{"id":17719,"date":"2024-10-08T13:02:32","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T20:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/jefferson\/?page_id=17719"},"modified":"2025-05-28T14:42:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T21:42:45","slug":"presentations-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/jefferson\/4-h\/presentations-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Presentations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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4-H Public Presentations<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

General Guidelines & Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why Do 4-Hers Make Public Presentations? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The logo above is a good reminder of the \u201c4 Essential Elements\u201d for youth development: a sense of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.  In combination, these essential elements help youth to grow into competent, caring, and contributing adults.  When it comes to the element of \u201cmastery\u201d in particular, all youth want to be good at something (adults do too!).  Mastery is building knowledge, skills, and attitudes and then demonstrating<\/em> the competent use of the knowledge and skills.  Youth need to feel and believe that they are capable, and experience success at solving problems and meeting challenges to develop their self-confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practicing and offering 4-H public presentations give youth an ideal opportunity to stretch and grow in the \u201cmastery\u201d of the activities.   Settings that promote mastery \u2013 like 4-H Club meetings, County Fair, State Fair \u2013 encourage youth to take risks, seek out challenges, and focus on self-improvement rather than comparing themselves to their peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Types of 4-H Presentations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  • A Demonstration <\/strong>puts words into action. An effective demonstration teaches others how to do something by showing while telling.  At the end of a demonstration, you should have a finished product to show your audience.
    Examples include:<\/em> how to cook an egg, how to groom a dog, how to needle-felt<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • An Illustrated Talk<\/strong> makes us of posters, pictures, PowerPoint (at County Fair: for Intermediate and Senior 4-Hers only), or other visuals to show how to do something or illustrate a process. No finished product is required.\n
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    • Example include:<\/em> how to plan a garden, how to distinguish horse markings, how to lead a fun and effective carwash<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Public Speaking<\/strong> is a prepared speech on a specific subject for an audience. Usually, no props or visual aids are used.  4-Hers use this type of presentation to teach, entertain, and\/or inform their audiences.\n
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      • Examples include:<\/em> why I like the 4-H cat project, 4-H around the world, what compassion looks like in my community(For more on Public Speaking, please see \u201cPublic Speaking 4-H Member Manual,\u201d WSU Publication #EM4903E.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Individual and Team Presentations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Presentations can be given by individuals or by teams.  When trying to decide between the two, ask yourself, \u201cCan I do this best by myself or with someone else?\u201d  While individual presentations tend to take less time in planning and presenting, team presentations are a great way to learn team planning and cooperation.  And, they offer the viewing audience a change of voices and personalities and, perhaps, understand a subject from different perspectives.  Teamwork is encouraged throughout the planning and presentation itself.  Shifting the presentation from one team member to another should occur at natural, and relatively equal intervals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Here are a few things to keep in mind with team presentations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        • If you plan to compete at State Fair, only members of the same age division should compete as a team.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Be sure that all members of the team share in the preparation, doing, and telling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Team presentations take more practice in order to flow as if only one person is giving the demonstration. So, allow for plenty of practice time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Recommended Time Limits for 4-H Presentations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          For demonstrations and illustrated talks the minimum time is 3 minutes and the maximum is 20 minutes, depending on 4-H \u201cage\u201d (your age on Oct. 1 of the current 4-H year).  For public speeches the minimum time is 5 minutes and a maximum time is 10 minutes (at State Fair, a penalty of 5 points per minute under or over is deducted).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          4-H Age Division<\/th>Age<\/th>Time limits<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
          Cloverbuds<\/td>5-7 years old<\/td>Less than 5 minutes<\/td><\/tr>
          Juniors<\/td>8-10 years old<\/td>3-8 minutes<\/td><\/tr>
          Intermediates<\/td>11-13 years old<\/td>5-15 minutes<\/td><\/tr>
          Seniors<\/td>14-<19 years old<\/td>10-20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          Getting Ready to Present<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Shaping the Presentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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          • Choose a topic<\/strong> that is of great interest to you! If you need ideas, talk with your 4-H friends and Leader; look at the 4-H catalog: talk with other adults and youth in your life; or look in the library, magazines, newspaper, and other media.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Choose a title<\/strong> that gives an interesting hint at what your topic is about. For example, if you are going to do an illustrated talk about rabbits\u2019 eyelids, you might want to call it \u201cThe Eyes Have It\u201d instead of \u201cRabbit Eyelids.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Prepare a written outline <\/strong>of the 3 main parts of your presentation. You are welcome (and encouraged) to use your outline and brief notes as you present (no need to memorize!).   You might want to use the template on the next page help you with your outline:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Anatomy of a 4-H Presentation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            Introduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n