The 4-H slogan has long been “Learn by Doing”, so it should come as no surprise that many 4-H programs and activities are centered around being hands-on. 4-H proudly utilizes the experiential learning model to enhance and develop life skills in youth.
As you can see in the diagram above, there are 5 main steps in Experiential Learning which enable youth to gain both skills through the experience AND knowledge through the process. These steps include:
- EXPERIENCE the activity.
- SHARE the experience through describing.
- PROCESS the experience to identify common themes.
- GENERALIZE from the experience and relate it to their lives.
- APPLY what they learned to a new situation.
The University of Florida Cooperative Extension has an excellent fact sheet describing this model and applying it to 4-H situations. Feel free to access the Experiential Learning Model Fact Sheet.
To help teach difficult and complex science concepts, the Delaware 4-H program has hands-on, fun science kits available for use within 4-H clubs, after school programs, school enrichment, and much more. There are many topic areas covered with these kits and they are very easy to teach. The kits are provided by a variety of resources including Agilent, Delaware 4-H, AGspoloration (UMD).
So you may be better informed about the availability of these kits, each month there will be a “Science Spotlight” in the blog. This will begin with our February edition, featuring three new Agilent science kits:
- Deep Sea Divers, concept taught: flotation, density, air pressure
- Periscopes, concept taught: properties of reflection
- Hydro-Lift, concept taught: hydraulics
If you have any questions, please e-mail Mallory or call the 4-H office at (302) 831-8965.