STEM
4-H aims to grow the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers by giving youth plenty of opportunities to try their hands at real world science.
In 4-H STEM, we create supportive relationships that cultivate wonder and fuel learning through investigation and design. Youth and adults work together to create new understanding and design community solutions. 4-Hers grow to become leaders in STEM, work in STEM Careers, and serve their community using STEM.
Partnerships
Projects
Leadership Development
Program Design
Projects
STEM Events
National 4-H STEM Challenge
The National 4-H STEM Challenge is an annual initiative to inspire kids everywhere to take an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on learning.
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Find out more about New York’s events.
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Summer Reading Partnership with NYS Libraries
2023 theme: All Together Now: Todos Juntos Ahora – Kindness/Friendship/Unity
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Resources from NYS Libraries:
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Connect with libraries early to start planning for the summer: Youth Services contacts in public library systems
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The Collaborative Summer Library Program manual with resources and programming ideas.
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Summer Reading at NYS Libraries resources
​STEM Throughout the Year
STEM Throughout the Year activity ideas curated by NISE Network for incorporating current science, engineering, and technology content into events, special programming, holidays, and seasonal activities
Digital Literacy
Social Media TestDrive from Cornell's Social Media Lab
4-H Tech Changemakers - empowering young people to close the digital divide by providing the education and tools they need to teach digital skills to adults in their communities.
Engineering and Technology
3-D Printing
3-D Printing resources available from the STEM Program Work Team.
Astronomy
Expeditionary Skills for Life (partnership between NASA and NIFA)
Shelter in Space from the Cornell Spacecraft Planetary Imaging Facility
Computer Science
Computer Science Lending Library
There are 30 Google Chromebooks and 2 Google Expedition kits available for loan to county Associations.
Activity Planning and Program Development
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Computer Science is Changing Everything video
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Geospatial Science
4-Hers are having a blast exploring geospatial sciences from simple Geocaching (using GPS receivers to look for hidden treasure boxes all around the world) to complex community mapping projects. New local clubs are forming as a result of a generous grant opportunity sponsored by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). The result is 4-Hers are learning to use Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to collect spatial data, plot results on detailed maps, and provide useful resources to community planners.
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Project Stories
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StoryMap of 4-H GIS Play Day at CCE Orange County
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National 4-H Team Maps Invasive Sea Lavender near San Diego, California: NY State 4-H Youth Sarah Martin participates in National 4-H Mapping Project.
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Ontario County Geoseekers: A short video clip from the Geoseekers 4-H Club from Ontario County, sharing how and why they completed a fire hydrant mapping project for the Town of Manchester, NY.
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Professional Development
GIS for Youth Webinar presented by Joseph Kerski, ESRI
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NYSD Maps and Apps
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Resources
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CCE Staff may check out GPS equipment by emailing Susan Hoskins.
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Geocaching.com - the place to find local geocaches
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Partners
4-H Community mapping partners are collaborators who are helping to make funding, educational resources and further partnerships possible. Many thanks to:
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Nanotechnology
Cornell NanoScale Facility and "What's Nano about 4-H" webinar
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Robotics
Junk Drawer Robotics - a national curriculum with 3 phases - junk drawer robotics, virtual robotics and NXT platform robotics. More resources with California 4-H
Mississippi 4-H Robotics Youth Development Program.
Style Engineers
Style Engineers is a program designed for youth who love fashion! The program includes a series of activities designed to explore the science and technology of fashion and an online community.
Environmental Science and Alternative Energy
Citizen Science
Citizen science involves scientists and public participants engaging in real-world scientific collaborations --asking questions, collecting data, and/or interpreting results together. It brings science home. This collaboration can be another space for the transformative power of youth voice as young people help decide the most relevant questions for their communities and take the lead in learning how interpret and use information gained from scientific study. There are a continuum of collaborations options in citizen science projects - from those that spark interest in specific topics or doing science in general to those that inspire youth to lead their own investigations to still others that help communities used what they learn for positive change.
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Cornell Lab of Ornithology Project Feederwatch curriculum: Thinking Outside of the (Nest) Box
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SciStarter citizen science project directory and online community
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Science Near Me - an easy way to find opportunities to do and learn science developed by a wide network of museums, science festivals, and STEM organizations around the US to unite all types of opportunities for the public to engage in science (including citizen science, participatory technology assessments, MAKER, Festivals and more)
Climate Change
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Youth resources from the Cornell Climate Stewards Program
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Search for Climate Change Lessons from the Ag in the Classroom Literacy Curriculum Matrix
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National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network) Climate Change resources
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The W!LD Center Youth Climate Program
Energy
The Power of the Wind 4-H Project
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Sustainable Polymers
Sustainable Polymers Project, including curriculum for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6 - 8
Plant and Animal Sciences
Curricula and Equipment
Curriculum and Activity Plans
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National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs & Assets
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Shop4-H national curriculum
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California 4-H free STEM curriculum and UC Davis STEM Portal
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How to Smile - STEM activity database from University of California, Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science
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Electrical Engineers' All About Circuits
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Equipment
Computer Science Lending Library - There are 30 Google Chromebooks and 2 Google Expedition kits available for loan to county Associations.
Geospatial equipment can be check out by emailing Susan Hoskins.
The STEM PWT has Adafruit, Foldscopes, Ozobots, Spheros, and 3-D printers that can be borrowed by emailing Susan Hoskins.
Ohio State University Learning Lab Kits available from Animal Science
Leadership Development
Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM (ACRES)
ACRES is an innovative, video-based coaching experience created by Maine Math and Science Alliance (MMSA). This professional development opportunity is about helping each other lead STEM learning effectively, regardless of the topics we teach or projects we do. Coaching activities happen online through Zoom.
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Benefits
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Increase your ability to facilitate STEM learning, regardless of what topic you teach. Learn practical tools and strategies applicable to many STEM learning situations.
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Learn along with supportive colleagues
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Practice Zoom and video technology
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How It Works
Each module consists of three two-hour, virtual sessions. Each module follows the following outline:
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Session 1: Participants are introduced to a skill and spend time experiencing and practicing the skill among peers. Participants then return to their program where they capture a short clip of the strategies in action.
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Session 2: Participants share their clips, reflect on their practice, and share feedback with one another. They then return to their program to record a second round of practice.
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Session 3: Participants gather for another coaching session where they share their second clip, reflect on their practice, and share feedback with one another.
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