Homeschooling With 4H

4H projects are inexpensive, thorough, age-appropriate and designed to foster independence. Learn how to use the 4h program as a homeschooling resource for inexpensive curriculum, career guidance and leadership skills to last a lifetime.

The 4h program is often underestimated.  Many people picture pint-sized wranglers leading their pet cows to the auction at the fair to get turned into hamburger meat.  While the 4h program has earned its rightful reputation as the very best place for kids to learn about agriculture, farming and animal husbandry, the truth is, it’s much more than that.

Even if your kids would rather play video games, you can find a 4h project that doubles as homeschooling curriculum.  The 4h program offers graphic design, computer programming, and other technology-based skills designed to be worked over 1-3 years with a price tag of under $5 each.

• Finding 4h projects
  

  Begin by visiting your county extension office. Since the 4h program is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and major universities, you can find an extension office in many larger counties. The 4h website has a guide to finding your local office. You can purchase the curriculum online or you can flip through the catalog in the comfort of your home. Sometimes the county office will keep popular projects in stock and you can look through the books before you purchase. If there’s a local club with a leader who is already working on the same project with other kids, then you’re in luck. Otherwise, you might need to work independently. You can choose to start your own 4h club, if you’re interested in the judging and presenting of your projects at the fair, or just use the information and resources like you would any other curriculum.

• Starting a Homeschool 4h Club
  

  Since the 4h curriculum is designed to be used in small groups, it lends itself very easily to use as an activity guide for a homeschool co-op. In a co-op, many families get together and share teaching responsibilities. Larger co-ops split into different groups based on age or activity. Smaller co-ops are also beneficial, providing a study group and a safe haven for interest-based friendships.

• 4h Homeschool Science, Social Studies and Arts
  

  Consider using a 4h project as your science curriculum. With everything from life sciences, like botany, biology, and environmentalism, to computer sciences and robotics, arts. The majority of 4h programs are science-based and secular. Additionally, they offer a fantastic Arts program, with fiber arts, photography, graphic design and drama. Their student government and leadership programs offer students real live experiences in a democratic environment.

Be sure to check into the 4h program for inexpensive curriculum for your homeschool or co-op.  With or without the structure of a 4h club, they’re jam packed with activities, and free government resources for additional projects and explorations.  Designed for independence and public presentation, the 4h projects begin in kindergarten and are progressively more challenging through the high school levels.  Even adults can utilize the helpful resources and lessons in a 4h project.   

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