4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming
The University of California 4-H Youth Development Program created the 4-H Water Wizards project in response to two related issues: the need for high-quality science education programming in afterschool settings, and the desire to foster a citizenry that understands and can make informed decisions a...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2022-11-01
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| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2022a0012 |
| _version_ | 1827117042123145216 |
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| author | M Bird A Subramaniam |
| author_facet | M Bird A Subramaniam |
| author_sort | M Bird |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The University of California 4-H Youth Development Program created the 4-H Water Wizards project in response to two related issues: the need for high-quality science education programming in afterschool settings, and the desire to foster a citizenry that understands and can make informed decisions about water. In collaboration with afterschool program staff, Sacramento County 4-H implemented the 12-week water education project for children in grades four through six. We evaluated the program over four years (2012–2016) utilizing a pretest-posttest study design and evaluation surveys from participants and program staff. Our findings indicate positive outcomes both for program staff who delivered the project and for the children who participated in the program. Afterschool program staff gained competence in delivering hands-on and inquiry-based science programming. Fourth- and fifth-grade students demonstrated small but significant knowledge gain about water. Students also demonstrated increased awareness about water issues and water conservation behavior. We discuss our findings for both groups and share our insights for promising practices when collaborating with afterschool providers, especially relating to the importance and challenge of science education in afterschool settings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:22:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d978c197b524178ae33225b4ad25ff1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-20T12:43:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| record_format | Article |
| series | California Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d978c197b524178ae33225b4ad25ff12024-09-12T22:57:18ZengUniversity of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCalifornia Agriculture0008-08452160-80912022-11-017644-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programmingM BirdA SubramaniamThe University of California 4-H Youth Development Program created the 4-H Water Wizards project in response to two related issues: the need for high-quality science education programming in afterschool settings, and the desire to foster a citizenry that understands and can make informed decisions about water. In collaboration with afterschool program staff, Sacramento County 4-H implemented the 12-week water education project for children in grades four through six. We evaluated the program over four years (2012–2016) utilizing a pretest-posttest study design and evaluation surveys from participants and program staff. Our findings indicate positive outcomes both for program staff who delivered the project and for the children who participated in the program. Afterschool program staff gained competence in delivering hands-on and inquiry-based science programming. Fourth- and fifth-grade students demonstrated small but significant knowledge gain about water. Students also demonstrated increased awareness about water issues and water conservation behavior. We discuss our findings for both groups and share our insights for promising practices when collaborating with afterschool providers, especially relating to the importance and challenge of science education in afterschool settings.https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2022a0012 |
| spellingShingle | M Bird A Subramaniam 4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming California Agriculture |
| title | 4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming |
| title_full | 4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming |
| title_fullStr | 4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming |
| title_full_unstemmed | 4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming |
| title_short | 4-H Water Wizards: Lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming |
| title_sort | 4 h water wizards lessons learned for effective afterschool science programming |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2022a0012 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mbird 4hwaterwizardslessonslearnedforeffectiveafterschoolscienceprogramming AT asubramaniam 4hwaterwizardslessonslearnedforeffectiveafterschoolscienceprogramming |