generosity and compassion and are examples to their friends and others. This quote from the Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu sums this up well: “Compassion seems to be contagious. When we see others being compassionate, we are more likely to be compassionate. There is a ripple effect of helping others.”

To use The Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities, check with your Extension Office to obtain a copy or you can order directly from OSU Extension Publications.  Ohio residents receive the best price when they order from their Extension Office.

Thanks for the important work you do as a 4-H Cloverbud volunteer and advisor. You serve as a caring adult role model that impacts the healthy development of children in so many ways.

Happy New Year!

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2022 is winding down and we are on the threshold of 2023 – a brand new year!  Time to begin outlining your plans for your Cloverbud program in 2023.

As you begin to outline your goals for your Cloverbud program, think about your Cloverbud members.  What topics spark their imagination?  What gets them excited about learning?  When planning your meeting topics, consider giving your Cloverbuds a short list of possibilities and ask them to vote on which topic they choose.  This introduces them to the democracy process – learning to vote with the understanding that the topic with the most votes will be the lesson.  Be sure that the list of topics you give your Cloverbuds to select from are topics that you are comfortable leading.  Select your topics from the Big Book of Cloverbud Activities.  Check with your Extension Office to obtain a copy or you can order directly from OSU Extension Publications.  Ohio residents receive the best price when they order from their Extension Office.

Once you have identified your topic, begin planning your meeting.  If you are not sure how to plan your meeting, try using this Cloverbud Meeting Planning Template.  Remember to keep your activities short to allow for the attention span of your club members.  The activities in the Big Book are designed with the ages and stages of Cloverbud members in mind.  Activities are short, leader-directed, and move fluidly through the subject matter.  You will not be able to complete all activities included with each lesson.  Choose the activities which will inspire your Cloverbuds.

Are you using “My 4-H Cloverbud Year”?  This is a great tool to introduce your Cloverbuds to the concept of completing a book.  While “My 4-H Cloverbud Year” is not a project book (like our older 4-H members complete), it is an activity book which has information that your Cloverbuds can complete at each meeting – what they did at the meeting; what they learned.  It also has general sections to complete about your 4-H Club, the pledge, and more!  Check with your Extension Office or you can order directly from OSU Extension Publications.  Ohio residents receive the best price when they order from their Extension Office.

Now that you have your topic, gather your supplies.  What supplies do you have on hand?  What supplies do you need to purchase?  What supplies can you ask your Cloverbud members to bring to the meeting?  Check with your 4-H club’s organizational volunteer to see if there is money available in the club budget to purchase supplies for Cloverbud activities.  Each club handles this differently so be sure to check before you purchase needed supplies.

Have fun at your meeting!  Let the Cloverbuds explore the topic and be sure to take advantage of teachable moments.  Things may not always go as planned and that’s okay!  Cloverbuds love to learn and will ask all sorts of questions; some of which may not be related to the topic at hand.  Be sure to gently redirect questions you may not be ready to answer!

If you aren’t sure how or where to begin planning your Cloverbud meetings, check with your county 4-H Educator.  They are ready and willing to help you plan and conduct a successful year for your Cloverbuds.  Be sure to check out other resources you will find on this blog, such as Cloverbud Reading Adventures and Click It! Print It! Do It!.

Best wishes for a successful Cloverbud year in 2023!

Cloverbuds and Social Emotional Learning: Now and for the Future

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Youth’s social and emotional learning (SEL) skills are receiving increased attention, especially because of concerns about a loss of socialization opportunities during the coronavirus pandemic and overarching concerns about youth mental health. Social skills cannot be learned by reading about them in a book – they must be learned by doing, in situations where you interact with others, which makes Cloverbud meetings and activities an ideal learning environment.

There is no doubt that these skills are important for Cloverbud-age youth. How youth thrive may depend on whether they possess a variety of SEL skills. Being able to concentrate on SEL skills assumes a foundation having basic and safety needs met.

Social emotional learning, as conceptualized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, consists of five overarching competencies (see the CASEL Wheel). The Ohio Department of Education also uses the CASEL SEL competencies. These five SEL competencies represent very broad areas.

  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Management
  • Social Awareness
  • Relationship Skills
  • Responsible Decision Making

In addition to being important for Cloverbuds now, research indicates that SEL competencies have become increasingly important during the transition from middle childhood to early adolescence because they have been consistently linked to two primary developmental tasks of adolescence—academic achievement and social competence. In the most recent study, researchers studied five more specific indicators of social emotional development. The descriptions of these five skills are below.

  • Prosocial Behaviors: being able to take another person’s perspective, offer support, and help when others are in distress.
  • Cooperation: the ability to work well with peers, teachers, and other adults for a common benefit or goal.
  • Self-Control: being able to control and regulate attention and impulsive behavior in order to pursue and achieve long-term goals.
  • Emotion Regulation: identifying and managing emotions.
  • Work Habits: the ability to work hard and independently, to turn in work on time, to follow group rules, and to put forward one’s best effort to achieve goals.

This study found that there were distinct profiles of children’s SEL skills during middle childhood (measured in Grade 4). The researchers found that about half of the children displayed consistently high scores across all five SEL skills, while others were strong on some, but weaker on others, and still others were low on all skills. The other major finding was that these patterns were linked to distinctive peer and academic outcomes in early adolescence (measured in Grade 6), with the those displaying all five skills faring better. In contrast, the youth who exhibited prosocial and self-control skills were at risk of poor academic competence; the high cooperation/work habit youth were at risk of poor social functioning. Those with overall low SEL skills demonstrated the highest risk in poor academic and social functioning in early adolescence.

SEL and Cloverbud Volunteers

What does this mean for Cloverbud volunteers? A key takeaway from this research is that it is important to help youth achieve a variety of social emotional skills, not just any one skill. Children in the Cloverbud age group are learning social and emotional skills, but they are a work in progress – they are still mastering them. Small group activities help them learn how to get along with others and be social. As you work with Cloverbuds, how you set up activities and the interactions that occur between you and the members and between the members with each other will provide many opportunities to reinforce these skills. Encourage them to work with and talk to each other. These practices will create a positive social climate.

It’s easy to see how these SEL skills will help Cloverbuds get along in the world now and in the future. However, because they are more self-centered, it will be a while before Cloverbuds are totally able to see something from someone else’s perspective. Developing self-control allows them to share with others and to stay focused. Rules help establish group norms while teaching work habits, self-control, and emotion regulation. These rules should be focused on safety and well-being. If corrections are needed, the best practice is to start by getting the child’s attention by using their name, restating your expectations, and giving a specific instruction on how they can correct their behavior. When giving directions, start off by saying, “Soon, but not yet,…” and keep the number of steps simple.

In addition, you can teach these skills directly. For example, The Big Book of Cloverbud Activities has activities titled “My Feelings”; these activities help Cloverbuds learn to recognize and label emotions. Activities must take into account children’s developmental stage. For example, there is a gradual shift from the ability to recognize and name different emotional states (what does an angry face look like, and how is anger different from or similar to sadness?) to understanding that different people can have different emotional reactions to the same situation because of their own personal experiences and preferences (I feel angry when X happens, but my best friend feels sad).

These skills can also be embedded in many other activities. For example, many games involve waiting to take a turn. A game of “Freeze Frame” (play some music and when you pause, they are to freeze in whatever pose they are in when the music stops) can work on managing impulsivity. Another great way is to use books to introduce SEL concepts. Fortunately, there are many such books available (for example, see the Denver Public Library and the Deschutes Public Library for lists).

Developing SEL skills is not a one-shot deal; it’s a process that unfolds over time. As a Cloverbud volunteer, you get to be part of the process!

References

Collaborative for Academic, Emotional, and Social Learning. (n.d.). What is the CASEL framework? https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-is-the-casel-framework/

Denver Public Library. (n.d.). Books for social, emotional, and academic learning. https://kids.denverlibrary.org/blog/k-3/books-social-emotional-and-academic-learning

Deschutes Public Library. (n.d.). DPL Kids: Social emotional learning (SEL) picture books. https://dpl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/362500057/1258121077

Ferrari, T. (2021, January). Using books to discuss mental, emotional, and social health. Cloverbud Connections. https://u.osu.edu/cloverbudconnections/2021/01/18/using-books-to-discuss-mental-emotional-and-social-health/

Jones, S. M., & Doolittle, E. J. (2017). Social and emotional learning: Introducing the issue. The Future of Children, 27(1), 3‒12. https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Documents/FOC-Spring-Vol27-No1-Compiled-Future-of-Children-spring-2017.pdf

Ma, T.-L., Zarrett, N., Puente, K., Liu, Y., Vandell, D. L., Simpkins, S. D., & Yu, M. V. B. (2022). Longitudinal links between profiles of social emotional behaviors in childhood and functioning in early adolescence. Journal of Early Adolescence, 42(6), 765–792. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316221078829

Matheis, L. (2021, December 2). Rebuilding children’s social skills during COVID. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/special-matters/202112/rebuilding-children-s-social-skills-during-covid

Ohio Department of Education. (2019). Social and emotional learning standards. https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Learning-in-Ohio/Social-and-Emotional-Learning/Social-and-Emotional-Learning-Standards

U.S. Surgeon General. (2021). Protecting youth mental health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory. https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/youth-mental-health/index.html

Yes, You Can Teach Science!

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For many people, the word “science” seems to conjure up memories of complicated equations or dry lectures from high school or college classes. We sometimes question our ability to understand science concepts ourselves, much less try to teach them to young children. Nowadays, when there is so much focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), it may seem like an even more daunting task when you hear about coding, robotics, and all the other high-tech concepts students are learning.

But let’s go back to the basic definition of science. According to Merriam-Webster, it is “knowledge about the natural world that is learned through experiments and observation”. Do you remember when you were a child and you first saw a baking soda volcano? You probably weren’t intimidated by that, you just thought it was cool that mixing ingredients could cause such a huge reaction.

When working with Cloverbuds, it’s important to capitalize on their natural sense of wonder about the world. Whether they realize it or not, their instinct to figure out how things work, to take things apart, and gets their hands dirty are all scientific investigation. The next time you start to do a project with your Cloverbuds, talk about the steps of the scientific method:

  1. Identify the problem:  How can I make a machine to move a marshmallow across the room?
  1. Predict what will happen (make a hypothesis):  I could make a catapult out of popsicle sticks and rubber bands to shoot the marshmallow.
  1. Perform an experiment:  Design and test the catapult.
  1. Look at your results:  Did my catapult work the way I thought it would?
  1. Draw conclusions:  Next time, I will build a better base for my catapult.

Teaching STEM doesn’t have to be intimidating. Letting your Cloverbuds participate in short, hands-on activities.  Teaching them to think through the steps involved is the best way to make science fun and engaging.

For activity ideas beyond the Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities, check out 10 Minute Science  or the Ohio 4-H STEM Blog

I’m a Cloverbud Volunteer! Now What?

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New year, new start!  Are you a new or returning Cloverbud volunteer?  Welcome! We are happy to have you join us in the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud program!

You’ve completed your Cloverbud Volunteer Training and you have a group of Cloverbuds, now what?  Time to plan your meeting activities.  The most valuable resource in your toolkit is The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities.  The Big Book has 50 lesson plans which you can use during your Cloverbud meetings.  Talk with your Cloverbuds to find out what they want to learn about in 2022.  Give them a list of topics to choose from and ask them to vote.  Your Cloverbud program is more likely to succeed if you consider input from your youth.  The Big Book of 4-H Cloverbud Activities is available for purchase from your county OSU Extension Office or from OSU Publications.

What should your Cloverbud meeting look like?  Once you have identified your topic, use the Cloverbud Meeting Planning Template to plan your meeting.  Decide on the day, time, and location of your meeting.  Be sure that all Cloverbud parents know when the meeting will take place.  Consider your planned activity.  What will you do for each portion of the meeting?  What supplies are needed?  Do the Cloverbuds need to bring anything to the meeting?  Will you have refreshments or recreation?  In general, Cloverbuds can participate in 4-H club meetings for the pledges and roll call.  Once the older 4-H members begin their business meetings, Cloverbuds can be dismissed to complete their own activities.  Upon completion of Cloverbud activities and the older club members’ business meetings, Cloverbuds can rejoin the group for refreshments and recreation, if age-appropriate.  This is a great time for Cloverbuds to present what they learned to the older club members.  This gives Cloverbuds a chance to do public speaking and also share their excitement for their activities.

My 4-H Cloverbud Year is a wonderful activity book for our Cloverbuds.  Cloverbuds enjoy having a book to complete like the older 4-H club members.  The activity book includes pages where the child can include information about themselves and their club, as well as about what they did at each Cloverbud meeting.  At the end of the year, the member has a nice memory book of their year as a Cloverbud. My 4-H Cloverbud Year is available for purchase from your county Ohio State University Extension Office or from OSU Publications.

To see other resources that are available to Cloverbud volunteers, check out the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Resources link on the left hand side of this page.  You might be interested in Choose and Tell Cards or Clover Cubes.  Both are fun and easy resources to use with your Cloverbuds.

Don’t forget to check out the Ohio 4-H Cloverbud Reading Adventures!  Reading adventures connect Cloverbuds to literacy and include games, activities, and snacks to use with your Cloverbuds.

Fast forward – you’ve completed the year with your Cloverbuds, now what?  Check with your county extension office to see what other opportunities are available.  This might include day camps or fun days, exhibiting at the county fair (non-competitive events), Show and Tell, fair revues, Cloverbud graduation, and more!

Enjoy your time with your Cloverbuds!  They are eager to learn and will not hesitate to share their enthusiasm.  Spending time with Cloverbuds will put a smile on your face!