STEM

STEM

4-H STEM programs work to engage youth through hands-on experiences that connect to their lives and respond to their interests. 4-H programs use hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, and math to teach problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, and inspire kids to explore STEM professions.

Image
Doctors performing surgery with robotic arms

Science Technology Engineering and Math

If you live in the world today, then you want to explore Science in our Everyday Lives. Science is a way for us to look at and try to understand the world around us. Being scientific involves being curious, observing, asking questions how things happen and learning about how to find answers. There’s science behind what we eat, how we clean, what we do, and how we live. Discover the science, do your own research, and form your own conclusions.

  • Develop problem solving and logical reasoning skills.
  • Improve communication and teamwork skills by working the way scientists and engineers do - in teams.
  • Develop responsible attitudes about science and technology and how they relate to the real world and people’s lives.
  • Gain experience in problem solving and decision-making using science process skills.

Ideas for Project Area Learning!

  • Understand how fabrics are made from fibers
  • Learn how a microchip can identify your pet
  • Learn how to keep your kitchen germ free
  • Compare different kinds of fabrics, yarns, and finishes
  • Consider ethics and animal welfare
  • Design your own experiment and enter your results in science and technology fairs
  • Understand differences between natural and synthetic fibers
  • Learn about food additives, how they work, and concerns about them
  • Design a machine that solves a problem at home; then build, test, and improve!

Share What You Learn With Others!

Communication

  • Do a presentation on keeping your kitchen germ free
  • Do a working exhibit on fabric and show the audience how to distinguish natural from synthetic fabrics

Civic Engagement

  • Present information about hand washing and germs to a local daycare class 
  • Develop a flyer to leave at veterinary clinics discussing the process and benefits of micro-chipping your pets

Leadership

  • Develop a workshop on food safety
  • Plan a “science day” for families with young children so they can learn about the science behind products they use every day

Exhibit Ideas

  • Make a poster on food safety in the kitchen
  • Create a display on different types of fibers and their qualities
  • Do a scientific investigation on fiber strength based on material and cloth structure
  • Make a display explaining the difference between colored light and pigments in paint