4-H Delivers

Embryology School Enrichment

The Issue:
Science literacy among school-age children in the United States is among the lowest in the developed world. The use of traditional teaching methods is a major contributing factor to this deficit. Young people need a wide range of opportunities to develop and enhance science skills.

What has 4-H Done?:
The Nevada County 4-H Embryology School Enrichment Program offered through the University of California Cooperative Extension office in Nevada County provides teachers, educators, and home-schooled families with equipment, fertilized eggs, National 4-H curriculum, and other educational materials that have been designed to be grade-level appropriate and correlated to the National Science Education Standards. The integrated curriculum links educations, recreation, and social and interpersonal disciplines. Youth build skills in math, science, and language arts. The curriculum focuses on the SET characteristics of math and science. In this program, children are responsible for caring for the eggs and hatching the chicks. There are many opportunities for students to learn about the basic principles of animal reproduction and the processes of living things. Youth learn through observation and hands-on activities about the value of life along with information about chickens, ducks, eggs, and embryonic development.

The Impact:
Over the last two years, the Embryology School Enrichment program reached over 1,300 kindergarten through third grade students in Nevada County. In a post-test evaluation, teachers reported on changes in their students. The teachers reported that there was an increase the knowledge of the embryonic process, appreciation of life, interest and willingness to care for another living creature, interest in hands-on science process, and science observation skills. The results indicate that this program increases science literacy and helps youth develop life skills. The results show the importance of hands-on, enrichment opportunities to enhance to learning of traditional methods.