{"id":24152,"date":"2026-02-16T14:57:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T22:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/?page_id=24152"},"modified":"2026-05-04T16:07:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T23:07:55","slug":"4-h-educational-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/youth\/4-h-educational-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"4-H Educational Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>An educational display stimulates thought, teaches facts, or shows a process. It may result in action on the reader\u2019s part. The educational display can take the form of a poster, a tabletop display, a mobile, or a large 3-D display. Often displays have less than 60 seconds to get the message across, so planning is important!<br>Steps to Follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Select a 4-H Project Area &#8211; determine which 4-H project you would like to create a display for. You must select a project in which you are officially enrolled to be eligible for fair entry.  \n<ul>\n<li>Examples: \n<ul>\n<li>a) clothing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>b) horses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subject &#8211; choose a subject\/topic area within your selected 4-H project area. Consult 4-Hmember publications, magazines, and books for ideas. Picking a topic area that you are interested in will make creating your display a rewarding and pleasurable experience. \n<ul>\n<li>Examples: \n<ul>\n<li>a) types of seams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>b) the Appaloosa Horse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specific Message &#8211; determine what message you want to get across or what you want to teach the viewer. Often times your subject area is too broad to be covered effectively on a poster display. You will need to narrow your topic to something the viewer can read and learn about quickly. \n<ul>\n<li>Examples: \n<ul>\n<li>a) appropriate use of a flat-felled seam<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>b) Appaloosa coat color patterns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Title &#8211; select a title that will: \n<ul>\n<li>Identify the exhibit (tell content)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be short and simple (no more than 4 to 5 short words)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attract Attention (interest viewer to continue reading).  \n<ul>\n<li>Examples: \n<ul>\n<li>a) Seam Sense<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>b) Spot This!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use Attention Grabbing Techniques:  \n<ul>\n<li>Actual Objects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Models<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Illustrations\/photographs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Color<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contrasts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lettering &#8211; select type that is: \n<ul>\n<li>Simple, clear and well-spaced. Choose typefaces that are easy to read if using a computer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consistent in style;use a ruler to ensure letter size consistency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy to read; consider line thickness as well as letter size.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t use all uppercase letters (ALL CAPS) except for occasional headings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Letter Size for Visibility<br>(with Good Light, Good Eyes, and Good Color)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Viewing<br>Distance<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Minimum<br>Letter Size<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Line<br>Thickness<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Approximate<br>Computer Font<br>Equivalent<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>10 Feet<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">1\/2 inch<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3\/32 inch<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">48 point font<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>20 Feet<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3\/4 inch<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">1\/8 inch<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">72 point font<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>50 Feet<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">2 inches<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">5\/16 inch<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">200 point font<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Letter Size for Visibility (with Good Light, Good Eyes, and Good Color)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Select Colors &#8211; Used well, color can turn even an uninteresting display into one that attracts and teaches. \n<ul>\n<li>Limit to 2 or 3 colors, with 1 being dominant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neutral or soft colors are best for backgrounds (grays, light greens, light blues, pale yellows, white).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bright or intense colors are best for smaller areas or center of interest (bright yellows, reds, oranges).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dominant colors are best for the lettering (black, dark blue). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Combinations such as black on yellow or red on white are easier to read than those that are complementary &#8211; like red on green or yellow in violet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the Judge Looking For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>A Good Design: Is the layout simple and orderly? Is the display neat with adequate spacing? Does the display reflect design planning? Is the color pleasing to the eye and effectively used?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lettering: Is the lettering easy to read from a distance? Is the type style suitable to the message?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Originality &amp; Creativity: Does the display show imagination? Did the exhibitor present a new idea or an innovative way to present a familiar one?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educational Value: Does the display show one main idea? Is the message effectively and accurately presented? Does the display\u2019s message elicit viewer response? Is the message appropriate for the intended audience?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Age Appropriateness &#8211; Does the quality of the work done reflect the age level of the youth who did the display? The physical, social, and thinking growth of a Senior 4-H member will be more developed than that of a Junior 4-H member. Often times younger members do not have the experience or coordination that older members have. A younger member\u2019s display may not be quite as neat as an older member\u2019s display. The younger member\u2019s handwriting may also be less precise. More information about the ages and stages of youth development is available from your local 4-H Office.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Reformatted and updated by Emily Killeen, 4-H Extension Coordinator (2006), from the 1983 original WSU 4-H Publication. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An educational display stimulates thought, teaches facts, or shows a process. It may result in action on the reader\u2019s part. The educational display can take the form of a poster, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":128,"featured_media":0,"parent":312,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_wsuwp_accessibility_report":null,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":0,"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_expiration_date":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[16],"cahnrs_clean_page_nonce":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24152"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/128"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24152"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25392,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24152\/revisions\/25392"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/thurston\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}