Projects

Learning By Doing Starts Here!

Many of the life skills a member learns in 4-H are acquired through project work. If you are new to 4-H, think of a project as independent study. Members select one or more subjects they are interested in and through exploration, develop knowledge and skills in that subject. Most project work (learning to cook, garden, sew, woodworking, photography, how to care for an animal, etc.) is done at home under the supervision of a family member. Some clubs select a group project everyone works on with some of the work being done at club meetings.

Project Selection - Those new to 4-H are often overwhelmed with the wide variety of projects available. It is not uncommon for some 4-Hers to express an interest in "everything" and enroll in five or more projects, usually far too many to complete. Starting with a single project is usually best for new members. Additional projects can be added during the year. It will be very helpful if each of the club volunteers becomes familiar enough with a project category to be able to give good advice to 4-Hers and their parents when projects are being selected. File copies of most project manuals are available at the 4-H Office for review, but an inventory of project manuals is no longer available. The "Maryland 4-H Youth Development Program Project Selection Guide" (Project Guide) provides some excellent information for helping 4-Hers select projects. The Project Guide is CD ROM available from the 4-H Office and on the CD-ROM that accompanies this training unit.

Project Manuals - Project manuals are small booklets (typically 8.5" x11" and averaging 36 pages) that provide a great deal of information on a topic written at an age appropriate level. Manuals contain lots of photographs, drawings and activities to engage the 4-Her. Project manuals can be ordered directly from the publisher. Most manuals are published by the Cooperative Curriculum System (CCS) based at the University of Minnesota. Consult the Project Guide for a project listing, cost and publisher. You can find this information on the Maryland 4-H web page or at the 4-H Office. Most project manuals are designed for members to use for two to three years. Do not order a project manual for the same project unless the 4-Her has already completed all of the work outlined in the manual and is ready to advance to the next level. Most project manuals are part of a three part series. A Helpers Guide is also available for most projects. The average cost of project manuals is under $4. (as of 9/03). Some projects, such as Shooting Sports, are intended to be done as a group activity with certified instructors who may not require a project manual.

Project Completion - Every 4-H member is expected to select and complete at least one project. Completing a project requires four steps: 1. Doing the work outlined in the project manual, 2. Giving a demonstration at a club or special meeting about something learned in the project, 3. Exhibiting an item made/grown/learned as part of the project at the county fair and 4. Submitting a record book that includes a member's summary, a project record and a story. A wealth of information about completing project records is available in CD ROM the "Member Guide - Completion of 4-H Record Books" (4-H 508) is available from the 4-H Office and on the CD-ROM.

Volunteer Quick Reference

Learning Check

Every 4-H member is expected to complete at least one project each year. Must of the learning that happens in 4-H is through project work. Requirements for completing a project vary somewhat from one 4-H unit to the next, but generally include: doing the work listed in the project manual, giving a demonstration on something learned in the project at a club meeting, exhibiting at a local or county fair and submitting a record book. Encouraging members to complete a project isn't always easy. How have you been successful in getting members to complete record books?

The main parts of a record book are the summary record, project record and the story. The summary record lists the activities a 4-Her has done the past year including meeting attendance and participation in contests and events. The project record is specific to each project completed and focuses on goals, activities, costs and on what was accomplished and learned. If the 4-Her completed more than one project, he or she must include a project record for each one, but only one summary record is needed. The story is sometimes the most interesting part of the record book and provides an opportunity for creative writing. Give an example of a great 4-H story you have read.

The project manual is a publication that contains "how to" information. Folks new to 4-H often confuse the terms project manual and record book. The manual provides the information that enables the 4-Her to learn a new skill or expand their knowledge. The 4-Her reports in their record book what they did and learned. Project manuals are inexpensive but they aren't free. Helping members select an appropriate project is an important step to their ultimate success. What techniques have you used or might you use to help members choose projects wisely?

Online Learning Community

Projects are where much of the real learning happens in 4-H. Share your thoughts about projects with other volunteers by clicking Online Learning Community to post a message. Respond to one of the above questions/comments or create your own. You must post a message to complete this lesson. Password: 4-H Vol

Next Lesson

Click on Fund Raising to move to the next lesson after you have posted a message to the Online Learning Community in response to a Learning Check question/comment above. Thanks!

For more information, contact Dan Tabler, Volunteer Coordinator

Last updated: 02/6/2008