Lynne Middleton, Interim State 4-H Curriculum Specialist
4-H is different from other organizations because we offer programs where youth “learn by doing.” Hands-on activities are what 4-H Agents, volunteers, and 4-H members desire. The Cone of Learning teaches that people remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, but 90% of what they see and do.
| 4-H is different from other organizations because we offer programs where youth “learn by doing.” Hands-on activities are what 4-H Agents, volunteers, and 4-H members desire. The Cone of Learning teaches that people remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, but 90% of what they see and do. The University of Tennessee 4-H Youth Development staff is proud to be part of a new and innovative hands-on program: Children Learning through Outdoor Experiences (ChLOE), https://teachchloe.org/. The collaboration offers K-12 educational programs at 4-H centers, experiment stations, demonstration farms, and other land-grant university facilities. These programs provide experiential learning in agriculture that helps K-12 teachers meet STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) state content standards. ChLOE sites build instruction around Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and utilize many already-created resources. Grants from the United Soybean Board and Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) have been awarded to support ChLOE. While Tennessee was the initial university investigating the collaboration, other land-grant universities have since joined including University of Missouri Extension, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Members representing Tennessee on the ChLOE Design Team include Daniel Collins, Lynne Middleton, Jennifer Richards, and Penny Russell. This is a brilliant opportunity for Tennessee 4-H Staff to connect with other STEM educators. By collaborating, ChLOE partners can leverage funding opportunities to improve and expand high quality STEM education and offer greater access to diverse audiences of students. The ChLOE Design Team held a summit at Lone Oaks Farm, February 28-March 3, where lesson plans were written, reviewed, and piloted for groups of youth participants. The next conference will be held in August with a goal of securing additional funding and developing partnerships with local schools. For more information about ChLOE or your curriculum needs, email Lynne. |
