Florida 4-H Program Handbook
SECTION 7:Florida 4-H Curriculum
What is the 4-H Curriculum?
The 4-H curriculum is defined as the sum of all planned learning experiences. This encompasses the sequence of all the knowledge and experiences we provide for youth through 4-H. This provides a system of educational experiences, including:
- the knowledge and materials provided through "projects";
- supporting events and activities;
- and recognition opportunities for youth.
What the 4-H Curriculum IS NOT.
The 4-H curriculum is NOT just the printed project literature. For the most effective youth development outcomes through 4-H, a more comprehensive set of learning experiences must be available to youth. 4-H programs should strive to engage as many youth as possible in all elements of a effective 4-H curriculum. An effective county or statewide program should provide not only the project literature but support this with a broad set of supporting experiences and recognition opportunities
An effective curriculum is NOT just a series of contest experiences. This does not imply that having youth study and compete in a 4-H contest is not a valuable experience. It is just not the most comprehensive one. The goals of a truly effective curriculum should be to provide some educational project materials for the youth to use. What they learn and do through this serves as a foundation for the supporting contests and provides a basis for a broader set of achievement and recognition opportunities than merely a competitive experience.
An effective curriculum is NOT just focused on the youth. An effective curriculum provides for supporting educational materials and training for the professional staff, the volunteers, and the supporting resources necessary to effectively promote and manage the program.
Components of an Effective 4-H Curriculum
The major components of effective 4-H youth curricula include:
"Project" Experiences These experiences provide a foundation for youth to gain knowledge and skills using a variety of printed materials, audio-visual materials and hands-on learning experiences. 4-H youth may participate in these experiences individually or in group settings.
"Events and Activities" are the supporting learning experiences that may provide youth with planned competitive or noncompetitive events. Many of the competitive events and activities provide a system of competition and incentives from county, district, state and in some cases, national levels of participation.
"Recognition Opportunities" provide an integral part of all 4-H experiences. Some type of recognition should be provided for all 4-H members.
