Learning from Home | University of Maryland Extension

Updated: August 16, 2023

Incorporating the Essential Elements of 4-H into Online Environments through Virtual Activity Clubs (FS-1173)

A 4-H virtual activity club (VAC) meets over the internet to provide a focused learning experience on a single topic for a short period of time. During the COVID-19 pandemic that started in March 2020, 4-H programming was forced to adapt quickly to a virtual environment. Activity clubs are one of Maryland 4-H’s established delivery modes. Offering them online was a natural fit for filling the void created by cancelled 4-H club meetings, summer camps, and other out-of-school-time activities due to the pandemic. Author: Jessica Mellon; Incorporating the Essential Elements of 4-H into Online Environments through Virtual Activity Clubs (FS-1173)

Updated: August 24, 2022

Troubleshooting Difficult Board Dynamics (FS-1167)

Applying Roberts Rules of Order allows boards to establish and maintain order, give every member a chance to be heard, prevent confusion, and to keep the meeting moving. However, when passionate people come together, eventually there will be differences of opinion. This factsheet explores some of the challenging behaviors that could be seen in meetings, shares actions to take to properly address the situation, insight to set the tone, and assist in positive group dynamics to come to the best decision for the group. Author: Lacie Ashby; Title: Troubleshooting Difficult Board Dynamics (FS-1167)

Updated: June 28, 2022

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

4-H STEM Adventures is a curriculum of six STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson plans that teach STEM principles and 4-H life skills via a challenge to be solved using low-cost, easy-to-find materials. There are two tracks for each lesson: an open-ended exploratory option, and a step-by-step guided option. Videos introduce each challenge and provide sample solutions for viewers. These lessons are appropriate for youth ages 8-13 and can be used in the classroom, 4-H club, home, and out-of-school settings. Authors: Jessica Mellon, and Christine Allred; Title: 4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

Updated: June 17, 2022

4-H STEM Adventures: Challenge 5-Mini Golf Course (EC-14)

4-H STEM Adventures is a curriculum of six STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson plans that teach STEM principles and 4-H life skills via a challenge to be solved using low-cost, easy-to-find materials. Each lesson has two tracks: an open-ended exploratory option and a step-by-step guided option. Videos introduce each challenge and provide sample solutions for viewers. These lessons are appropriate for youth ages 8-13 and can be used in the classroom, 4-H club, home, and out-of-school settings. In this challenge, the Youth will build a mini-golf course that includes obstacles. Challenge 5 introduces the STEM concept of the law of reflection and targets the life skill of planning. Authors: Jessica Mellon, and Christine Allred; Title: Challenge 5-Mini Golf Course, 4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

Updated: June 17, 2022

4-H STEM Adventures: Challenge 3-Catapult (EC-14)

4-H STEM Adventures is a curriculum of six STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson plans that teach STEM principles and 4-H life skills via a challenge to be solved using low-cost, easy-to-find materials. Each lesson has two tracks: an open-ended exploratory option and a step-by-step guided option. Videos introduce each challenge and provide sample solutions for viewers. These lessons are appropriate for youth ages 8-13 and can be used in the classroom, 4-H club, home, and out-of-school settings. In this challenge, youth will design and build a catapult that can launch a small projectile. Challenge 6 introduces the STEM concepts of potential and kinetic energy and targets the life skills of record keeping and personal safety. Authors: Jessica Mellon, and Christine Allred; Title: Challenge 3-Catapult, 4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

Updated: June 17, 2022

4-H STEM Adventures: Challenge 6-Mobile (EC-14)

4-H STEM Adventures is a curriculum of six STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson plans that teach STEM principles and 4-H life skills via a challenge to be solved using low-cost, easy-to-find materials. Each lesson has two tracks: an open-ended exploratory option and a step-by-step guided option. Videos introduce each challenge and provide sample solutions for viewers. These lessons are appropriate for youth ages 8-13 and can be used in the classroom, 4-H club, home, and out-of-school settings. In this challenge, youth will build a mobile that balances. Challenge 6 introduces the STEM concept of levers and targets the life skill of problem solving. Authors: Jessica Mellon, and Christine Allred; Title: Challenge 6-Mobile, 4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

Updated: June 17, 2022

4-H STEM Adventures: Challenge 4-Marble Roller Coaster (EC-14)

4-H STEM Adventures is a curriculum of six STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson plans that teach STEM principles and 4-H life skills via a challenge to be solved using low-cost, easy-to-find materials. Each lesson has two tracks: an open-ended exploratory option and a step-by-step guided option. Videos introduce each challenge and provide sample solutions for viewers. These lessons are appropriate for youth ages 8-13 and can be used in the classroom, 4-H club, home, and out-of-school settings. In this challenge, the youth will build a marble roller coaster that moves a marble from top to bottom. Challenge 4 introduces the STEM concepts of potential and kinetic energy and targets the life skill of critical thinking. Authors: Jessica Mellon, and Christine Allred; Title: Challenge 4-Marble Roller Coaster, 4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

Updated: June 17, 2022

4-H STEM Adventures: Challenge 1-Marble Maze (EC-14)

4-H STEM Adventures is a curriculum of six STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson plans that teach STEM principles and 4-H life skills via a challenge to be solved using low-cost, easy-to-find materials. Each lesson has two tracks: an open-ended exploratory option and a step-by-step guided option. Videos introduce each challenge and provide sample solutions for viewers. These lessons are appropriate for youth ages 8-13 and can be used in the classroom, 4-H club, home, and out-of-school settings. In this challenge, the youth will build a marble maze that moves a marble from start to finish. Challenge 1 introduces the STEM concept of iteration and targets the life skills of planning and resilience. Authors: Jessica Mellon, and Christine Allred; Title: Challenge 1-Marble Maze, 4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

Updated: June 17, 2022

4-H STEM Adventures: Challenge 2-Tall Tower (EC-14)

4-H STEM Adventures is a curriculum of six STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) lesson plans that teach STEM principles and 4-H life skills via a challenge to be solved using low-cost, easy-to-find materials. Each lesson has two tracks: an open-ended exploratory option and a step-by-step guided option. Videos introduce each challenge and provide sample solutions for viewers. These lessons are appropriate for youth ages 8-13 and can be used in the classroom, 4-H club, home, and out-of-school settings. In this challenge, Youth will build a paper tower as tall as they are. Challenge 2 introduces the STEM concept of constraint and targets the life skill of problem solving. Authors: Jessica Mellon, and Christine Allred; Title: Challenge 2-Tall Tower, 4-H STEM Adventures-Facilitator Guide (EC-14)

Updated: June 25, 2021

Virtual Showcase Toolkit

EM-13 The Virtual Showcase Toolkit offers best practices to 4-H professionals, volunteers, members, and partners for conducting virtual/online showcases and hybrid events combining virtual and in-person components. It provides considerations for adapting in-person judging experiences for most exhibit areas to potential online platforms.