Activities for Group Participation

4-H activities for group participation are defined as group projects selected and carried out by all members of a club or group.  The activity leader should list the activity number on group enrollment forms. 

The activity leader can request copies of available publications.  Three copies will then be sent.  Most 4-H publications are free.  Others are available for a small fee. For project material ordering information, see the  Missouri 4-H Literature & Merchandise Order Form LG911 (PDF).  Order on line at Extension Publications

Section links for this page:
African American Culture
Citizenship
Community Mapping
Community Service
Conserving Natural Resources
Global Education
Healthy Lifestyles
Latino Cultural Arts
Operation: Military Kids
Recreation & Leisure
Safety
Self-determined
Show Me Character
Streets to Streams
Water Riches

Youth-Adult Partnerships

Youth Entrepreneurship

A100 Guide to Exploring African-American Culture

Through information, illustrations and fun activities, youth are challenged to explore African-American culture in the following areas:  skin and hair, language, arts and crafts, cuisine, music, poetry, holidays and notable African-Americans.

Resource

LG1000  Guide to Exploring African-American Culture

A211  Citizenship – Public Adventures

Discover public issues important to you and others by making things happen.  Plan a project.  Create, change or improve something that is valuable to many people.  Learn to be an active citizen in a democracy.  Public Adventures isn’t only about one project.  Public Adventures is about your engagement in changing a piece of the public world, discovering the possibilities of democratic citizenship and building a commitment to taking action in new and exciting ways.

Resources

LG2110  Citizenship Adventure Kit

LG2111  Citizenship Guides’ Handbook

A17  Community Mapping

A12  Community Service

Allows 4-H’ers to develop and carry out a project or projects aimed at enhancing the community.  Projects may include planning trees, renovating historical sites and cleaning up the environment.

Resource

Community Service Activity Ideas 

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A16  Environmental Stewardship: Conserving Natural Resources

4-H groups can learn and practice skills in the conservation of natural resources such as soil, water, forests, grasslands, wildlife and energy.  Many kinds of conservation projects can be done by 4-H groups.

Resource

LG147  Conserving Our Natural Resources                                                                             

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A36 Global Education

4-Her’s can participate in activities designed to improve communication and understanding among people of different cultures.

Possible project activities/objectives:

• Provide basic information about both the physical properties of the world and the people who live there

• Provide basic information about family relationships and cultures around the world

• Provide information about the current world challenges and interdependence

• Highlight areas such as the environment, economics, hunger and health

• Hands-on activities covering a wide variety of subjects

Resources

LG2201  “…And My World…” 

Missouri 4-H Global Education

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A33  Healthy Lifestyles

As the saying goes, “when you have your health, you have everything!”  Health is the fourth “H” in the 4-H Clover and a common topic for youth today.  Nutrition, physical fitness and emotional well-being are just some of the health issues that contribute to healthy lifestyles for all individuals.  The following resources provide interactive activities that promote health for youth.  Youth can learn about healthy lifestyles, learn about themselves, and have fun!

The Couch Potato Challenge

The goal of this resource is to provide information about physical fitness and hands-on fitness activities.  Promote physical fitness by including these simple and easy-to-use activities in club meetings, camps, school programs or any other setting that includes young people.  Help them take the Couch Potato Challenge and engage in more physical activity.

The Dating Mystery…and all that Relationship Stuff

Helps youth explore healthy relationships and positive ways to get along with others.  This resource uses popular movies to help young people discover and then discuss relationship issues that can be so confusing.  This activity is designed for youth ages 13 and older.

Steppin’ Out: Fitness Walking

Walking offers a simple yet healthful approach to physical activity – one that almost anyone can achieve.  Help youth practice healthy behaviors by walking, either solo or with a group.  This resource provides walking information and activities designed to inspire healthy behavior!

Resource

Download copies of these projects at Missouri 4-H Healthy Lifestyles                                                     

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A110 Que' Rico! LaCultura - Latino Cultural Arts

Youths discover the Latino culture as they develop an understanding of the Latino people and their traditional art forms through the experience of instrument making, jewelry making, weaving, muraling and mask making.  Youths experience the celebrations that surround the holidays in the Latino culture.  Sample the flavors of the Latino people through the activities of storytelling, mosaics and yarn arts.

Resource

LG1100  Que' rico! LaCultura

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A14 Operation: Military Kids

Heroes come in many sizes.  In fact, many of the unsung heroes of the global war on terrorism are military children.  Operation: Military Kids allows 4-H clubs to support Missouri's military families in a number of ways, including:

Hero Packs

This project involves assembling a backpack with a few suggested items and a handwritten letter to a young person who has a deployed family member.

The backpacks would be distributed by the club or through the local University of Missouri Extension center.

Speak Out for Military Kids

After doing research or talking with young people of military families, 4-H members may talk with local service organizations or groups about what it is like to be a child with a deployed family member.

Mobile Tech Lab

The 4-H club can reserve a 15 computer, mobile technology lab for use with children of military families

Resources

Missouri Operation: Military Kids

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A44  Recreation and Leisure

Every club meeting should include games, songs and other activities in drama, music or sports.

Resources

LG582  Recreation Leader Handbook

LG585  Social Recreation Leadership

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A68  Safety

Safety is everyone’s concern and business.  We suggest that a local 4-H club examine the safety needs in the community and develop a safety education program based on these needs.  Possible topics might include:  abandoned well identification and proper closing, fire alarms, seat belts, water safety, safety with pets, etc.

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A76  Self Determined

Interests of members/leaders may go beyond the previously listed activities.  When this happens, they should feel free to design an activity that meets both the interests and needs of the group and perhaps the larger community.  In some counties, County 4-H Council approval may be required.

Resource

Y951  Choose Your Own Direction

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A13  Show-Me Character

Show-Me Character is a program that teaches young people to make wise ethical choices.  It also encourages adults to become more involved in helping youth develop positive character traits, such as trustworthiness, fairness, respect, caring, responsibility and citizenship.  Communities certainly benefit when youth and adults understand the importance of being involved as caring citizens and “doing the right thing.”  Effective character education encourages youth to “do the right thing” by incorporating these core ethical values in their daily lives. 

Show-Me Character is Missouri 4-H Youth Development’s Character Education Program based on CHARACTER COUNTS!, a service mark used by the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition, a project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics.

Goals 1, 2, 3, 4;  Content – Communication Arts; 1, 2

Resources:

LG13  Show-me Character brochure

LG14  Ethics in the Workplace guide

LG15  Show-me Character guide

Show-Me Character All-Stars Curriculum  (Available from your local University of Missouri Extension center or from the State 4-H office.)

Resource

Missouri Show Me Character       

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A66  Streets to Streams

This curriculum provides educators and students with background information and hands-on fun for children in grades 5 to 9 about the properties of water, watershed basics, stream ecology, dynamics of contaminants in water, and personal responsibility for one’s community.  The materials have been designed to help teachers involve students in hands-on activities rather than lecturing or reading to them.  Most require only inexpensive, readily available materials.  The authors have tried to suggest activities for students in urban and rural areas, and for students of different backgrounds and abilities.

Resource

LG9690  Leader’s Manual

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A65  Environmental Stewardship:  Water Riches

This unit explores water, its uses, the hydrologic cycle, water pollution and conservation.  This unit combines reading, math, science and critical thinking with classrooms experiments and activities.

Resource

LG7541    Video, Leader Manual

Y7541      Member/Student Manual

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A215 Youth-Adult Partnerships

Young people can contribute to their communities now - they do not have to wait until they are voting age!  4-Hers can be planners, advisors, evaluators, decision-makers and more!  4-H members may serve on a local board or task force, be county extension council youth representatives, conduct community surveys, start new community programs or form youth councils.

Resource

Missouri Youth-Adult Partnerships

Citizenship Project

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A216 Youth Entrepreneurship

Every wonder what it would be like to start a business by yourself?  Do you have a 4-H skill or project area that has the potential to earn income?  You could be a youth entrepreneur in the making!

This curriculum starts middle and high school age 4-Hers on a path to planning and doing what they love - for profit!  Discover activities to identify your abilities, locate opportunities, learn from others, identify business resources, enter agreements and present your plan.

Resource

Entrepreneurship: Be the E

http://www.4hccsprojects.com/entrepreneur/

Helper's Guide available at http://www.4-hmall.org/ search entrepreneurship)

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