Skip to main content

Grade 4

Below are youth education lessons available for grade 4.

STEAM EDUCATION


Beak Tools

Youth explore animal adaptations through testing objects in relation to bird beaks.
Time: 45-60 minutes

Makey Makey Piano

Youth will use the makey makey invention kit to build and test digital musical instruments, starting with the piano and moving on to more complex instruments.
Time: 45-90 minutes

Circuits

Youth will explore the difference between simple, series and parallel circuits.
Time: 45-75 minutes

Scratch Coding

Youth will become computer scientists and code their own computer program using scratch, a computer coding language developed by MIT.
Time: 45-90 minutes

Ocean Robot Test Tank (Ballast Density)

Youth will explore concepts of density as they work to ballast a model of the real-life ocean exploration robots.
Time: 45-90 minutes

The Sky's the Limit

Youth become aeronautical engineers as they design models of flying technologies that help NASA collect aerial photographs.
Time: 45-90 minutes

Pill Bug Adaptations

Youth will become animal behavior scientists (or ethologists) and examine and explore the behavior of pill bugs.
Time: 45-75 minutes

Straw Rockets

Youth become aerospace engineers as they design a model rocket out of a straw. Youth will determine the best launch angle for greatest distance.
Time: 45-90 minutes

Wetlands Hike

Youth will explore the dominion trail located at WVU Jackson’s Mill and observe a wetland ecosystem. Youth will have the opportunity to identify species of plants, animals and insects.
Time: 30-90 minutes

Stomp Rockets

Youth become aerospace engineers as they use engineer design process to build and test model stomp rockets.
Time: 45-90 minutes

OUTDOOR EDUCATION


Games and Team Building Activities

Youth will participate in age-appropriate games and activities that work on increasing teamwork, communication and other social skills needed in day-to-day life.
Time: 30-120 minutes
West Virginia Education Standards

Environmental Education

Youth will learn about different aspects of the environment and Leave No Trace ethics. Specific topics can be requested by educators and all material will be grade appropriate.
Time: 30-60 minutes
West Virginia Education Standards

Rock Climbing

Youth will learn the basics of rock climbing using the rock faces of our Tango Tower. Material will be grade appropriate.
Time: 30-90 minutes
West Virginia Education Standards

Disc Golf

Youth will play disc gold on the WVU Jackson's Mill course. The style of gameplay will depend on the groups size and age.
Time: 30-120 minutes
West Virginia Education Standards

HISTORY EDUCATION


Gristmill Demonstration

Youth will watch a demonstration & get hands-on experience running a water-powered gristmill with Blaker's Mill. The history of gristmilling in West Virginia and its significance in WVU Jackson's Mill history will be highlighted.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22

Historic Area Tour

Youth will learn about the buildings at Jackson's Mill & how they relate to the early history of West Virginia, including learning about the Jackson family and others who lived and worked in the buildings.
Time: 60+ minutes
Standards: SS.4.18; SS.6.20; SS.7.13, SS.7.14; SS.8.21; SS.8.22

Blacksmith Demonstration

Youth will see a blacksmith shop in action while a historian demonstrate skills & tools used in the process highlighting its importance to WV & WVU Jackson's Mill.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22

Main Campus Tour

Walking the grounds of our campus, youth will learn about the history of Jackson’s Mill, the nation’s first state 4-H camp & how our camp developed from its beginning in 1921.
Time: 60+ minutes
Standards: SS.4.18; SS.6.20; SS.7.13, SS.7.14

Candle Dipping

Using an electric pot and melted wax, youth will use a length of string to make hand-dipped candles.
Standards: SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22

Rope Making

Youth will use a hand crank, tabletop rope machine to make their own small piece of twisted cotton rope roughly the size of a bracelet.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22

Butter Making/Food-ways

Preserved food samples are used to demonstrate the importance of various foods & food preservation types early settlers used. Participants will also make their own butter.
Standards: SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22

Historic Toys and Games

Using replica toys and a variety of household items, youth will try old-fashioned games, learn how people entertained themselves and compare them to modern games.
Standards: SS.K.22; SS.1.23; SS.2.20, SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22

Paper Marbling

*Only available under certain circumstances, contact Joe Obidzinski to learn more. Youth will learn the art form of paper marbling & have the opportunity to make marbled paper.
Standards: SS.2.20; SS.2.21; SS.4.18; SS.6.9; SS.8.22