Penn State University Cooperative Extension

 

The Penn State University Cooperative Extension 4-H youth program offers many educational opportunities for science education. The Penn State Cooperative Extension 4-H youth education program is to provide stimulating hands-on activities that will enhance learning in the classroom.

 

There are over 150 different project areas offered through this program.  Aquinas Academy has actively participated in the Penn State Extension program for 11 years.  The following projects are those currently implemented in fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades.

 

Grade Five

 

BLUE SKY BELOW MY FEET:  A representative from Penn State Extension visits the classroom to launch the program.  They talk about the various components of the space program.  Dehydrators are provided and used over a four to six week period.  

 

Students learn first-hand how to dehydrate a variety of fruits. Students observe three videos on forces, fibers & foods to learn about life in space.  Mission Manuals are provided for each student to complete a variety of activities after viewing each video. 

 

At the end of the program, the representative returns to talk to the students about what they have learned, and their likes and dislikes of the program. Each student receives a certificate and ribbon for participation.

 

PROFESSOR POPCORN: A representative from Penn State Extension conducts six sessions with the class concentrating on the food pyramid.  Each week the representative explains the importance of one of the food groups and provides a snack within that group, which the students help to prepare before eating.

 

Every student is given a simple recipe for each food group and a variety of activities to reinforce what he or she has learned during each session. At the conclusion of each session, there is a short exercise activity. On the last day of the program students receive a certificate and a ribbon for participation.

 

Grade Seven and Eight

 

EMBRYOLOGY : The Embryology Program provides a life science activity demonstrating embryo development to grades seven and eight. Students develop an appreciation of life during this three to four week program; through the incubating of fertile avian eggs to the development of live chicks.

 

The 4-H Embryology program enables youth to apply basic principles of mathematics, science, English, and health through a ‘learn by doing’ experience.

 

Grade Eight

 

ROCKETS AWAY: The Rockets Away program is a 4-H project utilized with the eighth grade students. Objectives are to introduce rocketry, demonstrate the effects of the forces of gravity, understand how design can compensate for and overcome the forces of gravity, and stimulate interest in math, engineering, aerospace, and physics. 

 

Students perform experiments to explore the science of rocketry and then build and launch a simple two liter rocket.