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Colorado 4-H Moves Ahead to Strengthen Science Skills of Youth
The Colorado 4-H Work Team, focused on K-12 programming, is offering training
to volunteers, teens, college students, scientists and extension agents on an
exciting science curriculum called Wonderwise. The training will be held at the
Adams Mark Hotel in Denver on Friday, Jan. 26 from 3 – 9 p.m. and on Saturday,
Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ten Colorado county teams of three individuals
will learn how to implement the Wonderwise 4-H Project in their local
communities.
Wonderwise is a partnership with the University of Nebraska State Museum,
Nebraska Cooperative Extension 4-H and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications.
It was funded by the Informal Science Education Program of the National Science
Foundation and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The Wonderwise curriculum,
taught at this class, is packed with multimedia resources and lesson ideas to
make science come alive for youth in fourth through sixth grade.
Evaluators have found that youth participating in Wonderwise activities have
“different, broader, and more positive perceptions of scientists and their work
than students in the comparison group.” Wyoming 4-H after-school projects found
Wonderwise to accomplish several goals including teaching science processes and
content while making it fun, stimulating youth to consider careers in science
and breaking down gender and ethnic stereotypes about who can become scientists.
The nationally known curriculum includes nine modules: Genetic Counselor,
Urban Ecology, Space Geologist, Parasite Sleuth, Vet Detective, Rainforest
Ecologist, Pollen Detective, African Plant Explorer and Sea Otter Biologist.
Participants can use these materials to expand science outreach in their home
communities.
To join a team and receive training, contact local 4-H extension agent Ann Hall
at 636-8931.
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