4-H PROJECT RECORD BOOKS

1. Created By: Neil Callahan Edited by: Jackie L. Helton and April W. Bowman 4-H PROJECT RECORD BOOKS

2. What are Project Record Books? • Curriculum Books are 4-H books which contain knowledge about a subject. • Project Record books are sheets that are completed that tell what you learned and did from your curriculum book. 3. Curriculum Books or Guides come in many subjects. For example: • Electricity • Horse • Leadership • Animal Science

3. Life Skills Gained Through Project Record Books • Communication skills • Decision making skills • Categorizing & Organizing data • Analyzing & Utilizing information • Sharing information with others • Civic responsibilities in the community

4. What do you do with the Curriculum Book? • Use the book to learn about the subject. • Expand your knowledge. Learn more about the subject using other sources. • Choose an activity that you would like to do that involves using the knowledge you have learned. • Complete the activity. • Document what you did and learned using the proper project record sheets.

5. Project Record Sheets Project Record Sheets and Project Record Book competition are divided into 5 age categories: • Cloverbud (5-8 years old) • 9-10 years old • 11-12 years old • 13-15 years old • 16-18 years old Please note that Cloverbud books are not submitted to district for competition..

6. Project Record Categories • Animal Science • Citizenship & Civic Education • Communication & Expressive Arts • Consumer & Family Science • Environmental & Earth Education • Healthy Lifestyles • Personal Development & Leadership • Plant Science • Science & Technology

7. Project Selection Sheets • Project Selection Sheets list most Curriculum Books that 4-H has available within these categories. • Each selection sheet is divided into 5 age categories that help make it easier to select age appropriate materials. • It is recommended that youth start with the first book in a series even if they are old enough to be working in the third book of the series.

8. Filling Out Project Records • Each Project Record Sheet has a separate set of instructions that will tell you how to fill it out. Be sure to read them carefully before starting. • Read the Project Record Sheet carefully and answer the questions as stated. • Always follow the instructions to the letter. • If you have questions, please contact April Bowman, 4-H Agent at 703-2850 or at 4H@forsyth.cc.

9. What if? What if I want to do a 4-H Project Record on a subject that has no 4-H Curriculum Book? • A curriculum book is a guide that helps you complete your project record sheets. You may do independent study in order to complete your project record if there is not a curriculum book available. Contact your 4-H Agent to discuss what category your project record falls under before beginning.

10. Where Do I Start? • You should start in January listing your goals for the year. Include things that you want to do AND things that you want to learn for ALL of your 4-H projects. • Include a date that you want to accomplish this goal. • You may add pages to have more space.

11. What’s Next? • As you do activities and learn things, list them in Section 2. Be specific. • i.e. Instead of saying “I learned about bicycle safety” say “I learned that I need to wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads to keep me safe when riding my bike” and “I learned how to adjust my brakes on my bicycle to keep me safe”. • You may add pages to this section. • You should only include things in this section that relate to this ONE project.

12. Section 3 – Express Yourself • This section is slightly different for each age group. • Stick to your page limit! • Suggested items for inclusion are: • Labeled and scrapbooked pictures • Poems that you have written related to your project • A collage of pictures that you have cut out of magazines • A videotape of you (2 minutes only)

13. My Story • Your story should: • Introduce yourself, your family and tell about where you live • Introduce your 4-H club and any project helpers that you have. • Include a paragraph on each 4-H project AND a paragraph on each 4-H activity. • Conclude by telling something that you like about 4-H, etc. • If you do more than one project record you only need to write one story.

14. 13-18 Year Olds • Teens must list their involvement with: • Leadership • Holding Office • Teaching a Workshop • Citizenship • Helping someone with a campaign • Running for an office • Community Service • Adopt a Street, Grandparent, Stream, etc. • Volunteering at a Nursing Home

15. Putting the Bow On • Once you have completed your project, you may want to rewrite it so that everything is neat. • Place your project record in a pocket folder. • Write your “Name, Age Category, County/District (Northwest), and Category” on the top right corner of your folder. Jane Doe 9-10 Forsyth/Northwest Animal Science

16. Things to Know about Project Records • Only two project records per 4-H member can be submitted for district competition. • You may not make improvements to a project record once it is turned in to the 4-H Office. • You can be named a district gold medal winner in a category only once for each age category. • Incomplete project records are not accepted for competition.

17. Dates To Remember • Project Records are due to 4-H Office by the First Friday in January following New Years. • The project records will be judged for county winners. • County winners will be awarded at Achievement Night and move on to district competition by March 1.

18. Adult Supervision • The project record work should be the work of the 4-H member, not an adult. • Each 4-H’er should set their own goals, however some goals would be similar for all 4-H members.

19. Project Record Recognition • Prizes are given to county winners. • Everyone that completes a project record will earn scholarship dollars. • District awards are given for each age group. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are awarded. • Gold winners receive $50 cash or other awards as posted in the 4-H Awards Handbook at http://www.nc4h.org/publications/forms/index.php.

20. Any Questions?