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Anoka County 4-H Project Kits

4-H Project Kits contain fun, hands-on learning activities to use with 4-H’ers at club meetings, afterschool sites, club camps, or other settings.

Activities are based on the Experiential Learning Model, and many activities have been developed using 4-H curriculum materials.

Project Kits contain most of the supplies needed for the activity and directions to facilitate the activity. You are responsible for providing any supplies not included.

Project Kits are available to be checked out from the Anoka County 4-H Office.

HOW TO CHECK OUT A PROJECT KIT

1. Kits are checked out on a “self-serve” basis. Stop in during business hours 8 am-4:30 pm to look through the kits,

or if you are here for a meeting or event in the evening, you can look then.

2. Most kits are located in the back hallway in the lower level of the Bunker Hills Activities Center. Inquiry Based

Science, Healthy Living and Stepping Out Kits are located in an alternate location and need to be reserved two

business days prior by contacting 4-H Staff at 763-755-1280 or mnext-anoka@umn.edu.

3. If there is a particular kit you are looking for, you can contact the office ahead of time to make sure that it is not

already checked out before you stop in.

4. When you come in to check out a kit write the information requested on the clipboard provided and take the kit.

5. Before taking the kit, be sure to double check contents to ensure all essential supplies are there and be sure that

you are able to provide what is NOT there.

6. Please do not take more than three kits at a time unless you have approved it with 4-H Staff.

RETURNING THE KIT

1. Return within two weeks. Please date and initial when kit is returned on the clipboard. 2. Please tidy up the box and put back on the shelf.

3. Please be sure to inform the office if there are any missing materials in the kit (such as supplies we say we

provide) handouts, or if a project kit is in poor shape.

*Clubs are welcome to develop kits to add to our project learning library! If you are interested in donating a kit,

revamping or adding an activity to an existing kit, please contact Anna Gilbertson, 4-H Program Coordinator.

If you have any questions, please contact Anoka County 4-H Staff: 763-755-1280 or mnext-anoka@umn.edu.

Resource guide created by Anna Gilbertson, 4-H Program Coordinator, Anoka County **Updated December 9, 2015

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ANOKA COUNTY 4-H PROJECT KITS

Act Sensibly

Role-play challenging situations and discuss how to

handle situations appropriately. Poster.

Health

Ad Attack Identify and chart advertising strategies that influence

consumers.

Food and Nutrition, Health

Adventures of a Plastic Bottle Youth will learn about the life cycle of plastic and the

differences between the many different types.

Conservation, Natural Resources

Aerospace Bingo/Memory Game

Learn aerospace terms and definitions through playing

these two popular games.

Aerospace

Beef Cattle: More than Meat Beef cattle are an animal that serve a purpose for

more than just meat that we like to eat. In this lesson

youth will be able to first learn all about the jobs

involved with beef cattle. Then youth will have a

chance to create a town around beef. Through a

“guess how many game” youth will learn about the

sport equipment we get from the hide of a beef cow.

Lastly, figure out all the ways we use beef cattle for

products other than meat.

The Science of Agriculture, Citizenship

Bubbling Blobs Create a new kind of art, using bubbles. Messy!

4-H Science

Bubbles, Bubbles, & More Bubbles Understand carbonation through a basic chemistry with

some raisins, spaghetti and carbonated soda. Use your

scientific skills as you play and explore the world of

bubbles. Includes Poster.

4-H Science

Buzzy Honeybees Learn all about the Honeybee’s, pollination, bee language, and even taste test various kinds of honey. Entomology, Science of Agriculture

Chromatography Use this method of separating out materials from a

mixture to see the colors used to produce ink in a pen or

marker.

4-H Science, Creative Arts

Citizenship Using the 4-H pledge to guide you, use your artistic skills to create a flip book that celebrates YOU! Citizenship, Creative Arts

Corn Plastic Learn about plastics with this fun activity from the Acres

of Adventure Curriculum.

Science of Agriculture

Creative Writing, What If…? Work in teams or individually on three different creative

writing activities.

Discovering Butterflies Learn the life cycle of butterflies, butterfly matching

game, butterfly life cycle mobile.

Entomology

Drop in the Bucket Students will estimate the percent of available fresh

water on Earth. Youth with learn about this limited

resource and how to conserve it.

Water/Wetlands

Environmental Awareness Youth will explore the natural environment around them.

Be more aware of how they can have an impact on the

environment around them, and determine what they can

do to reduce their impact on the environment.

Natural Resources

Exploring Animals Play a farm safety game and decide where our food

comes from by looking at different foods.

Exploring Animals

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Exploring the Five Senses This activity takes you through all five senses. Learn how

to better sharpen your skills and understanding of those

around you.

4-H Science

Experiencing Entomology Discover the world through a bug’s eye view. Learn

about insects; compound eyes, and make your own

compound eye viewer. Also, learn to recognize different

insect mouth types and experiment with what human

beverages insects prefer.

Entomology

Film Canister Rockets What happens when you put film canisters, water and

Alka-Seltzer together? This hands-on activity teaches

science with a blast!

Aerospace, 4-H Science

Fish, Fish, Fish Make your own fish prints with life-sized stamps of fish.

Also included is information on a variety of fish that are

native to Minnesota. Also, fish pairs game, fun outdoor

game, fish snack idea.

Fishing Sports, Creative Arts

Flying Bees In this 20-minute lesson, youth will learn about the different body parts of a bee while creating a bee in a fun interactive activity! Entomology

Food Detectives Students learn about food safety procedures and predict

who could become ill from eating contaminated food in a

group of picnickers.

Foods and Nutrition

From Moo to You Learn about dairy through a variety of activities. One

activity includes a fun relay game where you determine

how milk starts at the cow and ends up in your

refrigerator.

Dairy

Fun on the Farm This project kit is packed with activities that highlight

agriculture and life on the farm. A few activities include

Truth or Hogwash and animal by-products. Pick and

choose how many you want to do. Two boxes.

Animal Science

Garbology Game Play three short games about recycling.

Exploring the Environment

Germinator Learn about seed germination. Plant some seeds and

follow the growth of the seedlings as they sprout from

the cotton balls while making sure to take proper care of

them with just the right amount of light, heat, and water.

Gardening

Glo Germ Examine germs and discover how hard it can be to rid

surfaces of harmful bacteria! You need a dark area

where you can use the black light.

Food and Nutrition, Health, Safety

Guess How Many Use a wide variety of items in a jar. Give members a

chance to use their best judgment to guess how many

items are in the jars. Good for Cloverbuds or an

icebreaker.

Health Careers This kit is packed with interesting and hands-on activities

to learn all about hearth careers: bingo, health hints,

infection board games, etc.

Health

Home Hazard Hunt Help children become aware of safety hazards in the

home. Mid to Lower Elementary. Notebook only.

Safety

Human Body Extravaganza Take a closer look at the functions of the human body.

It’s a fun interactive kit that will teach members about

their own body.

Health

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Incredible Journey Simulate the movement of water as it moves through the

water cycle. This is an active game.

Geology

Let’s talk about Wool Learn about the process that wool goes through from

sheep to yarn to fabric. After the youth will have a

chance to use wool roving to explore the felting

process. Make felt marble.

Sheep, Clothing and Textiles

Make Believe, Make It Happen Work in teams to develop creative answers to interesting

and adventurous situations

Performing Arts

MN Weather Survival & Beverage Lesson Ever been stuck out in the cold and don’t know what to

do? Youth will develop an action plan of what to do in

case of severe weather. They will be prepared for many

types of weather after this lesson.

Foods, Outdoor Adventures

Mosquitoes and Malaria Game Play a tag-like game that demonstrates how insect-

carried diseases are spread.

Entomology, Health

Multicultural Paper Crafts Travel to four different countries and make a paper craft

from each country! All ages.

Creative Arts, Global Awareness

Now You See It, Now You Don’t You will learn about what camouflage is by playing a

game demonstrating natural selection.

Wildlife Biology

Origami Whale - Environmental Awareness Create an Origami whale and learn about the

environment.

Creative Arts

Outdoor Cooking Ever wonder why food tastes so good when it’s made

outdoors? Find out as we create a box oven and bake

our own goodies! Learn about outdoor nutrition and

how to be safe while cooking outdoors.

Food and Nutrition, Outdoor Adventures

Paper Airplanes Make and test paper airplanes in a contest. Learn about

the four forces of flight.

Aerospace

Personal Bingo Youth participate in a “life auction” to become aware of

and prioritize those values that are important to them.

Play a Bingo game that incorporates identifying personal

traits and recognizing self-worth.

Health, Citizenship

Play Doh Using the fun medium of Play Doh learn that letters have phonetic sounds, relate letter sounds to animals, and discover that animals leave prints. Great for young 4-H’ers! Cloverbuds

Reducing Waste Youth will learn about the role of waste in our lives and

many ways that we can reduce it. This kit has many

activities. Use one or all!

Conservation

Rethink Recycling Use your imagination and games to help yourself and

others understand the importance of recycling.

Conservation

Seed Art Make a craft using a variety of dried seeds and creativity.

There are two boxes. The second box contains lots of

extra seeds if you are doing the activity with a large

group. Use this kit with Seed Sort for a longer learning

experience.

Creative Arts

Seed Sort Youth will work to identify what different beans are,

using a fun handout. Use this kit with Seed Art for a

longer learning experience.

Food and Nutrition

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Sensory Changes Complete activities about how aging affects the five

senses.

Community Pride (Aging)

Sharpie Pen Science In this 30-minute lesson, youth will learn about the primary colors and how colors mix to form new colors. Youth will also understand the chemistry behind alcohol and what it does when it is mixed with colors through a hands-on experiment. 4-H Science, Creative Arts

Show Your Stuff Collage Make a collage that reflects what you are like. Learn

about the different ways to have a good self-concept by

realizing your uniqueness and practicing self-praise.

Health, Youth Leadership

Sink or Float Explore water density by doing an experiment and watch

to see what sinks and what floats.

Cloverbud

Soil Secrets Learn how to draw and explain soil’s role in the food web. Discuss the importance of soil in life, and what it means. Determine the things that plants need in order to live. Test the ability of seeds to germinate in the most unlikely places! Gardening, Soil Science

Soy Beans Soy beans have many uses! Learn about this versatile crop and where soy is all around you. One fun component of this kit is making soy ink. Science of Agriculture, Foods

Spider Webs Expand knowledge of insects and arachnids by comparing

the two. Learn about the different types of webs and

create your own to see if you can catch any “prey.”

Entomology

Splash of Color Learn about color-mixing by creating 24 new colors with

red, yellow, and blue water.

Cloverbuds, Creative Arts, 4-H Science

Stargazing Learn about constellations and ways to observe them.

Create a star seeker wheel to hunt for constellations and

create your own telescope. A telescope is available to

reserve (one week notice required). Groups must put

down a $100 damage deposit which will be returned

after telescope is checked back in.

Astronomy, 4-H Science

The Amazing Eyes Youth will explore the “Amazing Eye” through interactive experiments and activities! Health, 4-H Science

The Guardian Team Learn about and explore the friendship of a sheep dog

and donkey and the guardianship they have over a flock

of sheep by reading The Guardian Team by Cat Urbigkit.

Youth will use magnets and iron filings to think about and

understand guardian relationships. Youth will also be

able to participate in a game that allows them to see

what it would be like to be a sheep, sheepdog, donkey,

and predator.

Science of Agriculture, Dog

Thirsty Stems Create a model to demonstrate how plants “drink.”

Plant and Soil Science

Tops and Bottoms Everybody eats fruits and vegetables but maybe not as

much as they should, but does everyone know where

what they eat comes from? Youth, in this kit, will have

the chance to read Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens,

a fun story about a tricky hare, a lazy bear, and

vegetables. With a flannel board garden and pictures

of different fruits and vegetables youth will be able to

put the different pictures in the appropriate place of

where they grow, top or bottom. Youth will also have

a chance to make a peek-a-boo garden with paper

plates illustrating what they learned by drawing their

favorite fruits and vegetables in the correct place, top

or bottom.

Food and Nutrition, Gardening

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Tree Cycle Youth learn why recycling is important and make their

own paper with this kit. Plan for a larger amount of time,

have access to electricity, and be prepared for mess! Box

and Poster.

Creative Arts, Natural Resources

Tree-mendous Fun Learn how to tell a tree’s age by counting its rings.

Notebook

Cloverbuds, Forestry

Straw Rockets This simple and fun activity teaches about the basic principles of flight by creating and testing a rocket made from simple drinking straws! 4-H Science

Sugary Search Use food labels and packages to identify the types and

amounts of sugar in foods.

Food and Nutrition

The Laundry Game and I’ll Buy That Two card games: The Laundry Game is about caring for

clothing items, and I’ll Buy That is about making wise

consumer and purchasing decisions.

Clothing and Textiles

Thumbs Up This project kit explores why our thumbs make us unique.

Learn about fingerprinting and discover what it would be

like to live without thumbs through a series of fun and

silly challenges.

Weather Experiments Create a portable cloud and observe how moisture,

cooling temperature and condensation nuclei play a role

in cloud formation. Make fog in a jar and observe fog

formation.

4-H Science

Weaving the Web 4-H’ers construct food webs to learn how food chains are

connected.

Exploring the Environment

Wildlife Card Games 4-H’ers explore the food chain through fun card games by

creating multiple food chains with the different animal

cards. (Folder)

Wildlife Biology

Wildlife Careers and Jobs Play the “What Do They Do with Wildlife?” matching

game to learn about career and job opportunities related

to wildlife and the environment.

Exploring the Environment, Wildlife Biology

Wind Power Learn to estimate the speed of the wind by making an

instrument to measure the wind.

4-H Science, Global Connections, Exploring the

Environment

Wormology Youth learn about earthworm anatomy and what their

preferred environment is. You need to supply earth

worms. Box and Poster.

4-H Science, Plant and Soil Science, Inquiry Based

Learning

Worms and Compost Discover a new way to get rid of your garbage and how a

couple of little worms can make a big difference! Explore

how real worms work and make your own "Garbage

Garden" through several exciting activities.

4-H Science, Plant and Soil Science

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ANDOVER REGIONAL PROJECT KITS

The following kits are housed in the Regional Office and are not “self-service” as they are available to other counties as well. You must contact office staff two business days before the kit is needed to check them out.

Stepping Out Lessons

Animal Tracks Explore camouflage and how animals are able to hide themselves from their predators. Become a skilled at identifying animal tracks, go on a nature hike and record any animal tracks you find.

Family/Community Gardening Learn the lifespan of a plant. Construct a miniature herb garden and plant herbs. Create a mini recipe book with ideas of how to use your herbs.

First Aid Readiness Youth will demonstrate some basic outdoor first aid techniques and know what to be aware of when being active outside. Participants will also create a first aid kit and be ready to make healthy decisions when it comes to being injury free.

Geocaching—Importance of Walking Join us as we explore the benefits of walking; learn how to use a pedometer and see the positive influence walking can have in your life. Also, learn how to use technology for a geocaching treasure hunt! You will use a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit to guide you on a nature hike! Anoka County 4-H does have GPS units to check out. A deposit is required at the time of check out and will be returned to you when the units are returned in good condition.

Lifetime of Sports Discuss a variety of activities that can be enjoyed through all ages in life and through all seasons. Youth will dramatize the Activity Pyramid to show which activities should be done more often in our daily lives. Participants will be given a jump rope and taught different techniques to stay active with their new healthy toy.

Muscle Mania and Fun Flexibility Stretch and strengthen your muscles while having fun experimenting with some yoga techniques. Learn new ways to stretch and about the important role relaxation plays in our lives. www1.extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-H/projects/healthy-living/HLResources/steppingout-lesson-muscle-mania.pdf

Night Vision – Astronomy Nightfall changes things in the great outdoors. Learn how to appreciate nighttime through night vision exercises and navigating at night. Explore the constellations by learning to identify them and the stories of how they came about.

Outdoor Cooking Ever wonder why food tastes so good when it’s made outdoors? Find out as we create a box oven and bake our own goodies! Learn about outdoor nutrition and how to be safe while cooking outdoors. Two Boxes.

P.S.I. (Plant Scene Investigator) – Identifying Plants and Trees Plan a nature hike as a group. Where do you want to go? What do you want to see? Examine the parts of a plant. Also learn how to identify certain types of plants and vegetation in the area.

Winter/Cold Weather Survival Ever stuck out in the cold and don’t know what to do? What do you want to see? Examine the parts of a plant. Also learn how to identify certain types of plants and vegetation in the area.

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Public Presentations Kit Kit contains props and objects for practicing public speaking. Kit comes with a book containing five lesson plans that you could conduct with your group and three children’s books that reinforce topics. You are responsible for assembling any supplies to use with the lessons below. Four lesson plans include:

Getting the Parts In Order Every presentation includes the same basic parts. This activity helps the participant learn what the parts are, put them in a logical order and practice what they include.

Making Your Own Poster Stand Directions for creating your own poster stand out of PVC pipe. Example is included in the Public Presentations Kit.

The Poster Walk All 4-H presentations should include one or more posters.

Use poster examples to learn techniques of an effective

poster.

Super Hero’s Communicate Too! People use communication skills every day. 4-H’ers will create that showcases who they are and practice their public speaking skills as they present to the group.

SUPPORTING BOOKS:

The Berenstain Bears Get Stage Fright Book, Stan and Jan Berenstain

Harriets Recital, by Nancy Carlson

Just a School Project, by Mercer Mayer

Inquiry Science Activities Kit Inquiry is an approach to learning that allows young people to explore curiosities, investigate questions, and make new

discoveries in order to expand their understanding and perspectives. The kit contains lessons and some of the supplies to

implement the activity. These science learning activities you can use in your club to engage youth through an inquiry

learning process. Please consult the lesson and the kit contents with plenty of time to gather the other supplies that you

may need. Lesson plans include:

Balloon-Powered Cars In this design challenge, youth are given a variety of household materials to create their own air-powered car.

Big Floating Bubbles Young people of all ages love bubbles. In this activity, youth will take turns making their own bubbles and launching them to float away into the air.

Bouncing Balloons This activity allows youth to engineer a bouncy ball out of a balloon and everyday supplies.

High-Speed Mystery Foods In this activity, youth observe what happens when you add water to dehydrated foods and then use their observation skills to find out the identity of a “high-speed mystery food.”

Mysterious M&M’s You know how they say M&M’s melt in your mouth not in your hand? In this activity, youth will investigate what happens when M&M’s are placed in water. Youth will then see how changing different variables will affect what happens to the M&Ms.

Polymer Orbs In this activity, youth will explore hydrogel polymers or

“super absorbent polymers” and discover what makes them

so unique!

Oobleck Oobleck is simply a mixture of cornstarch and water that forms a starch suspension – which is one of many non-Newtonian fluids. It acts like a liquid when being poured but like a solid when a force is acting on it. You can grab it and move it into a ball, or you can try to hold your hand and watch it just ooze out through your fingers.

Pinhole Cameras Photography is the top project area in 4-H, but you don’t need a digital camera to learn about how cameras use light and reflection to capture images. A pinhole camera uses a light-proof container to capture an image.

Take It In Stride Measuring your stride is a great way to get excited about walking and staying healthy.

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Healthy Living Cook-Off Kit

The Anoka County 4-H Camp Committee received a Healthy Living Youth Choice/Youth Voice Grant in 2012 and because of that we now have a Healthy Living Cook Off-Kit available for check out. There are TWO tubs that contain kitchen supplies needed to conduct a cook off with your group or a foods project meeting. The MN 4-H Healthy Living website has a variety of curriculum materials available and lesson plans including the lesson plans for Omelet and Stir Fry Cook-Off’s. www1.extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-H/events/HealthyLiving/index.html

Materials Available in Kits

TUB #1 = ITEM DESCRIPTION QUANITY

Blender Hamilton Beach Blender & Travel Cup 1

Can Opener Sunbeam Can Opener 1

Chopping Knife 4” OXO Good Grips Santoka Knife & Blue Guard 4

Chopping Knife 8” Chicago Cutlery Chef’s Knife & Cover 4

Chopping Mat Flexible non-skid cutting mat – * 2 each of 4 colors 8

Colander HIC Essential Collapsible Colander – 1/station 4

Cooler White Rolling Cooler w/ 4-H Imprint 1

Cutting Board Polyethylene cutting board – 1/station 4

Dish Tub Plastic dish tub – 1/station 4

Document Holder Clear Acrylic Document Holders – 1/station 4

Liquid Measuring Cup Pyrex 2-cup – 1/station 4

Measuring Cup/Spoon White spoon/cup set – 1/station 4

Mixing Bowl Farberware Classic Mixing Bowl – 1/station 4

Mixing Spoon 10” wooden mixing spoon – 1/station 4

My Plate Resource 1 plate, 3 consumable tear-off HO & stickers 1

Oven Mitt 4-H Oven Mitt – 1/station 4

Palm Peeler 4-H Palm Peeler with Ergonomic Design 1

Peeler Sunbeam Peeler 2

Power Caddy w Ext. Cord Woods Power Caddy Plus Extension Cord Reel 1

Rice Cooker Proctor Silex 8 cup Rice Cooker 1

Surge Protector Belkin 6-outlet surge protector – 1/station 4

Timer Sunbeam Kitchen Timer – 1/station 4

Thermometer 4 Meat & 1 Refrigerator thermometers 5

Thumball 4-H Activity Thumball 1

Turner High Heat Nylon Round Turner – 1/station 4

Whisk 10” Wire Whisk – 1/station 4

Veggie Scrub Brush Good Grips Flexible Veg. Brush 1

TUB #2 = ITEM DESCRIPTION QUANITY

Aprons Green 4-H Clover Apron 20/kit

Electric Fry Pan Rival 11” or Oster 12” Electric Skillet 4

Electric Fry Pan Glass Lid Rival or Oster 4

Electric Fry Pan Temperature Control Dial

Rival or Oster 4

Surge Protector Belkin 6-outlet surge protector 4

i:\mnext\4-h\misc\project kits\project kit flyer updated 9/4/2013.docx

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Project Kits & Experiential Learning

Project learning is most successful when being mindful of the experiential learning process. The experiential learning model

serves as the foundation of 4-H which allows youth to learn through a carefully planned “doing” experience that is followed by

leader led discussion using purposeful questions. The experiential learning model by Kolb (1984) and modified by 4-H includes

five specific steps:

1. Participant(s) experience the activity--perform or do it.

2. Participant(s) share the experience by describing what happened.

3. Participant(s) process the experience to determine what was most important and

identify common themes.

4. Participant(s) generalize from the experience and relate it to their daily lives.

5. Participant(s) apply what they learned to a new situation.

When this model is used, youth both experience and process the activity. They learn from

thoughts and ideas about the experience. Each step contributes to their learning.

Providing an experience alone does not create experiential learning. Experiences lead to

learning if the participant understands what happened, sees patterns of observations,

generalizes from those observations and understands how to use the generalization again

in a new situation.1

1 Marilyn N. Norman, Associate Professor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and State 4-H Program Leader, and Joy C. Jordan, Associate

Professor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611.