4-H Clovers Working with 5-8 Year Olds

Donielle AxlineUME-Frederick County

4-H Clovers Working with 5-8 Year Olds

Strong family history in 4-H & Youth programs

Served as a Clover Leader for my local club

4-H Educator 6 years

Clovers vs. 4-H Members•Youth between the ages of 5 – 8 years•Kindergarten – 3rd graders

Why offer Clover Programs?•Promote healthy development for children•Informal education model

Project Exploration

4-H a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

• Healthy Lifestyles• Environmental• Citizenship / Civic Education• Plant & Animal Science• Consumer Education• Science, Engineering & Technology• Personal Development• Expressive Arts / Communications

Developing Life Skills

4-H a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

• Build Self Esteem• Learn to get along with others• Build decision making skills• Develop and learn methods to learn• Experience physical mastery of tasks

Building Clover Participation• Be a part of an existing club or build a new

clover age club• Classroom Setting• Afterschool or Daycare Facility• Camp and Day Camp Programs

Managing the Clover Group

4-H a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

• Faculty & Staff• Parents• Teachers• Volunteers• 4-H’ers

4-H a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

10 Clover Program Foundations

1. Activity Based 2. Cooperative Learning Centered3. Noncompetitive4. Exhibition Only5. Activities are SAFE for Children

6. Activities are AGE Appropriate7. Activities are DIFFERENT from older youth8. Curriculum is SUCCESS oriented9. Animals contributing to activity10. Fun, Positive, Follows Experiential

Learning Model

4-H a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

Planning Your First Event

1. Risk Management2. Ratios of Volunteers to Youth3. What to do?

Ensuring A Successful Program

1. Positive Relationship with an Adult2. Everyone feels welcome3. Opportunity for Mastery, Confidence, Engaged

Learning, & Personal Choices 4. Service to Others5. Safe Environment

Questions & Discussions