4-H
4-H SPARK Club Sparks New Interest at Mary Daly Elementary School
On Wednesdays from 3:00-4:30 PM, students in grades 3-6 at Mary Daly Elementary School in Elkhart have the opportunity to attend a 4-H SPARK Club through the Elkhart County 4-H Program. A SPARK Club is a short-term club providing an experience on a specific topic. From October to the end of the school year, the SPARK Club is designed to “spark” new interest in 4-H.
Mary Daly is the first school to host a 4-H SPARK Club. This year, students have learned essential skills such as cooking and container gardening. Lesson topics have included things like seed identification, how to grow and care for plants, tracing food back to its source, food safety and kitchen skills. In addition to learning new skills, they also have the opportunity to sign up for 4-H and complete a 4-H project. Last year, they mostly made animal posters, but they want to start doing flower arrangements and photography projects this year.
When we attended, the students were learning how to make sloppy joes. First, however, they reviewed food safety rules they had learned in previous meetings. Cross-contamination and the reasons to make food from scratch were among the topics they reviewed. Then they split into three groups and started making their sloppy joes.
Corey Sharp, the Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development, is one of the educators at the meetings. He says his favorite part is seeing the kids get excited to learn and be creative. The SPARK Club supplements the kids’ school education by using lots of math and science. The kids get to use fractions while measuring ingredients when cooking, and they also used lots of science and biology during their gardening and weather units.
Ashley Kiehl, a third-grade teacher at Mary Daly, helps out at the meetings. She loves hanging out with the kids after school and watching them do hands-on things. Right now, there are about seven kids in the club, but they have averaged about 12-15 kids this year so far.
Dexter Myels, a third grader in attendance, says that his favorite parts are seeing the teachers after school, learning cooking skills, showing off his food to his parents and eating it afterwards.
Overall, this club is a super fun way for kids to get together and learn things that will help them succeed in life. Whether their interest lies in cooking, gardening, or something else entirely, this club enables them to have genuine fun learning through hands-on activities and crafts. The SPARK Club at Mary Daly is making a definite impact on the community and the kids in attendance.
Mary Daly is the first school to host a 4-H SPARK Club. This year, students have learned essential skills such as cooking and container gardening. Lesson topics have included things like seed identification, how to grow and care for plants, tracing food back to its source, food safety and kitchen skills. In addition to learning new skills, they also have the opportunity to sign up for 4-H and complete a 4-H project. Last year, they mostly made animal posters, but they want to start doing flower arrangements and photography projects this year.
When we attended, the students were learning how to make sloppy joes. First, however, they reviewed food safety rules they had learned in previous meetings. Cross-contamination and the reasons to make food from scratch were among the topics they reviewed. Then they split into three groups and started making their sloppy joes.
Corey Sharp, the Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development, is one of the educators at the meetings. He says his favorite part is seeing the kids get excited to learn and be creative. The SPARK Club supplements the kids’ school education by using lots of math and science. The kids get to use fractions while measuring ingredients when cooking, and they also used lots of science and biology during their gardening and weather units.
Ashley Kiehl, a third-grade teacher at Mary Daly, helps out at the meetings. She loves hanging out with the kids after school and watching them do hands-on things. Right now, there are about seven kids in the club, but they have averaged about 12-15 kids this year so far.
Dexter Myels, a third grader in attendance, says that his favorite parts are seeing the teachers after school, learning cooking skills, showing off his food to his parents and eating it afterwards.
Overall, this club is a super fun way for kids to get together and learn things that will help them succeed in life. Whether their interest lies in cooking, gardening, or something else entirely, this club enables them to have genuine fun learning through hands-on activities and crafts. The SPARK Club at Mary Daly is making a definite impact on the community and the kids in attendance.
A student chops peppers
Sugar being measured
Students measuring oil for the pan
Peppers and onions cook in a pan