4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

This facilitator guide is intended for 4-H professionals, classroom teachers, after-school or summer camp educators, 4-H club leaders, and home school parents. Two different approaches are offered. The “Guided” approach is intended for younger children (ages 8 to 10). This approach provides step-by-step instruction and handouts that utilize the engineering design process.

The “Exploratory” approach is intended for older children (ages 11 to 13) or for situations where the youth has unlimited time to explore. The Exploratory track challenges are open-ended and allow youth to develop their own solutions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 4-H programming had to adapt quickly to a virtual environment. As 4-H educators, we recognized a need for youth to continue to develop their STEM skills and interests. We created these hands-on challenges and videos to meet that need. Youth can solve these challenges in multiple ways using items found at home. All materials listed are suggestions. Youth are encouraged to think flexibly when it comes to sourcing the items needed to complete the challenges.

In 4-H, members “learn by doing.” The three-step model of "DO, REFLECT, APPLY" encourages members to “Do” an activity, “Reflect” on what worked and what didn’t, and then “Apply” what they have learned to their everyday lives. Look for the directives “Do,” “Reflect,” and “Apply” in the following challenges.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Youth ages 8 to 13

TIME FRAME

45 - 60 minutes per challenge

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Youth will gain knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) vocabulary and concepts while developing their life skills.

FACILITATOR GUIDE ICONS

	MATERIALS A list of suggested materials to be used.
	STEM VOCABULARY Important vocabulary words integral to the STEM challenge are in GREEN.
	4-H LIFE SKILLS These practical life skills encourage life long learning, problem solving and other skills critical to success

SUCCESS INDICATORS

Youth will successfully:

1. Build a marble maze that moves a marble from start to finish
2. Build a paper tower as tall as they are
3. Build a catapult that launches projectiles
4. Build a marble roller coaster that moves a marble from top to bottom
5. Build a mini golf course that includes obstacles
6. Build a mobile that balances

Adult facilitators have the option of choosing either exploratory or guided approaches to each challenge. Both approaches have pros and cons. Choose the approach that best suits the youth with whom you are working.

GUIDED APPROACH

Provides structure, promotes good instruction-following habits, increases rate of success, and limits creative solutions. Generally best for classroom settings, finite blocks of time, and youth ages 8 to 10.

EXPLORATORY APPROACH

Encourages creativity and deductive reasoning, lacks structure, takes more time, and risks frustration for the youth. Generally best for out-of-school-time settings, large blocks of time, and youth ages 11 to 13.