STEM Program & Resources

4-H STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a specific program that focuses on inquiry-based learning. This approach encourages youth to take an active role in their own learning by asking questions, investigating topics of interest, and gathering evidence to support their findings. It’s a great way for young people to develop critical thinking skills and explore their curiosity about the world around them.

If you’re interested in learning more about inquiry-based learning, you can check out the Inquiry-based Learning Fact Sheet. It provides more information about this instructional method and how it can benefit young learners. To learn more about this instructional method, check out the Inquiry-based Learning Fact Sheet.

What We Offer

• Resources & Kits – We have a variety of STEM kits, art kits and 4-H curriculum and materials available for to loan to teachers, 4-H clubs, afterschool programs, and other youth development organizations.
• STEM Training – We provide custom trainings for educators and youth workers in inquiry-based experiential education, and trainings for implementation of specific STEM activities and kits.
• STEM Events – Partner with us to provide programming for in-school science events, family nights or other special STEM events.

King County 4-H is committed to providing hands-on, experiential education activities to students through partnerships with teachers, afterschool programs, summer camps, and other out-of-school time programs. They offer a range of services including professional development training, direct programming for special events such as family nights and camps, virtual field trips, as well as loaning kits, curriculum, and materials to educational partners.

Their resources are designed to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and creative arts. This ensures that students have access to engaging and interactive learning experiences that foster their curiosity and creativity.

King County 4-H has a wide range of educational kits, curriculum, and materials available to support hands-on, experiential education-based programming to youth of all ages. Our resources are available to all educators in King County. If you are interested in checking out STEM or art materials, contact Michelle Green at the 4-H office in King County – michelle.green@wsu.edu. 

Resources

Video Series on 4-H Inquiry-Based Learning

• Lesson 1: Why Should I Include Inquiry-Based Learning in Experiential Learning Activities
• Lesson 2: How Do I Use Inquiry-Based Learning With Youth? 
• Lesson 3: How Can I Better Facilitate Inquiry-Based Learning

4-H Science Handouts on Inquiry-Based Learning

• Recognizing Experiential Learning and Inquiry Rubric
• Experiential Learning 5 Step Learning Cycle
• What Is Inquiry?
• What’s In A Question? Understanding the Types of Questions I’m Asking

Inquiry-based Learning Fact Sheet

Questioning Tips and Tricks

Click 2 Science STEM Resources

Click2Science is an interactive, professional development site for trainers, coaches, site directors and frontline staff/volunteers working in out-of-school time STEM programs, serving children and youth.

The resources give participants the opportunity to can gain STEM knowledge in 20 essential skills to make STEM “click” with youth. These skills are focused on three core areas:

1. planning STEM learning experiences,
2. interacting with youth doing STEM, and
3. building STEM skills.

These skills were identified by looking through existing research and resources, as well as by asking frontline facilitators, trainers, and coaches what skills they needed help supporting.

Click2Science was developed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Partnership with the Noyce Foundation. Registration is free! Find out more at Click2Sciencepd.org.

4-H STEM

1. Submit a request with michelle.green@wsu.edu or 425-738-0105
2. We will contact you to discuss your request and finalize a plan.
3. Meet with 4-H staff to familiarize you and your staff with the curriculum or activity, learn about 4-H experiential education approach and best practices for implementing hands-on programming. Depending on the selected curriculum and your experience with experiential-education, we may require a more formal training with your staff. Orientation and training meetings are customized and scheduled at a time and location convenient for you.
4. A small security deposit may be required. Specific amount depends on materials checked out.
5. Complete a Group Enrollment Form Youth may be engaged with 4-H curriculum in a school or after school setting. There is no individual 4-H enrollment process for these types of settings. Youth are “group enrolled” and overall numbers are reported but not specific information on each participant.
6. Youth complete a Google forms survey at conclusion of STEM project learning.
7. You pick up/drop-off materials at our Renton office.
8. Provide feedback and follow-up on your experience using the materials via our online King County 4-H Resource Follow-Up Form. We ask for one success story each year we can share with our stakeholders about how your group has been able to utilize our STEM or Art kits.

All 4-H curriculum is available purchase at the 4-H Mall