4-H Healthy Living Curricula
4-H National Directory of Materials
The 4-H National Directory of Materials is a searchable database of educational materials currently available throughout the Cooperative Extension System. Here you will find 4-H individual and group project materials, volunteer and professional development materials, as well as many other resources. You can search by topic area or keyword, then click on the links to the resources.
www.4-hdirectory.org
Curricula Poll
Recommended Healthy Living Curriculum
Social-Emotional Health
Developed by the University of California
Grades 8-12
Available from: http://moneytalks4teens.ucdavis.edu/
Cost: Free download
Money Talks for Teens is a bilingual (English/Spanish) money management curriculum aimed at teens 14-18 years old and the adults who work with them. The materials provide teens accurate, non-biased information and hands-on experiences in financial management.
Developed by University of Nebraska
Grades 5-8
Available from: http://bit.ly/2EHYID7
Cost: $9.95
Health Rocks!® is a three-part series of leader's curricula for a healthy living program, with the goal of bringing youth, families and communities across the United States together to reduce tobacco, alcohol and drug use by youth. Health Rocks! helps youth develop life skills in the area of critical thinking, decision-making, communication, managing feelings, stress management and goal setting to help them resist risky behaviors. The program is designed to be facilitated by teen/adult teams
Developed by Texas A&M University
Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
Available from: https://agrilifebookstore.org/publications
Cost: $20.00
This program is designed to stimulate discussion and engage young people in learning about conflict management, bullying, and more. The curriculum has five lessons, each divided into two parts for a total of 10 lessons. Each session takes roughly 45 minutes to complete. Some lessons provide additional activities that can be incorporated as time permits or used in additional class periods. The five topics addressed in the curriculum are bullying/conflict management, communication, etiquette, teamwork and cultural awareness.
Developed by Iowa State University
Ages 10-14 and their parents
Available from: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/sfp/inside/order.php
Cost: $175.00
This curriculum is designed to prevent teen substance abuse, decrease problem behaviors in teens, strengthen parenting skills and strategies and build family strengths.
Developed by Montana State University
Grades 6th-12th
Available from:
Cost: Download from website
This curriculum provides youths in middle school and high school with the facts, the tools and the resources to learn more about the risks of methamphetamine use.
Developed by Pennsylvania State University
Grades 6th-8th
Available from: https://www.projectalert.com/
Cost: Free Download from website
This program motivates students against drug use, provides skills and strategies to resist drugs, and to establish new non-use attitudes and beliefs.
Recommended Healthy Living Curriculum
Nutrition and Fitness
4-H Cooking 101, 201, 301, and 401
Developed by the University of Illinois
Grades (series available for all ages)
Available from: http://bit.ly/2EIdQQW
Cost: varies
Youth learn how to use MyPlate while increasing cooking skills (food safety, measuring, mixing, etc.)
Healthalicious Cooking
Developed by the University of California
Grades 4-6
Available from: http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8449
Cost: Free
This afterschool curriculum is a perfect setting for promoting a healthy lifestyle that includes good foods and plenty of physical activity, helping kids build good health skills that will last a lifetime. The 6-week, hands-on curriculum is designed to give 9- to 12-year-olds a fun introduction to preparing and eating healthy meals.
Developed by the University of California
Grades 7-12
Available from: http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3423
Cost: $18.00
This nine-lesson curriculum provides hands-on activities that teach youth the skills they need to meet their goals. It is behaviorally focused and thus includes activities that help students to gain the insight and awareness required to change their current food related behaviors.
Developed by the University of California in partnership with the California Department of Education
Grades 4-6
Available from: www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/he/nrttogrow.asp
Cost: Free download
Nine lessons are designed to teach children and their families about nutrition by relating each lesson to a garden activity. The curriculum uses the garden to integrate disciplines, including science, mathematics, language arts, history, environmental studies and nutrition, while reinforcing California content standards.
Jump Into Foods and Fitness
Developed by Michigan State University
Grades 3-5
Available from: http://shop.msu.edu/product_p/bulletin-4h1602.htm
Cost: $20.00
This curriculum teaches kids about healthy food choices, increased physical activity and food safety. It is designed to be implemented by adults and older teems. "Jiff the Joey" sets the stage for each of the eight "Kangaroo Jumps" or sessions, utilizing the MyActivity Pyramid and the MyPyramind for Kids.
Developed by University of Vermont
Grades 4-6
Available from: http://bit.ly/2FiU6UY
Cost: $12.50
Food, Culture, and Reading is a nutrition education program targeted to youth in grades four to six. It uses literature to learn about food, nutrition, healthy living, and different cultures. Countries featured include the United States, Mexico, Russia, Kenya, Greece, and Japan, and each unit is based on a different food group. Each unit includes a family take-home sheet which provides nutritional information, activities and recipes for families to do at home.
Developed by University of Maryland
Grades K-12
Available from: https://4-hmilitarypartnerships.org/educator-staff/resources/curriculum/ufc.html
Cost: Free download
Up for the Challenge is a fitness, nutrition and health curriculum for school-aged, middle school and teen youth. It was written for military afterschool programs but is easily adaptable to any afterschool or 4-H club setting. The 290-page curriculum is divided into five chapters with each chapter containing multiple lessons in physical activity, nutrition and healthy decision making. Each lesson provides expected youth outcomes, instructor essential information, preparation instructions, supplies, lesson time, handouts and opportunities for reflection.
Developed by Ohio State University
Grades 3-5
Available from: http://bit.ly/2EIrO5gCost: $7.50
Adults and older youth will enjoy using these lesson plans to quickly engage youth in learning-by-doing agriculture activities within the following thematic units including Plant Detectives, Mystery Agriculture, All About Agriculture, Fast Food Agriculture. Youth learn important concepts around food safety and food production.
Developed by University of Missouri
Grades 4-5
Available from: https://extension2.missouri.edu/N755
Cost: $80.00
Eating From the Garden provides research-based information to high-needs youth in schools and community programs. Through nutrition and gardening activities, Eating From the Garden aims to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables. With help from area partners and volunteers, the program also promotes healthier food choices, gardening knowledge and physical activity.
Developed by Oregon State University
Grades K-2
Available from: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/nep/about/start-smart-eating-and-reading-expanded
Cost: Free download
This curriculum was designed to help children discover the importance of breakfast through reading and discussion of various children's literature books. The four modules each offer a no-cook food activity and other activities to reinforce the message about smart eating. "Breakfast Bites," a parent newsletter, takes the message into the home.
Developed by the National 4-H Council
Grades 3-12
Available from: http://bit.ly/2EHaDRj
Cost: $4.50 each; $21.75 set of 5
This series of three student guides and one leader guide teaches youth basic concepts around nutrition, cooking, consumerism and food safety. Youth solve problems, make decisions, keep records, and create snacks and meals.
Developed by the National 4-H Council
Grades 8-12
Available from: http://bit.ly/2olpYBh
Cost: $8.95 to $47.95
This curriculum consists of 10 interactive activities that help youth develop skills and knowledge in physical fitness and nutrition. Youth are engaged in a variety of learning methods and tools such as games, case scenarios, computer software programs, cooking demonstrations, and fitness challenges.
Cost: varies
Available from: http://bit.ly/2EIdQQW
This series of cooking project manuals help students develop skills and abilities in food & kitchen Safety, food preparation, meal planning, food science, and nutrition.