Dodge County 4-H School Enrichment

Email: kschole2@unl.edu

Website: dodge.unl.edu

Location: 1206 West 23rd Street, Fremont, NE, 68025

Phone: 402-727-2775

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unldodgecounty/

Email: shane.ahrens@unl.edu

Website: dodge.unl.edu

Location: 1206 West 23rd Street, Fremont, NE, 68025

Phone: 402-727-2775

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unldodgecounty/

School Enrichment programs are a cooperative effort between schools, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Nebraska Extension, which complement the educational goals of all organizations. The materials used in 4-H are based on research and produced by specialists from the University of Nebraska, National 4-H, and various universities and organizations throughout the United States. The lessons use the Experiential Learning Model: Do, Reflect, and Apply to develop critical life skills.

4-H School Enrichment resources include teacher guides, student manuals, DVDs, teaching kits, and staff presentations. All lessons are FREE, unless otherwise designated!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email. We hope these programs will enhance your existing curriculum, and you will take advantage of these programmatic opportunities. We look forward to working with you!

4-H is the premier youth development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Originating in the early 1900's as "four-square education", the 4-H's (head-heart-hands-health) seek to promote positive youth development, facilitate learning, and engage youth in the work of their community through the Extension Service to enhance the quality of life. For more than a hundred years, 4-H has been dedicated to creating research based learning opportunities for youth that broaden skills and aspirations nurturing the full potential of youth.

AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS

• AgCiting Science
• Pizza Farm
• Hot House Detectives
• Legen - Dairy
• Positively Popcorn
• Pumpkin Life Cycle
• Our World
• Farm in a Glove
• Spring Agricultural Literacy Festival
• Look Who's Hatching
• Embryology
• Insect Life Cycles and Biodiversity

STEM

• Egg-Streme Engineering
• Crime Scene Investigation: DNA
• Microbiology
• Ozobots
• Lego Robotics
• S.T.E.M. Field Days

LEADERSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

• SmartCents
• My Money Personality
• I Really Need That
• SMART Goals
• Bringing Home the Bacon
• My Work, My Future
• Resume and Interview Prep
• Connecting the Dots
• Next Chapter

HEALTH & WELLNESS

• Health Rocks!
• Rethink Your Drink
• Heart Health

If you are interested in School Enrichment but do not see a topic you would like presented, please fill out this form: School Enrichment Interest Form

To sign up for a School Enrichment Program, please use this link: School Enrichment Sign Up

Agriculture is Nebraska's #1 industry, affecting all of our daily lives both directly and indirectly. Through these programs students will learn more about agricultural products, careers, and impacts on local communities.

Suggested Grade Levels: 1st-5th

Session Length: 2 sessions, 45 minutes each

Students will learn about agriculture in Nebraska and its impact on their lives, the parts of a plant and plant lifecycles, and participate in growing common crops in a glove to observe germination and growth.

Suggested Grade Level: 3rd

Session Length: Half Day or Full Day - 4-6 sessions, 25 minutes each

When: April 21st-24th, 2026

Agriculture is Nebraska's #1 industry, which means we're all affected by it either directly or indirectly. Through this event, students will learn more about various areas of agriculture, including Ag Technology, Beef, Dairy, Hogs, Crops, Ag By-Products, and Ag Careers.

Suggested Grade Levels: K-2nd

Session Length: 2 sessions, 45 minutes each

Spring Only

Youth will learn how life develops by observing the process of hatching baby chicks over a three-week period. During these lessons, students learn about the makeup of eggs, the difference between store-bought eggs and fertilized eggs, and the process of hatching chicks. Students assume responsibility for the eggs as if they were the mother hen and rotate the eggs in the incubator daily.

Suggested Grade Levels: 3rd-12th

Session Length: 2 sessions, 45 minutes each

Spring Only

Embryology is the study of embryos and their development. During these lessons, youth learn about the nutritional makeup of eggs and how it relates to the developing chick and human nutrition. Students explore the role of the egg in reproduction and how it enabled vertebrate animals to transition to life on land during the course of evolution. In upper grade levels youth can explore the relationship between genes, gene expression, and development of the embryo from a single cell to a differentiated animal. Students assume responsibility for the eggs monitoring the incubator and rotating the eggs daily.

Suggested Grade Levels: Pre K-5th

Session Length: 2 sessions, 45 minutes each

Spring Only

Insects are all around us and provide vital services for human food sources and the environment. In these lessons youth will observe the life cycle of an insect (typically Painted Lady Butterflies or Lady Bugs) and describe how insect body structures develop over time. Youth will also learn about beneficial vs pest insects and why there are so many different types of bugs!

These six lessons can be taught all together in a series or individually. We will do whatever works best for your classroom!

Suggest Grade Levels: K-4th

Sessions: 30-60 minute session

Youth will understand the importance of farmers and the products they produce in order to make the ever popular food - pizza! This lesson encompasses a variety of activities to meet the needs of diverse learners such as poetry, bingo, manipulating hands-on components of pizza, and much more!

Suggest Grade Levels: K-4th

Sessions: 30-60 minute session

Youth will learn about the process of germination by creating a seed necklace and learning about the parts of the seed.

Suggested Grade Levels: K-4th

Sessions: 30-60 minute session

Youth will learn how milk is safely produced. Youth will be exposed to a variety of dairy products.

Suggested Grade Levels: K-4th

Sessions: 30-60 minute session

This lesson is a hands on activity on the process of how popcorn pops using gas as a form of matter. Youth will use science to learn the importance of agriculture and how popcorn goes from a seed to a snack.

Suggested Grade Level: K-4th

Sessions: 3 sessions, 30-60 minute each

Students will learn the concept of a life cycle by recreating the various stages of growth and development of a pumpkin through a hands on activity. Learning about life cycles will help in understanding the many elements of agriculture.

Suggested Grade Level: K-4th

Sessions: 30-60 minute sessions

Students will learn how our worlds natural resources are divided up and what we actually have at our finger tips to help us survive.

STEM programs encourage youth to develop positive interests and attitudes about science and related careers by gaining experience and confidence analyzing complex problems and proposing solutions. These skills allow youth to make informed decisions regarding current agricultural, environmental, energy, and technology related issues, and seek out higher education opportunities and careers related to science.

Suggested Grade Levels: 4th-5th

Session Length: 3 sessions, 45 minutes each

Egg-Streme Engineering is a 3-part series that walks youth through the development of a helmet used to protect an egg during a collision. In Lesson 1, teams use science inquiry to test how materials disperse energy during a collision. In Lesson 2, teams build an Egg Helmet and perform a crash test to see if their design keeps the egg safe during a collision with a wall. In Lesson 3, Teams calculate the energy their design was able to withstand and then develop a marketing strategy to sell their egg.

Suggested Grade Levels: K-6th

Session Length: 2 sessions, 45 minutes each

Pique youth’s interest in computer science by exploring codes and programs using the Ozobot! The Ozobot is a miniature robot with color sensors that allow it to follow lines and read color codes to complete commands. In this program, youth will learn and draw basic color codes, integrate color codes into storytelling, and use Ozoblockly – an online coding program to explore sequential block coding.

Suggested Grade Levels: 5th-12th

Session Length: 1 session, 90 minutes

DNA encodes the instructions for every cell in our bodies and is used to transmit this information across generations. Similarities and differences in the DNA sequence between individuals are important in understanding health outcomes and human history. Students will construct a model of DNA and discover how DNA sequencing aids investigators in solving crimes. Students will get to extract Strawberry DNA in a hands-on experiment to visualize this important molecule.

Suggested Grade Levels: K-8th

Session Length: 1 session, 45 minutes

Youth will embark on an exciting journey of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving—all while having fun! This interactive program fosters collaboration and exploration through hands-on STEAM activities. Working in pairs, students will develop teamwork and communication skills while using an iPad and a specially designed LEGO® kit to build and program interactive creations. Their models will move, make sounds, and respond to commands, bringing their ideas to life! Beyond coding, this program enhances literacy, math, and social-emotional development, providing a well-rounded learning experience that prepares youth for the future. 🚀

Suggested Grade Levels: K-4th

Session Length: Half Day or Full Day

This hands-on learning experience inspires young people to pursue studies and careers in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while sharing the importance of science and its application within Nebraska communities.

These programs are aimed at encouraging youth to explore marketing, problem solving, and skill development. Youth are provided with important skills and information that will help them explore their options when pursuing work and higher education opportunities.

Suggested Grade Levels: 4th-8th

Sessions: 2-5 sessions, 45 minutes each

SmartCents is a financial literacy program delivered through hands-on application and practice of everyday economic activities. This hands-on workshop serves to build a foundation of financial skills and habits that will set young learners up for long-term success! In this engaging workshop, youth will learn about:

1. Financial Decision Making
2. Spending/Saving
3. Credit/Debt
4. Income/Employment

These engaging individual and group activities are provided by the SmartCents activity guide and workshop facilitator.

Suggested Grade Levels: 9th-12th

Session Length: 2 sessions, 45 minutes each

Successful interviewing is determined by being prepared and practiced. Youth will participate in a workshop where they will evaluate and learn about proper interview techniques, building their resumes, and making a good first impression during an interview.

Suggested Grade Levels: 9th-10th

Session Length: Single Day Program brought to your location

Connecting the Dots is an interactive career exploration simulation program designed to help students learn more about careers of interest. The simulation experience incorporates local/area business and industry, post-secondary, and military partners. Additional workshops on resumes, motivating skills, and additional topics are a part of this program. Students explore how to connect the dots from early high school through postsecondary education and training to the workplace. Participants will learn about networking, work readiness skills, and complete personality inventories.

Suggested Grade Levels: 9th-12th

Next Chapter at Nebraska is a college readiness program offered to enrolled 4-H members at the beginning of their 8th-grade year. Throughout high school, Next Chapter scholars engage in a variety of events, activities, and curriculum where they will participate in career exploration, develop research skills, and experience a variety of learning methods that will help them transition to and succeed in college.

Suggested Grade Level: 2nd-8th

Sessions: Each session is about 30-45 minutes. The program is designed to be taught in full but lessons can be utilized individually.

Health Rocks! is a curricula for a healthy living program where youth participate in hands-on activities that educate them on the consequences of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. The program aims to:

• Reduce youth smoking and tobacco use.
• Help youth build life skills that lead to healthy lifestyle choices with special emphasis on youth smoking and tobacco use prevention.
• Help youth understand influences and health consequences of tobacco, drug, and alcohol use to make healthy choices.
• Engage youth and adults in partnership to develop and implement community strategies that promote healthy lifestyle choices.
• Build positive, enduring relationships with youth involved as full partners through widely varying "communities of interest" to address youth risk behaviors.

Suggested Grade Level: 4th-12th

Sessions: One session, 45 minutes

"Rethink Your Drink" is an educational program that helps students understand the impact beverages have on their health. Participants learn how to identify the amount of sugar in common drinks, recognize daily sugar recommendations, and explore healthier options to fuel their bodies.

Suggested Grade Level: 3rd

Sessions: up to 6 lessons, 30-45 minutes each, targeted to PE Classes

Students will learn about heart health, function, and different ways to measure heart rate. Each lesson builds new skills through physical activity and games. The scientific method is introduced, technology is explored, and math skills are tested. Healthy living practices are developed through this program.