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4-H clover Full STEAM Ahead with 4-H

Try one or all of these at-home activities in science, technology engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM). Do them with your whole family using supplies that you have at home. This is a great way to learn about 4-H projects. 

Get access to all of these activities by filling out this form.

Viceroy butterfly on coneflower

Butterflies

More than beautiful, butterflies contribute to the health of our planet. While feeding on nectar, they also pollinate many types of flowers.

Learn about the life cycle of butterflies, why they’re important and how to protect them.


STEM activities

Chemistry for kids

Matter is the “stuff” in the universe and is made up of atoms and molecules.

In this lesson, 4-H’ers will learn about molecules, states of matter and chemical reactions.


tie dye shirt

Clothing and textiles science

Learn a fast and easy way to tie dye clothes! This process uses household items and is quicker than regular tie dying.

In this lesson, 4-H’ers will learn how to use a variety of techniques to get different clothing designs by using bleach.


pennies in a tin foil boat

How a boat floats

How do huge boats that weigh much more than humans float across the water?

In this lesson, you will explore the science behind boats.


bowl of ice cream

Ice cream

Have you ever thought about how ice cream is made? 

In this lesson, you will explore what science needs to happen for your list of ingredients to become a tasty treat.


Monarch butterfly sitting on a purple wild flower.

Monarchs

Spend some time looking for Monarch eggs and caterpillars and watch their life cycle.

In this lesson, 4-H’ers will learn about Monarch butterflies, why they’re important and how to protect them.


4-H: Full steam ahead paper helicopter

Paper helicopter

For an object to fly, it must overcome the force of gravity and drag. How do wind speed and wing shape affect how a helicopter flies?

In this lesson, 4-H’ers will explore the principles of flight.


rain cloud in a jar

Rain

When clouds get so full of water that they can't hold anymore, the water falls back to the ground as rain.

Learn how rain clouds form.


hand made out of paper and strings

Robotics

Robotics is a field that applies concepts from science, engineering and technology to produce machines that can substitute or replicate human actions.

In this lesson, 4-H’ers will explore the basic design of a robotic hand to discover how it works.


boy playing with slime

Slime

Slime flows like a liquid, but unlike most other liquids, slime’s ability to flow is not constant. It is a fluid, but not a regular liquid.

In this lesson, 4-H’ers will learn about polymers and non-Newtonian fluids by making slime.


tower built with noodles and marshmallows

Towers

This tower activity helps to encourage design thinking, patience and supports basic engineering principles.

In this lesson, 4-H’ers will explore the principles of engineering by building a tower out of marshmallows and spaghetti noodles.


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Contact

Darcy Cole, Extension educator
dacole@umn.edu or 320-484-4334

 

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