Hatching Classroom Projects, a second grade 4-H Embryology School Enrichment curriculum, was put on hold in the 2021-2022 school year due to the bird flu.  But in the 2022-2023 school year, we "hatched" out embryology projects across the county.  Second grade students from Ranger to Andrews and one in between, Murphy, participated in this fun 4-H school enrichment program. Students learn the parts of an egg, how to use an incubator, how to candle an egg, build a brooder, and more. Each activity is correlated to national science standards and follows the five steps in the 4-H experiential learning model: experience, share, process, generalize, and apply.  Students were able to record their experience on a record sheet to help them learn about scientific record keeping.

Eggs were donated by a local farmer/4-H volunteer and 21 of the 42 eggs that were set in the incubators hatched.  Students were able to see the chicks hatching right in front of them in their classrooms.

Pictures from across the county of the Hatching Classroom Projects for 2023:

Students at Andrews and Murphy Elementary also participated in the 4-H Winged Wonders School Enrichment program.  In this curriculum, students observe the wonders of the metamorphosis' of the painted lady butterfly from larva through adulthood. Students experience the process of butterfly life cycle right in front of their eyes while engaging in hands-on activities that explore concepts of insect structures and functions.

Cherokee County 4-H loves to partner with Cherokee County teachers and schools to bring 4-H School Enrichment programs to the classroom. 4-H School Enrichment is a sequence of learning experiences for groups of youth, in cooperation with school officials during school hours to support the school curriculum. We have many 4-H school enrichment programs that we can offer local teachers to enhance their classroom learning opportunities in the true 4-H hands-on “learn by doing” approach.

We provide materials and lessons for the classroom teachers. We train the teachers to use the curriculum so they can provide lessons to their students without a 4-H volunteer in their classrooms. We also have 4-H volunteers that go into the classrooms and provide 7-9 week programs to the classrooms, like our 1st grade bee curriculum.

To learn more about 4-H in Cherokee County, contact Shannon Coleman, shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or call 828-837-2210 ext. 4.