“A master can tell you what he

expects of you. A teacher,

though, awakens your own ex-

pectations.” ~ Patricia Neal

Page 1 The Teacher Source

Dear Educators,

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Service in Montgomery County in-

vites you to participate in 4-H cur-

riculum enrichment programs. Texas

4-H, which is the youth development

component of AgriLife Extension,

strives to provide assistance to edu-

cators by making resources available

to them from the National 4-H Coun-

cil and the land grant university sys-

tem.

Texas 4-H offers a variety of en-

richment programs that are support-

ed at their core on the state level,

and also involve county and local re-

sources. Our activities and learning

materials can be beneficial in a

large number of classroom situa-

tions.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Ex-

tension Service office in Mont-

gomery County is sending out

this newsletter to inform educa-

tors in our county of the re-

sources that are available to

schools and youth programs to

complement their lessons and

activities.

Additionally, most of the re-

sources available are aligned

with teaching standards and

have an evaluation tool available.

1. Call 936-539-7823 exten-

sion 3 or visit the Extension

Office to find what you need.

We may have a copy or further

resources available for check-

out or purchase.

2. If needed, schedule an ap-

pointment for curriculum over-

view or a training meeting.

3. Start using the curricula! If

you need help at anytime, please let

us know how we can best assist you.

4. Complete the Group Enrollment

Form (pink sheet) when the les-

sons/project is completed and re-

turn to us in a timely manner. Com-

plete evaluations. Be available for

program follow up surveys or ques-

tionnaires.

5. Enjoy the project! Let others

know that we are here to help!

Fall 2016

4-H & Urban Youth

Development

Highlights

Curriculum Enrichment

Upcoming Opportunities

Junior Master Gardener

Science & Technology

Character Development

Healthy Lifestyles

Professional Development

The Teacher Source Connecting Educators in Montgomery County

Public, Private, Home School, After School, & Youth Programs

I’m Interested in Finding Curricula - What do I do?

We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body.—Ralph Emerson

The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employ-

ment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.

In addition to curriculum enrich-

ment, 4-H also conducts or trains

staff to deliver After School pro-

grams. 4-H After School clubs or pro-

grams are offered in many ways. Spe-

cial interest groups like JMG, entre-

preneurship, technology, photography,

clothing & textile design, food & nu-

trition, rocketry, robotics...the list

goes on!

To start a 4-H club, there must be

at least 5 youth from 2 or more fami-

lies and 1 adult leader. Clubs can meet

once a week, once a month, or whatev-

er you decide. 4-H is what you make it!

Have fun!

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Montgomery County 4-H Program Staff:

Caroline M. Cruz, County Extension Agent

Urban Youth Development

Michelle Mihalek, County Extension Agent

4-H & Youth Development

Rachel Cooper, 4-H Program Assistant

Alicia Bergeron, 4-H Volunteer

Coordinator

4-H & Urban Youth Development

http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/

More than 65,000 youth are en-

rolled members of 4-H community

clubs in Texas. Another 850,000

Texas youth get involved in 4-H

through special educational opportu-

nities at school, in after school pro-

grams, or at neighborhood or youth

centers. These youth live in cities,

suburbs, small towns and rural com-

munities.

4-H gives them a chance to pur-

sue their own interests - like pho-

tography, computers, leadership,

building rockets, raising animals, and

more. A list of 4-H projects is avail-

able online. They go places - to camp,

to state and national conferences.

They learn to be leaders and active

citizens.

9020 Airport Road

Conroe, Texas 77303

Phone: 936-539-7823 ext. 3

Fax: 936-538-8199

http://agrilife.org/montgomery4h/

4-H Youth Development & After School Programs

We hope you find the Teacher Source newsletter a valua-

ble resource in your educational planning. Texas A&M

AgriLife Extension Service is dedicated to strengthening

our communities through positive youth enrichment pro-

grams and service learning projects. We are here to help

you enrich curricula in your classrooms and connect you to

the resources available through AgriLife Extension.

If there are any topics we can help you with or if you need

assistance in locating resources, please contact us. County

Extension Agents, staff, and Master Gardeners are also a

resource for high quality educational programs in your

schools, clubs, and classrooms.

4-H is a community of young people across America who

are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

Page 2 The Teacher Source

Page 3 The Teacher Source

Upcoming Opportunities

Do you have a class, school club, or after school club that is

interested in cooking, culinary arts, or health and nutrition? Do you love to watch

programs like Iron Chef, Chopped or the kids cooking competition shows on TV?

Well, we have a great program just for you! It’s called the 4-H Food Challenge and

kids across the state are just eating it up! In the Food Challenge competition, kids

have 40 minutes to cook a unique recipe. The ingredients are provided but it is up

to the team to work together to name the dish, prepare it, determine the nutrition

it provides, and give a brief presentation to a panel of judges.

So how can you and your students participate in this exciting foods and nutrition project and the

Food Challenge competition? Let’s get you signed up to be a Food Challenge SPIN Club. Here’s a

basic overview of what you need to do to start this project:

Minimum of one adult and 5 youth, though teams consist of 3 to 5 members.

Juniors are 3-5th grades; Intermediates are 6-8th grades; and Seniors are 10-12th

grades (as of August 31, 2016).

Meet a minimum of 5 to 6 times to learn and practice. Examples: meet once a week for 6

weeks; or meet twice a week for 3 weeks; or meet twice a month for 3 months.

Facility to meet. You do not need to have a kitchen to do this project! The cafeteria, gym,

classroom, or lab will work just fine!

Compete at 4-H Roundup! County is in February, District is in May, State is in June! Call

the 4-H Office for details! You can also compete at Houston Livestock Show and others!

4-H offers a unique opportunity for youth in

grades 3-12 to be a member of their very own

4-H Club that is geared towards a specific pro-

ject or activity of their choice. The club can

meet for a shorter duration of time than all

year long. For example, it can meet for one se-

mester or several weeks. SPIN = Special Inter-

est.

Here are some ideas of project that can be

turned into a SPIN Club:

Robotics, Engineering, Rocketry

Foods, Cooking, Food Challenge

Fashion, Design, Sewing, Jewelry Making

Healthy Lifestyles, Fuel Up to Play 60

Photography, Videography

Horticulture, Gardening

Science, Science Experiments for science

fair

Entrepreneurship, business design

Much more!

SPIN Clubs can be in school, after school,

home school, camp based, youth group based,

etc. Any adult volunteer, parent, or teacher can

help lead or advise a club. A minimum of one

adult and 5 youth (from different families) are

required.

To learn more about this fun club opportunity,

please call us at 936-539-7823. ext. 3

Important JMG Web Sites

http://www.jmgkids.us/

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/

Junior Master Gardeners are taking an active role in

serving others and making their schools and communities

stronger, better places. Giving time and effort to oth-

ers while learning a great deal in the process is the

foundation of what being a Junior Master Gardener is

all about.

To receive the full benefits of the

JMG Program and to be officially recognized

as a JMG Group, teachers should register

their group(s) once a school year. Registering

is fast, free, and really easy—you can now reg-

ister online!

Once you register your group(s) with

JMG, you will receive information from JMG,

the JMG newsletter, and freebie opportuni-

ties, before the general public.

Page 4

JMG Teacher/Leader Resources

The Teacher Source

The Junior Master Gardener

program engages children in

hands-on group and individual

learning experiences that pro-

mote an interest in gardening,

develop an appreciation for the

environment, and cultivate the

mind.

JMG Level One can involve

students in exploring their

world through meaningful activ-

ities that strengthen academic

achievement, encourage lead-

ership development, personal

pride and responsibility, and

community involvement.

There is also a focus on

healthy eating, recipe prepara-

tion, kitchen math and science,

and incorporating physical ac-

tivity with Learn, Grow, Eat,

and Go.

JMG Level 1 (3rd-5th grades)

Teacher/Leader Guide

Student Guide available

Golden Ray Series (3rd-5th grades)

Wildlife Gardener

Learn, Grow, Eat & Go

Literature From the Garden

JMG Level 2 (6th-8th grades)

Operation W.A.T.E.R. Soils and Wa-ter

Operation Thistle Plant Growth & Development

64% of teachers/leaders said

that JMG has encouraged stu-

dents to perform community

service outside the classroom.

Over 50% agree that through

the JMG program youth tried

new fruits and vegetables.

Over 57% of teachers/leaders

agree that JMG improved nutri-

tional attitudes of youth.

Over 75% of teachers/leaders

strongly agree that JMG has in-

creased youth interest in sci-

ence.

Over 70% of teachers/leaders

strongly agree that JMG has en-

hanced educational programs.

Over 70% of teachers/leaders

said that youth were more enthu-

siastic about learning.

Junior Master Gardener

Benefits of JMG

The Teacher Source Page 5

National Youth Science Day—October 5

The National Youth Science Experiment, Drone Discovery designed by Cornell

University Extension, is a hands-on engineering design challenge that explores the

science behind drones and how they are being used to solve real world problems.

Youth will learn everything from flight dynamics and aircraft types, to safety and regulations, to

remote sensing and flight control.

Contact the 4-H Office if you would like to schedule your own Drone Discovery session. This lesson

can be done over a few class periods or in one session, depending on your schedule needs. We can even

help lead the lessons. For more information about 4-H National Youth Science Experiment, visit:

http://4-h.org/parents/national-youth-science-day/

Embryology - Hatching in the Classroom Hatching in the Classroom is an

embryology project that is de-

signed to provide the student with

exciting experiential activities for

use in your classroom.

The program uses printed re-

sources, electric incubators & egg

turners, and fertilized eggs from

Texas A&M Poultry Science, to

involve students in learning life

cycles and biology.

A wide variety of egg and em-

bryo projects ranging from data

collection and analysis to nutrition

and the circulatory system.

These projects can be done

with students from kindergarten

through grade twelve and are de-

signed to expand biological litera-

cy, introduce new concepts, and

develop an intui-

tive appreciation

for the life sci-

ences.

Contact us to schedule your

hatching project! Check-out an

incubator and egg turner from our

office. There is a $50 fully re-

fundable deposit. Guide is FREE!

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math

Engineering, Design, and Robotics

The 4-H Robotics Curriculum is comprised of three tracks for all levels of expertise:

Virtual Robotics (build & test a virtual robot without investing in expensive supplies)

Junk Drawer Robotics (design & build robots from everyday items)

Robotics Platforms (use commercial kits like LEGO NXT to master challenges)

Preview the curriculum online at:

http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/curriculum/4-h-robotics/

Aerospace Adventures Level 1 (Grades 1-3): marshmallow rocket, different careers in aviation and space, how

an airplane works.

Level 2 (Grades 3-5): build a straw rocket, learn weather conditions, paper hot air bal-

loon, International Phonetic Alphabet.

Level 3 (Grades 6-8): make a shuttle on a string, a Japanese kite, a hang glider, and

learn about a control panel of an aircraft.

Find curriculum:

http://www.4-hmall.org/

Grade Levels Available:

K-2nd; 3-5 Grade; 6-8 Grade

Topics range from Texas history,

food & nutrition, clothing & textiles,

agriculture & natural resources,

plants, pets, wildlife, sciences, character & leader-

ship, careers, safety, expressive arts, entrepreneur-

ship, health & wellness, & more!

Yea 4-H! curriculum is designed to enhance after

school programming, however it can be worked in to

any learning experience.

Provides resources to support parent education

and youth development training for staff

Introduction/training materials related to

child development

Avenue for developing 4-H clubs in afterschool

settings

Lessons are coded to TEKS, 40 Developmental

Assets, Life Skills Model & National Education

Standards

Six broad topic sections with units within each

section (23 sections total = 125+ lessons in

each level)

Parent newsletters in English and Spanish

Community Service Component

Evaluation Component

Page 6 The Teacher Source

Afterschool Learning Adventures

Reading Makes Cents 3-5th Grades

53 experiential activities developed around exemplary children’s literature that has mon-

ey as a theme. The literature explores ideas, activities, and strategies that help children

learn how to earn, save, share, and spend money. Each activity relates to a theme and

highlights a specific financial concept, value, or practice (e.g. saving, spending, sharing,

earning, borrowing, lending and managing). Take-home activities available in English and

Spanish (8-10 for each book level) are included. $17.00

Character Development & Citizenship

The Extension Office has most

curriculum available for check-out

Keys to the Courthouse: Promoting County Government Awareness in Youth 6-12 Grade

The five lessons teach participants about the functions of elected county officials in Tex-

as, the primary services offered by county government, the justice process at the county

level, elections and voting, and the financing of county government. Includes a large wall

map showing the counties of Texas and a CD that contains the lessons, activities, and in-

formative videos. (168 pp. + map and CD) $10.00

Build Your Future—Choices, Connections, Careers Teens From exploring potential jobs to starting their own business, the “Build Your Future” cur-

riculum helps teens develop skills and knowledge in career exploration. Participants expe-

rience a variety of learning methods such as developing a business plan, competing in a

quiz bowl, creating a portfolio, analyzing case studies, and discussing questions that re-

flect on their experiences. A fun structure to help teens learn about their choices, make

important connections and plan successful/meaningful careers. $10.95—$58.95

The Teacher Source Page 7

Youth Healthy Lifestyles

Health Rocks!® Level 1: 8-12 year olds Level 2: 12-14 year olds A healthy living program with the goal of bringing youth, families and communities

together to reduce tobacco, alcohol and drug use by youth. Involves critical think-

ing, decision-making, communication, managing feelings, stress management and

goal setting to help youth develop the internal strength to resist risky behaviors.

Designed for teen/adult facilitation. $9.95 per level

Entomology: Teaming with Insects Increase youth science literacy by using

insects and their relatives to show in-

terrelationships among insects, plants,

and the environment. Biodiversity; Inva-

sive Species; and Forensic Entomology.

What’s On Your Plate? Exploring Food Science

A comprehensive curriculum set for grades 6-9 and beyond provides hands-on

activities focused on the building block of food science using chemistry, biology,

and math in a "kitchen laboratory" setting. $12.95 per level.

Find curriculum:

http://www.4-hmall.org/

4-H Cooking 101

Cooking is for everyone! The 4-H Cooking series teaches youth about food prepara-

tion, food and kitchen safety, food science, meal planning, and nutrition. Each man-

ual builds on the skills learned in the previous level, and members complete project

activities for each level in two to three years. $9.95 per level.

Outdoor and Environmental Sciences

Fishing Youth have fun tying knots, casting

to a target, rigging various lines, selecting

tackle, identifying where fish are, using dif-

ferent baits & lures, identifying fish, and

identifying internal & external fish parts.

Exploring Your Environment Ecosystem Ser-

vices and Earth's Capacity. Careful observation

of the local environment and development of

scientific thinking and science abilities. The

curriculum makes science fun and relevant!

The Teacher Source Page 8

Teacher Feature….Just For You!

Sequor Youth Development Initiative conducts applied research and evaluation projects and produc-

es practitioner focused youth development resources. Sequor YDI also offers a variety of in person

and web based professional development services.

http://www.ydi.tamu.edu/

If you have any enrichment curriculum needs or requests during the year, please do not hesitate to

contact us. We are here to assist you in program planning, teacher and staff training, identifying

resources and contacts, and even assisting with program delivery and evaluation.

–Caroline M. Cruz, County Extension Agent-Urban Youth Development

Guide to Bully Prevention Programs is a resource for youth develop-

ment professionals from any youth-serving organization. The purpose

of this publication is to help professionals working with young people

better understand how to create safe and fully inclusive environ-

ments within the organizations they serve.

Here, you’ll find a comprehensive overview of the latest bullying re-

search and a guide for selecting evidence-based bully prevention cur-

ricula and resources.

The Ready To Go Mentor Training Toolkit assists mentoring and

youth development programs in the training of new and existing men-

tors and volunteers with a highly customizable menu of training activi-

ties. This toolkit contains activities that can be used to tailor trainings

to the specific needs of each program.

Learn about the importance of strong boundaries and how to set realis-

tic expectations that create a safe environment both physically and

emotionally. Ideal for leaders, mentors, teachers.