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  • Home
  • Get Involved
    • Enroll Now!
    • Volunteer Opportunities >
      • AVLO >
        • 2021 AVLO Forum
    • Volunteer Requirements
    • 4-H Alumni
    • Donate
  • District Programs
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    • Bethel
    • Bristol Bay/Dillingham
    • Fairbanks/Tanana District
    • Kenai Peninsula
    • Kodiak >
      • Kodiak 4-H At Home Kits 2021
      • Kodiak Celebrates National 4-H Week
      • Interested Members
      • Kodiak Agriculture - Inspiring the Next Generation
      • Kodiak 4-H Camps
    • Mat Su/Copper River >
      • MatSu/Copper River 4-H News
      • MS/CR Scholarships
      • MS/CR At-Home Learning
      • 4-H at the Alaska State Fair
      • Livestock Program
    • Nome
    • Sitka
    • Southeast >
      • AK Experience Camp
      • Enroll in 4-H
  • Statewide Programs
    • Citizen Science
    • Teen Leadership Opportunities >
      • Youth in Governance
      • Youth Ambassador
    • Learn By Doing At Home
    • STEM / Healthy Habits
    • Shooting Sports
    • Public Presentations >
      • 2022 Alaska Statewide Presentation Contest
    • Alaska 4-H Livestock >
      • State Livestock Contest
    • Alaska 4-H Horse Program
    • 4-H Exchange Program
  • Resources
    • Learn & Lead Series
    • The 4-H Brand
    • Volunteer Resources
    • Professional/Volunteer Development and Training

learn by doing
at home series

Create Your Own Animal Yoga Pose

3/31/2020

3 Comments

 
Project Discipline: Yoga
​Ages: All ages!!
Difficulty level: Easy
Supplies (optional): Yoga Mat, Paper, Pencils/Markers
Have you given yoga a try yet? Maybe you joined us last week...What do you think? Maybe you are wondering, what is yoga anyway?

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India. The practice we do here in the U.S. is a modified version which primarily focuses on the physical aspects of this ancient practice through yoga ‘poses’ and breathing techniques. Yoga has been shown to help manage stress,
promote relaxation and all sorts of positive health benefits such as; feeling less anxious, improving coordination, strength, flexibility and balance, improving self-awareness, improving focus and concentration and feeling more/ less energized.
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Before we get started on today's activity, let's warm up with the 4-H Pledge, Yoga Style!
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Now That You're Warmed Up, Let's Get Started!

First, print these pages, or pull them up on your computer so you can see them.  

If you printed them, cut out the cards and arrange in a stack so you can pick a pose randomly, or arrange them all face up so you can create a sequence of poses that flow together.

Move through each pose at your own pace!  While in the pose, call out the affirmation written on the card.

Throughout the practice, make sure you remember to breathe! Breathe in and out through your nose most of the time, and every once in awhile, take a big deep breath in through your nose and exhale through you mouth, making a loud HAAAAAA sound while you push out the air.  

​Remember: Focus on your breathing. Can you feel the air moving in and out through your nose?

Activity compliments of ​https://wyqualitycounts.org/
Now it's your turn to make you own card or set of cards!  Think of an animal and create your own yoga pose for it.  Draw the pose as best you can on the card and name it!  Share a photo of your cards on our Alaska 4-H facebook post so that other 4-Her's can try them out!
Ready for more? 
Kids: Take a free yoga class here!
Yoga Class for Teens
Relieve Anxiety with this quick 4 minute session!
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3 Comments

How does it work?

3/30/2020

0 Comments

 
Project Discipline: STEM
​Ages: All ages
Difficulty level:​ Medium
Supplies:
Use anything in your house!
If you choose to follow video instructions, you'll need: 2 paper towel rolls, 2 straws, disposable cup or bowl, spool, ribbon or string, tape, sturdy platform (box lid), scissors

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Engineers are the people who design and build machines, systems, or structures.  They figure out how things can work together to complete a job.  We want you to do the same!  Here's a little bit about what we'd like you to design: 
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A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwise adjust the tension of a rope or wire rope.  In its simplest form, it consists of a spool attached to a hand crank. Winches are the basis of machines like tow trucks, steam shovels, elevators and water wells (Thanks Wikipedia!)
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Your challenge:

Design and build your own hand crank winch using the supplies in your house!  See how much weight you can lift in your bucket, snap a photo and share on the Alaska 4-H facebook post for this challenge.

Need a little help?  In the video below, Marla Lowder of Tanana District 4-H, shows you how she met this challenge, and walks you through one way to do this project. 
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Tanana District 4-H'er Asher shows off his hand crank winch! This is a simple Crank Winch made out of paper towel rolls, camouflage duct tape, plastic straws and ribbon with a basket to hold the item in which you are winching up.
0 Comments

Let's Bake!

3/27/2020

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Project Discipline: Baking
​Ages: All ages!!
Difficulty level: Medium
Supplies: Baking soda, vinegar, corn starch, corn syrup & food coloring.  You'll also need some bowls and measuring spoons.  Don't forget paper and a paintbrush to test your paints! 
​
Our Kodiak 4-H bakers are really missing their monthly "Breads" project meetings.  They'd like to show you how to make a delicious blueberry scone!  
Here's what you'll need:
  • 1 lemon
  • ⅓ cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. old-fashioned oats
  • 2½ tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • 1⅓ cups plus 1 Tbsp. chilled heavy cream**
  • 2 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries, preferably wild
  • 1 large egg yolk
The Directions, as described here:

  1. Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 400°. Finely grate zest of 1 lemon into a large bowl. Add ⅓ cup sugar and massage with your fingertips until mixture looks like wet sand and is very fragrant. Set aside remaining lemon for another use.

  2. Add 2 cups flour, 1 cup oats, 2½ tsp. baking powder, and ½ tsp. salt to bowl with sugared zest. Whisk to combine.

  3. Whisk 1⅓ cups cream and 2 Tbsp. honey in a medium bowl until combined.

  4. Slowly drizzle cream mixture into flour mixture, tossing with a fork to disperse liquid and hydrate flour. Stop mixing when you still have a few dry spots.

  5. Add 1 cup blueberries and fold mixture with a rubber spatula, taking care only to mix until blueberries are distributed throughout and you have a sticky dough. It’s okay if some of the blueberries bleed or get broken up.

  6. Dust countertop liberally with more flour and turn out dough. Pat down into a 1"-thick square, flouring hands lightly to prevent sticking as you work.

  7. Mix 1 egg yolk and remaining 1 Tbsp. cream with a pastry brush in a small bowl. Brush yolk mixture all across surface of dough.

  8. Sprinkle remaining 2 Tbsp. oats and 2 Tbsp. sugar over.

  9. Using a knife or metal bench scraper, cut dough into 4 quadrants, then cut each quadrant in half diagonally so you have 8 triangles.

  10. Transfer each triangle to a large parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, spacing evenly.

  11. Bake scones on upper rack until tops are lightly golden all over and bottoms are golden brown, 15–20 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet. Serve warm.

****For a nondairy option, try using full-fat canned coconut milk instead of the heavy cream.

If you don't have heavy cream, try whole milk!  This recipe uses milk instead of cream

Don't forget to snap a photo, and then dig in! 

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0 Comments

Dear Mr. Nelson,

3/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Project Discipline: Writing & Service
​Ages: All ages!!
Difficulty level: Easy
Supplies: Supplies for card making, or just paper, writing utensils, the address for your "Mr. Nelson", an envelope & a stamp!
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Get Creative with it, like this 4-H'er did in the Tanana District:
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Everyone has a "Mr. Nelson" in their life, someone who could use a little cheer. Maybe it's a grandparent who's missing you, a friend with a birthday coming whose party has been cancelled, a teacher you miss seeing...Our 4-H motto is "To Make the Best Better"... Today, we challenge you to make someone's day better!

Get out a pencil and paper, and write a letter to someone you know or maybe who you don’t know (I am sure the senior centers or hospitals in your area could use some cheer for their patients!) Send some sunshine to them in a letter. Maybe include some art work, or make the card you write the letter in (Excellent inspiration in the photos below!). Stick a stamp on it and send it today. It’s a gesture that won’t take you much time, but will mean a lot to the person getting your mail! 

Don't forget to take a photo for us and share on Alaska 4-H Facebook page or with your local district!

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Another 4-H'er chose to make Thank You cards to deliver to all the people in her community that are helping out during this difficult time:
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Who will YOU send a letter to?  Don't forget to share a photo to Alaska 4-H facebook post!

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Watercolor Wednesday!

3/25/2020

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Today is a treat! 
Kenai Peninsula 4-H'er, Melanie, will be leading a watercolor zoom party for all Alaska 4-H'ers to join. 

Download zoom here if you don't already have it.  When it's 11 AM, open up zoom, and type in the Zoom meeting: 825-916-1925.

A few helpful hints:
  • Take note of the materials list (watercolors, paper, mixing tray, 3 brushes 1/4'' or smaller) and be prepared so that we are all ready to start our project when Melanie starts.
  • The meeting room will be open at 10:40 to allow folks to login and get settled.
  • Please mute your microphone upon entry into the room.
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For those who can't join the zoom but want to have some fun with watercolors, check this out: Make Your Own Watercolors!

Project Discipline: Arts
​Ages: All ages!!
Difficulty level: Easy
Supplies: Baking soda, vinegar, corn starch, corn syrup & food coloring.  You'll also need some bowls and measuring spoons.  Don't forget paper and a paintbrush to test your paints! 
To make the paint (Thanks Martha!)
  • In a mixing bowl, mix 4 tablespoons baking soda with 2 tablespoons vinegar until fizzing stops. Add 1/2 teaspoon corn syrup and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Mix until a uniform consistency.
  • Pour the mixture into individual egg carton cups, deviled egg holders, mini muffin tins - whatever you've got! - filling each about a third to halfway.
  • Add five to 10 drops of food coloring to each cup, mixing in thoroughly, to reach desired colors. (Experiment, we had green, yellow, red and blue food coloring and check out all the colors we got!)
  • Allow paints to set overnight. Use paints on watercolor paper with a wet paintbrush.

Note: we followed a set of directions that said freezing the paints would speed up the setting process.  We would NOT recommend doing that. 
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Once your paints are set, try them out!  New to watercolor? Check out these tips.
​Hopefully you'll get some awesome watercolor paintings like these 4-Her's did (see below).  Post photos of your paints or of your water color painting on facebook to share with all of our Alaska 4-H'ers! 
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Kenai Peninsula 4-H Watercolors
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Here's how our paints turned out on paper!
0 Comments

Yoga for the Young at Heart

3/24/2020

1 Comment

 
Project Discipline: Yoga
​Ages: All ages!!
Difficulty level: Easy
Supplies (optional): Yoga Mat
Today's activity is to learn a few new yoga poses by doing them!  We found these downloads from kidsyogastories.com.  Head that way for free downloads! If you're doing these with kids, you can visit the site for lesson plan ideas as well.  Otherwise, just make it up as you go, like we did! 
Step 1: Choose which worksheets to go through (We chose Superheroes and Ocean!)
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Step 2: Set up your area.  Superbrain yoga suggests facing east, and removing all jewelry.  This is a good opportunity to introduce North, South East & West concepts for younger ones, and revisit the concepts for older 4-H'ers. 

​You can do these on a yoga mat, or just the floor.  Have fun with it!
We played some background music during our sessions.  Find your own, or try what we used:
Superhero music
Humpback whale songs
Step 3:  Do the yoga positions, remembering to breathe deeply and with purpose at each position.  This was difficult for these superheroes, but I think the older 4-Her's would have an easier time focusing.

During each superhero pose, I had them repeat the phrase we were modeling (see captions for phrases).
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I AM KIND
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I AM BRAVE
For the ocean poses, I had some fun with them and didn't tell them what animals they were posing as, they had to guess. 
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I AM A TURTLE
Try your own yoga session, and remember - have fun!  Have someone snap a picture of you and post to our Alaska 4-H page, tag  #learnbydoingathome
1 Comment

Stem Challenges

3/23/2020

1 Comment

 
Project Discipline: STEM!
Ages: All ages 
Difficulty level: As difficult as you make it!
Supplies needed: random supplies from around the house! Be as creative as you wish.
Today's STEM challenge is to create either a boat or a cat toy (a little easier for our cloverbuds) from only objects you can found in your house or yard.  

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Boat STEM Challenge

We got this idea from Tanana District Agent, Marla Lowder.  She found the initial idea here, but finding herself without many supplies, she decided to make it her own own.  We challenge you to do the same:  Use what you've got in your house.  Marla shows you her method in the video below.

What will you use?  Think about what floats! Make your boat, float it and then snap a picture and send it to us at kodiak4h@gmail.com, or post it to our Alaska 4-H facebook page. 
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 Cat Toy  STEM Challenge 

What kinds of things do cats like?  If you have a cat, you likely know that they like things that move quickly, maybe things that jingle, rattle, or bounce!  Find what you can around the house and get creative! Be sure to avoid any parts that a cat might choke on.

Here's some inspiration for you!
1 Comment

Hunting for Rainbows

3/20/2020

3 Comments

 
Kids all over the country and world are making rainbows and placing them in their windows, in an effort to stay connected and spread hope and positivity. I heard about how one awesome mom started it locally in Kodiak, Alaska so I took my kids on a road trip this morning to hunt for rainbows (after making our own) - we found 25!!! The squeals of excitement and joy from the backseat as we discovered rainbows were heaven to my ears...we could all use a little bit of that in life lately.  And trust me, it doesn't just bring joy to the kids.  
Haven’t seen any in your town yet? Start the trend!
Rainbows already up?  Consider making some for the businesses in your area that are still open, and ask them to help spread the hope.  Sounds like a great service project to me. 
​
Here are some ideas to get you started! Spread the love!
Photo credit: N. Trenery, K & O Schaberg, B. Zimmerman, Instagram posts #rainbowwindow
Don't forget to share own photos and tag #alaska4h

In other news: it’s National Storytelling Day! We got this prompt from writers digest, and we’d love to hear your stories! 

You and a friend have decided to try and follow a rainbow to see if the end holds a pot of gold. But when you finally reach the end, you find something much more valuable than a pot of gold—and it changes your life. Write this scene.


3 Comments

Shine Brightly for Spring

3/19/2020

0 Comments

 
Happy Spring! There are a ton of springtime activities out there, we're hoping our Springtime activity will not only encourage the sunshine outside, but also the sunshine within. 

Today, we're going to be starting our Shine Bright Journals, an activity brought to you by Sitka 4-H, led by the amazing Claire Sanchez.
Project Discipline: Art & Creative Writing
Ages: All ages (helpful if youth can write)
Difficulty level: Medium (Cloverbuds will need help writing)
Supplies needed: old magazines, pens, any kind of paper, cardboard, scissors, glue, colors, hole punch, yarn, ruler
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Step 1: Cut out cardboard front and back covers
 
Measure and cut out two identical sizes of pieces of cardboard any size that you would like. The cardboard piece is there to hold the structure of your journal and will protect the pages inside.

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Step 2: Decorate your cardboard covers
 
Glue cardboard with paper, magazine cut outs, piece of leather etc. This is your journal so give it that personal flare!
Step 3: Add pages to your journal
 
You can use any kind of paper you want for the middle. Make sure you have at least 6 pages inside for our suggested prompts but you can have more to create your own as well.
 
Step 4: Attach pages and covers together 
 
Hole punch each page and cover in approximately the same place.  This can be two or three holes and each hole should be at least 2 inches apart. Cut a small piece of string for each hole and tie everything together. ​
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Step 5: Label the pages
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Page 1 – “I Am” This page is to explore and reflect on what makes you, you! Include a self-portrait or photo, magazine cutouts, words, etc
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Page 2 – “I am Grateful for” Take a look at yourself first. What are personality traits that you are most thankful for? Write down one good thing that happened to you today. What makes you smile? What’s a simple pleasure in your life? Now ask yourself, “What if I didn’t have that in my life?” and add those things as well. Remember that challenges can be things to be thankful for, too.
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Page 3 – Personal mantras A personal mantra is a positive phrase or affirmative statement that you say to yourself for encouragement and times when we feel overwhelmed. These can also just be one word. Anything that reminds you how far you’ve come, what great things you’re capable of, and who you really are!
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Page 4 – Emotional wheel check in Looking at the range of feelings/emotions on the wheel. Ask yourself how you are feeling right now. What emotions can you remember feeling in the past? Where and how do you feel these in your body? Answer the following questions: “I am lying down, listening to my favorite song. Everything is peaceful and quiet. I feel…” “I don’t want to get out of bed or do anything at all. I feel…” “I just finished all of my chores for the day. I feel…” “This bathroom is really dirty and I don’t want to touch anything in here. I feel…”
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Page 5 – Kids’ Needs sheet Ask yourself what do you need right now. If you see someone upset, is there a question on this sheet you could ask them?
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Page 6 – Express yourself! Fill in the blanks to this statement: “When ________________(describe action), I feel ________________(describe emotion), because I need __________________(state need). Would you consider ____________(make request). You can practice filling this out with the following scenario or come up with your own: “One day your friend ignores you on the playground and won’t play with you but you’re not sure why. What do you say the next time you see them?” ​
Step 6: Add more pages to your journal as desired.
 
The ideas for pages are endless! Add as many of your own as you would like. 

We'd love to see your work - post pictures of your journal covers on our facebook page! 
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Veterinary Challenge: Taking Vitals - Heart Rate

3/18/2020

2 Comments

 
Project Discipline: Veterinary Science
​Ages: All ages, dependent on child!
Difficulty level: Medium (depends on your "patient")
Supplies needed: A dog, cat or human "patient"
Today, Kodiak 4-H veterinary leader and local veterinarian, Dr. Iacobucci, would like to challenge all of our Alaska 4-H'ers and friends to find a patient and take their heart rate.  With the help of her vet assistants and the cooperation of her patient, Dr. Iacobucci demonstrates in the video below how to take the heart rate of a dog without a stethoscope, and notes that the same technique can be applied to cats.  She also demonstrates how to take the heart rate of a person, in the event you are stuck at home without any furry friends!

How did she do? 
​Using the 
Alaska 4-H judging form, watch the demonstration again, but this time, be the judge!  Fill out the form at home and let Dr. Iacobucci know how she did.  Scored sheets can be e-mailed to kodiak4h@gmail.com.

The Challenge:  Take a patient's heart rate at home.  
  • Have a family member help you and take some photos while you're at it.  Upload to our facebook page to show you did it!
  • Feeling comfortable with it? Want to share with others?  Create a demonstration video and have your family and friends judge you! 
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