East Hills 4-H Projects
Aikido
Aikido is a non-violent martial art that originated in Japan. It is solely defensive in nature, using locks, pins and throws. We will be focusing on the basic techniques, falls, safety, and self-defense. Aikido helps improve balance, strength and coordination. The teen leader of this project is a junior black belt who has been training for seven years. The adult leader is a first-degree black belt and has been training for five years. Onegai shimasu!
American Girl
Project meetings will cover the seventh through tenth American Girls in historical order starting with Rebecca in October. At the meetings we will cover:
- A discussion about a specific American Girl book.
- A discussion about that specific time period.
- Do a craft from that time period.
- Play a game or do an activity related to that time period.
The American Girl dolls and books are not required, but you must have access to the books so that members will be able to actively participate in the discussions. If members have dolls they wish to bring, that would be fine.
Archery
This project will explore the lore of archery and some of the physics of archery for target shooting. Equipment and materials will be provided. Afternoon field classes will be held at times to be arranged at the Redwood Bowmen Archery Range in Redwood Park.
Art & Animals
This project is designed for primary members, but it is open to all ages. It will give members a chance to produce art with various kid friendly mediums, let them explore unique characteristics of an array of animals; introduce public speaking with Show & Tell. Parents and siblings are welcome to not only come, but participate. Kids should wear clothes that can be stained.
Nov 3, 2009 – Pets: Please bring a picture you have drawn of your favorite pet. (If you don't have a pet, bring one of the pet you wish you had.) After we share our pictures, we will make an ID tag and a toy for your critter. (Shrinky-dinks and Braiding)
Dec 1, 2009 - "The Mitten": Share the story of a little hedgehog just trying to stay warm. Afterwards we will make our own little hedgehogs to brighten our houses during the dark days of winter. (clay sculpture)
Jan 5, 2010 - Backyard Birds: Hedgehogs aren't the only ones that need a little help over winter. Let's take a look at what makes birds unique and make a pinecone feeder to help out our bird friends. (painting and pinecone craft)
Feb 2, 2010 - Fish in February- Glub, glub, glub...make a miniature aquarium to take home and put on a whale of, well, rather a shark of a puppet show. (diorama)
Mar 2, 2010 - Turtles & Tortoises - Forget those crazy March hares. We will be creating our own tortoises for our garden and turtle for our tub. While we are at it, let's explore the differences between a turtle and tortoise.(mosaics)
April 6, 2010 Garden Friends - Spring is upon us and our gardens are coming to life. Let's celebrate some beneficial buddies with worm art and butterfly decorations. And, as far as the non-beneficial beings, well, come find out just how fun snails can be once you get them out of your yard. (spin art, painting and pipe cleaners)
Beginning 4-H
Come explore different types of activities in a "learn-by-doing" atmosphere for the younger crowd.
Tentative Schedule: September 17 -- Make your own ice cream; October 15 -- Art project; November 19 -- Sewing project; December 17 -- Science project; January 21 -- Drama project; February 18 -- Cooking project; March 18 -- Pressed flowers; April 15 -- Pictures and frames w/pressed flowers; May 20 -- Finish projects for fair, finish record books
Biking
The Biking Project focuses on three elments: bike maintenance, biking skills, and group riding. Each session will address these elements as the participants develop into safe, confident bicyclists. We meet in a variety of locations to experience different riding environments and conditions, from recreation paths to urban streets.
Citizenship
Citizenship vs. ? ship? Citizenship or ? ship of what? A provoking look at this little thing called "Citizenship" and its BIG implications.
Creative Writing
In the Creative Writing Project we will develop our writing skills, and we will write and edit works of fiction. Some topics we will cover are: How to get started writing, choosing a length for your story (short story, novella, novel, etc.), developing characters, creating conflict for your story, plot outlining, setting and mood, dialogue, and finishing your story (how to resolve a plot). We will also work on how to use journaling to develop your writing skill and sensibilities and on revising and editing your work. Participants can prepare writing entries for the County Fair if they wish. We will create a supportive and fun environment to develop as writers. We will give each other constructive, supportive feedback and help each other along on our writing journeys.
Note: This project will NOT meet in November so that participants in the Creative Writing Project can focus on the NaNoWriMo Young Writers' Program Project in November if they so choose. (It is NOT required to participate in the NaNoWriMo YWP Project to participate in the Creative Writing Project, though if you want to join both projects, you can work on editing your NaNoWriMo novel in the Creative Writing Project after November, if you like.)
Drama
Project members will learn all aspects of producing a short skit, which they will perform before an audience at County Skit Night. They will work together as a team to formulate a themed story line, write a script, design sets and costumes, and perform their skit
Fantasy Art
This project will cover drawing basics and character development along with picture planning and perspective. A sketchbook and drawing pencil will be required at every meeting. For image development, a digital camera is recommended.
Fishing
Learn how to fish for bass, trout and other lake fish. To increase your chances of catching a fish, you first need to learn where they live, when they eat, and what they eat. So we’ll be rising early to go fishing when the fish are up and active. Members will learn how to tie knots, choose and attach bait to line, cast, catch (hopefully) and reel in fish. We will perform catch and release.
Community Service opportunities will be sought with local agencies working to repopulate the local salmon. TBD.
Fitness
This project is designed to get project members moving and increase their daily physical activity and help them make healthier food choices. They will be logging their activity level between meetings as well as monitoring their diet. They will challenge themselves with the President's Challenge Active Lifestyle program and by doing an informal version of the Physical Fitness Test.
Gardening
This will be our 4th year doing the Jr. Master Gardening Project. For the last three years, I have concentrated mainly on botany and plant science. This year, we will be focusing on horticulture and wildlife gardening. We will spend a lot of our time growing things in our garden, as well as propagating and growing plants from seeds for our home gardens, concentrating on native California plants and plants for wildlife (bees, birds and butterflies). A primary focus will be on field trips to native plant nurseries, botanical gardens in the area, and hopefully, finding volunteer opportunities in the gardening field. For example, we might volunteer to work in local community gardens that provide food for the homeless, work with a field scientist in the EBPRD studying local animals, or even working a community information booth to help educate the public about native plants and plants for wildlife. The members of the project will have a lot of say in determining what projects we work on, so I'm looking forward to working with enthusiastic gardeners!
Knitting & Crocheting
You can be a beginner or experienced, but if you like to knit or crochet, come join us. There will be plenty of help available for both knitting and crocheting. Members can learn to knit or crochet or tackle different techniques, like knitting lace and doing cables. Members receive support and resources to learn and practice. Above all, we will sit and knit/crochet :-)
Leadership – Junior
Leadership – Teen
Making Books
Come to each meeting prepared to twist, fold, and turn paper into your own one-of-a-kind book. The emphasis will be on the physical construction of the expressive book itself, so bring your love of books and paper with you!
NaNoWriMo Young Writers
Join this project and write a novel in one month! November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program (YWP) is a way for young people to participate and write their own novels in one month. We will meet in October to set individual word count goals (a grown-up novel word count goal is 50,000 words in one month, but teens might set a goal of 30,000 words, and younger kids set lower word count goals) and to get geared up for novel writing by making character profiles and discussing dialogue, setting, plot outlining, and other noveling topics. In November, we will write like crazy! We will meet several times in November to discuss our novel progress, work on our novels together, and help support and motivate each other. (You will want to write at home every day to keep up with your word count goal.) In December we will have a wrap-up and review meeting to discuss editing and where to go with your novel. (The editing process is not a part of this project.) -- This is a fun and supportive way to jump into writing. And remember, a NaNoWriMo novel does not have to be written well, it just has to be written fast! (You can always edit it once you're done writing.) This is a fast-paced, several-weeks-long, do-it-and-you're-done project. -- More information about the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program: http://ywp.nanowrimo.org
Note: You do NOT have to participate in the Creative Writing Project to participate in the NaNoWriMo YWP Project, though the Creative Writing Project will NOT meet in November so that Creative Writing participants can focus on the NaNoWriMo YWP Project in November if they so choose.
Plastic Eliminators
The main goal of this project this educate the public on reducing their plastic use, especially around bottled water. We will also learn about plastic alternatives. We hope to do two field trips: one to a local water purification treatment plant and also a recycling center's composting facility. We will plan novel ways to educate the public about their local water supply and the hazards associated with plastic water bottles. Additional activities:
1) Work with Pacific Coast Farmers Market to host an educational information booth at the San Leandro Farmer’s Market every Wed. evening in September and October as well as host a kid zone at the Sausage and Suds on Oct.4th.
2) Create an Environmental Stewardship Judging Contest to be offered at County and Sectional Presentation Day.
4)Devise a system to provide clean water at big events like SET Career Day.
5) Put on an "Say No to Plastic" Education fair with a co-sponsor.
3) Take personal challenges and become aware of environmental sustainable lifestyle choices. Participate in the Leave No Plastic Behind National Plastic Quilt Project.
This project will provide numerous opportunities for community service and leadership and tons of material for presentations and county fair displays. Members must make a commitment to fully participate. We will work as a team and split up tasks, many of which can be done by individuals on their own schedule at home (writing, displays, reuse craft projects)
Poetry
This project is a creative writing class devoted entirely to the art of poetry. In this project we will listen to the rhythm of poetry, read poems by famous poets, learn the elements of poetry writing, play fun games to get our creative juices flowing, experiment with sounds and form, brainstorm, and write lots and lots of poems. We will examine rhyming poems, free verse, haiku, limericks, story telling poems, etc. Perhaps we can also put together an anthology of our best poems.
Poultry
Jack and I started this project last year in the hopes of learning enough about chickens to have our own coop, and now we have 6 chickens, a coop that we built and beautiful eggs to eat! This year, we would like to continue learning about raising poultry, along with more about showing poultry competitively. We also are trying to get the city of San Leandro to change their chicken laws and will continue to do that this year. Finally, we will be planning a booth for the Small Animal Field Day, bringing our chickens and having games and educational materials to help teach other 4-H’ers about urban chicken farming.
Public Speaking
This project will cover the basics of public speaking, such as voice projection and body language. You will learn how to prepare a presentation from selecting a topic, to organizing your presentation, to visual aids. Finally, you will learn how to review, critique, and polish your presentation. The project culminates in Alameda County 4-H Presentation Day, a public speaking competition, for those who wish to enter. County Presentation Day is an excellent way to practice your public speaking. There is a possibility to advance to Sectional competition as well. Note: You don’t have to be in the Public Speaking Project to enter Presentation Day.
Robotics
Using Lego Mindstorms, we will explore ROBOTICS. We will build and program robots for Fun and (intellectual) Profit, using the National 4-H Robotics curriculum (http://www.4-hcurriculum.org/robotics.aspx) as a guide. We hope to participate in various S.E.T. related activities during this year.
Science for High Schoolers
What is science that Biology, Chemistry, and Physics are not? We will explore the idea of science and conduct necessary experiments concerning its existence. Members will play with ideas and demonstrate that they are right and powerful.
Science of Food
We will start this project by making a timeline showing how the human diet has changed from prehistoric times to the present. We will follow the evolution of humanoids from jungle dwellers to hunter-gatherers to farmers to consumers of supermarket fare and fast foods. We will look at interesting (and disgusting) dietary practices around the world and learn how common foods like cheese and chocolate are made. We will look at the major chemical components of food--proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals--and how foods can affect our health. In this project we will do an assortment of activities and games and a few chemical tests.
Sewing, Enhanced
In the enhanced sewing project, we will not only work on regular intermediate sewing projects, we will also focus on and learn about embellishing existing items, reconstructing new items from old ones, mending, alteration, and more! -- Intermediate machine sewing skills are required. To join this project, you must know the basic functions of your sewing machine, how to sew straight and curved seams, hem a garment, and read a pattern. Some familiarity with gathering, darts, and hand sewing techniques is preferred. -- Children 11 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. You must bring your own machine, fabric and notions. There may be fees for optional activities such as screen printing, embroidery etc. This is a county project with a limit of 10 participants.
Shakespeare
Performing is fun. Shakespeare is fun. Then let's perform Shakespeare! While exploring this great author's writings, we'll also investigate why he wrote them. And perform some of one!
Square Dancing
4-H members come join the fun! This is a county-wide project so you can meet members from other clubs. Boys and girls learn to square dance from basic beginner to Mainstream and Plus. There are also community service and project exhibit opportunities with this project. Square dancing outfits are not required, but wear tennis shoes, not slip-ons or sandals, and clothing you can move around in. In this project, you can have a lot of fun, meet new friends, and get great exercise!
Table Setting
We will cover the basics of table setting, including how to choose a theme for a table setting, do balanced meal planning, write a menu, and, of course, set a place at the table. We will also do napkin folding and place card designs.