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For young people to succeed in the workforce of the future, we need to prepare them for AI now

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 16:39:22 +0000

Artificial intelligence technologies – specifically generative AI tools – are influencing our lives and our world in profound ways. From enabling new scientific discoveries in fields like genetics and chemistry, to making basic research easier, to helping people in a growing range of jobs work more efficiently, AI is changing how we create, collaborate and communicate with one another. And young people will increasingly become those leading the creation and navigating the consequences of these powerful tools and technologies.

The advent of generative AI also has major implications for the economy and workforce of the future. According to the World Economic Forum, familiarity with AI and big data is already one of the skill sets most sought after by employers. Demand for AI-savvy workers will only increase as these technologies become more advanced and play a bigger role in our daily lives.

Today’s young people are already powerful digital natives who have been introduced to AI and hold some knowledge about its possibilities, according to our new survey. The next generation of leaders adapt to new technological advances with incredible tenacity, and now it is our responsibility as adults to support this fervor. We have six million innovators with the promise and potential to create a future that harnesses powers from AI that we don’t yet grasp.

It is time we supplement this foundational knowledge of AI and expand on how to use it effectively, safely, and responsibly – in the classroom, at home and beyond.

Our survey is the first to examine AI use and understanding among young people (ages 9-17) and shows that young people are optimistic about generative AI’s potential. To help realize this optimism, young people would like adults to help them engage with these tools correctly and confidently.

Here are some key takeaways from the survey:

Most young people already have at least a basic understanding of generative AI. Among all youth surveyed, 66% said they know at least some about generative AI; 34% said they know “a great deal” or “a fair amount.”

Young people are optimistic about the impact of generative AI on their education and careers. 64% of all respondents agreed that generative AI will help them learn things that they will need to know in their future careers, and 58% said it would help them improve how they learn at school.

Young people also have concerns about AI technology, including its potential uses for cheating and privacy issues. 61% of kids agree that AI will make it easier to cheat at school, and 53% expressed concerns that AI could find out private information about them.
Young people want adults involved in learning how to use and engage with the AI tools they have used or might use in their lives. An overwhelming number of young people (72%) are seeking support from adults in learning how to use AI tools properly. This includes a majority of both younger children (84% of 9-12 year olds) and teens (63% of 13-17 year olds).

There are several steps we can take to tap into the inherent power of these digital natives and support their understanding of an AI-driven future and economy, even while understanding that the field is evolving and there is so much more we can all learn. Here are a few places to start:

We must meet young people where they are by having open, honest conversations about online safety at ages that reflect the reality of their current use of technology. According to research from the Pew Research Center, children in the United States begin interacting with digital devices at young ages. Our research identified a major gap between older and younger children in terms of their familiarity with AI – high school boys are most likely to express a strong understanding of generative AI (43%), whereas girls in elementary school are least likely (22%). As young people start to experiment with using digital technologies, we need to prepare them how to use these tools, including generative AI, responsibly.
We need to equip parents and teachers with resources to support young people in their journey to understand and use new technology safely and responsibly. This is essential if we want to succeed in laying a strong, early foundation of AI education for our youth particularly as more parents start talking to their kids about AI and as teachers look to incorporate discussions about AI – and AI technology itself – into the classroom.
We must make access to generative AI tools inclusive so that everyone can benefit, and no communities are left behind. For example, while 38% of urban youth and 36% of suburban youth say they know a great deal or fair amount about generative AI, that number drops to 28% among their rural counterparts. This shows the potential for a forthcoming digital divide on AI that is exacerbated by geography. If we want to give all young people a chance to thrive in the years to come, we must ensure that opportunities to learn about and engage with AI are available no matter your geography or background.

Both of our organizations are taking steps to provide support on AI for adults and young people. National 4-H Council is looking to develop educational content about AI through the new CLOVER digital learning platform, local Cooperative Extension 4-H programs, and our connection to 110 universities nationwide. Microsoft recently released a Family Safety Toolkit to support caregivers’ conversations with their children about generative AI, as well as a Classroom Toolkit, providing guidance to educators on creating an immersive and effective learning experience with generative AI for students aged 13-15 years.

As a next phase of our partnership, 4-H will be conducting a series of focus groups with members to dive deeper into the survey results. Our goal with these sessions is to gain a greater understanding of how different communities and ages are using these tools and how we can help them succeed. We will share our findings publicly so that everyone can benefit from the insights.

Preparing young people for the workforce of the future means doing our due diligence as adults to build upon their natural fluency for technology and provide the resources they need to understand generative AI. It’s on all of us to ensure that the youth in our lives are set up to thrive and understand how to leverage these new technologies that are reshaping our world.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use & Understanding Survey

Christina Vines — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:27:56 +0000

Youth AI

Use & Understanding Survey

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Working together with Hart Research and supported by Microsoft, National 4-H Council examined teen and tween use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, specifically generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.

This first-of-its-kind survey, which included 1,510 youth ages 9-17, found that young people want guidance from adults on use of AI tools. Is also found that children think generative AI will benefit their education and careers, but express concerns about cheating and privacy.

Key Findings

Most young people (66%) express at least some understanding of what generative AI is and how it can be used.
Many kids (72%) are also seeking support from adults in learning how to use these tools correctly and with confidence.
A strong majority of respondents (64%) agreed that generative AI will help them learn things that they will need to know in their future careers, and 58% said it would help them improve how they learn at school.
Respondents also have concerns about AI, including how the technology could be used for cheating (61%) or to expose private information about them (53%).

Blog Post

Press Release

Hart Research Youth AI Survey Results

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PYD Academies

ncastelli — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 19:39:43 +0000

4-H PYD Academies

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Up your PYD practice!

The 4‑H PYD Academy equips 4‑H professionals with the essential knowledge and skills to plan, implement, and evaluate high-quality 4‑H programs that help youth thrive.

Upcoming PYD Academy dates

4-H PYD Virtual Academy

May 7-9

PYD Spotlight Day

Oct 14

More Information

4-H PYD Spotlight Day: Celebrating Your Impact on Youth!

For the past twenty years, research on the 4-H program conducted by Dr. Richard Lerner at Tufts University and Dr. Jacqueline Lerner at Boston College has revealed the incredible impact 4-H has on youth. This is something to celebrate!

At this year's PYD Spotlight Day, Rich and Jackie will share the results of these many years of research, including their most recent study that reconnected over 300 4-H alums—demonstrating the lasting effects of 4-H into adulthood. Join us for a BIG celebration of the impact of YOUR work!

Date: October 14
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM MDT
Location: Boise Centre or Virtual
Cost: $75-100

4-H PYD Virtual Academy

Building Youth Resilience, Purpose and Readiness through Positive Youth Development

The goal for every young person is that they are resilient, purposeful, and ready to navigate life’s challenges. Research shows that a positive youth development approach can help build these essential qualities in youth. This 3-day virtual academy consists of a daily keynote address, panel discussion, five capacity-building sessions and a reflection period. This academy is recommended for all 4-H professionals and those involved with other youth-serving organizations.

Date: May 7-9
Location: Virtual
Cost: $250

Learn More

Helping Youth THRIVE

Sparks: Providing a place where youth can find and explore what sparks their interest.
Belonging: Creating spaces of belonging—where ALL kids feel welcome and physically and emotionally safe.
Relationships: Nurturing positive, supportive and empowering relationships between youth and adults and youth and their peers.
Engagement: Challenging and encouraging youth to pursue their own learning and growth. Promoting active engagement where youth have a voice.

In Partnership with PLWG and NAE4‑HYDP

PYD Academies are brought to you by the 4‑H Standing Committee on Positive Youth Development, a PLWG chartered committee. The purpose of the committee is to advance the science and research foundation of positive youth development across the 4‑H system. 4‑H PYD Academies are produced in collaboration with the National Association of 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and with the convening and financial support of National 4‑H Council.

For questions regarding PYD Academies, please contact Janet Golden.

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Teen Perspectives

Nicole Rugman — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:22:11 +0000

Teen Perspectives

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Hear directly from teens

National 4‑H Council conducted in-depth surveys to capture insights about what young people are thinking, saying and doing about issues, attitudes and trends that are shaping them today and tomorrow. These results help us keep a finger on the pulse of teen perspectives and inform the work we do.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use & Understanding Survey

EXPLORE THE SURVEY FINDINGS

Teen environmental impact survey

Working together with The Harris Poll, National 4‑H Council wanted to better understand how teens feel about the environment. Nationally, we surveyed a diverse group of 1,500 teens from 13-19 years old exploring their concerns about — and commitment to — protecting the environment. Our goal was to represent their unique voice and create a conversation about their evolving relationship with the outdoor world.

EXPLORE THE SURVEY FINDINGS

4‑H teens & racial injustice survey

New Survey Finds That 83 Percent of Teens Acknowledge That Systemic Racism is an Issue and They Want to be Included in the National Conversation Around Social Justice

National 4‑H Council commissioned a survey to gain a deeper understanding of teens perspectives on racism and their opinions on the current protests and social justice movement. The survey was conducted online from July 2 to July 9, 2020 with 1,000 respondents ages 13-19.

EXPLORE THE SURVEY FINDINGS

4‑H youth mental health survey

National 4‑H Council commissioned a survey to explore teens’ perceptions and experiences around mental health. The survey, which polled over 1,500 diverse youth ages 13-19 nationwide, explored the role of resilience in mental health along with gathering youth perspectives on the state of mental health issues in their community and the nation.

EXPLORE THE SURVEY FINDINGS

4‑H youth healthy habits survey

A survey commissioned by National 4‑H Council explores teen perceptions around health and nutrition. The survey, which polled over 1,500 diverse youth between the ages of 13-19 nationwide, investigated youth perceptions on the topics of food access, nutrition and health equity.

EXPLORE THE SURVEY FINDINGS

4‑H & Microsoft digital impact survey

National 4‑H Council and Microsoft teamed up to explore digital access among teens through a national survey. The survey, which polled over 1,500 youth between the ages of 13-19 nationwide, investigated how lack of broadband internet access affects their social mobility and economic opportunities.

EXPLORE THE SURVEY FINDINGS

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Impact Areas

ncastelli — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:56:35 +0000

IMPACT AREAS

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Opportunity

FOR ALL

America faces a widening economic and social opportunity gap leaving too many kids and communities behind. 4-H is addressing the gap by preparing our young people with the skills they need to succeed and harness their untapped talents to solve today's and tomorrow's challenges. The following issues are relevant to youth today, and 4-H has the reach and expertise to empower young people to improve their lives and communities.

Digital divide

With a growing coalition of partners, 4-H is helping connect teens with adults in underserved communities to find greater opportunities for employment through access to digital skills training and broadband connectivity. Studies estimate that nearly one in four American households lack access to broadband internet.

Explore Impact Area

Emotional wellbeing

Through local programs, activities and experiences, 4-H provides young people a safe space to let their voices be heard and empowers them to create positive outcomes for themselves and their communities.

Explore Impact Area

Environmental sustainability

4-H'ers are taking action to address climate change and sustainability, with more than one million environmental projects completed. 4-H provides a platform for young people to understand the planet's challenges while encouraging a problem-solving mindset and offering practical ways to make a difference through technology, innovation, and community action.

Explore Impact Area

Workforce readiness

College and career readiness is a hallmark of 4-H programming that provides youth hands-on skill development, leadership, teamwork, and communication expertise and a pathway to guide their journey. Survey results show that almost 75% credit 4-H with having helped them decide about college, and 84% of 4-H'ers have identified a career that is a good fit through the program.

Explore Impact Area

Diversity, equity and inclusion

The 4-H approach to diversity and inclusion celebrates the diverse population of America. 4-H provides a safe, tolerant, and nurturing environment where members, staff, and volunteers feel comfortable being themselves. 4-H empowers and supports young people to drive social change.

Explore Impact Area

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Grants

ncastelli — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:54:43 +0000

GRANTS AND AWARDS

National 4‑H Council grants and awards help young people learn, grow and make a difference in their communities.

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Welcome to WebGrants

National 4 H Council grants give youth and adults the opportunity to take on issues critical to their lives, families, and communities. The grants are offered through land-grant universities to 4 H programs in local communities, counties, and states. The WebGrants online portal is a one-stop resource to access all available funding opportunities as well as submit related reporting.

Applications for funding are only accepted from 4 H/Extension professionals and state level Extension 4 H/Youth Development Program Leaders or LGU Administrators. Grant deadlines are determined in conjunction with our funding partners. Once a particular grant is announced, grant proposals are normally solicited for at least an eight-week period.

Access WebGrants Portal

Resources

Explore the resources below to learn more about the 4-H WebGrants portal.

Grant Resources

External User Guide Web Grants System

0 KB

Download

Branded Web Grants Financial Reporting PowerPoint

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Download

How to register

If you are a previous Webgrants user, please do not re-register. If you do not know your user information please email 4hgrants@fourhcouncil.edu for login information.

Grant proposal/application tips

When preparing a proposal/application, remember to:

Thoroughly read the entire RFP/RFA before you begin
Start preparing the proposal/application well before the deadline; waiting until the last minute often results in forgotten elements and simple errors that make the submission less likely to be funded
Review all program objectives and create a plan that you can implement that clearly addresses the stated objectives
Note the project implementation dates to ensure you will be able to meet all reporting and deliverable deadlines
Make sure your budget is suitable for accomplishing your plan, accurately reflects the allowable costs to fulfill grant requirements, and has been checked for math errors
Ensure that all necessary attachments are included and do not include attachments that are not requested
Allow enough time for review by your LGU sponsored programs office, if required.
Don’t forget, your state level Extension 4‑H/Youth Development Program leader or LGU administrator must have time to approve the proposal as well.

Please note that failure to adhere to all requirements may exclude
your proposal/application from consideration for the funding opportunity.

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Blog

National 4-H Council — Thu, 26 May 2022 13:12:00 +0000

4-H Today

Hear the latest about 4-H news, events and initiatives

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National 4‑H Council Survey Shows Gen Z is United on Addressing Climate Change

National 4-H Council — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:55:24 +0000

Data reveals that Gen Z is worried yet optimistic about the future of the planet, believe it’s critical to address now or will lead to global political instability

CHEVY CHASE, MD (April 13, 2022) - A new survey by National 4-H Council and the Harris Poll exploring teens' perceptions and attitudes about the environment found that across demographic groups, 75 percent of Gen Z teens in the U.S. are worried about the future of the planet.

An overwhelming 84 percent of teens agree that if climate change is not addressed today, it will be too late for coming generations and make parts of the planet unlivable. This impacts how they view their own futures, with 84 percent of Gen Z respondents indicating that the effects of climate change will lead to global political instability and 69 percent of teens expressing worries that they and their families will be personally affected by climate change through floods, fires, and extreme heat in the near future.

"This survey reinforces that climate change is among the most urgent issues facing youth today," said Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. "Gen Z has experienced historic weather events and climate concerns firsthand, and they are channeling their worries into innovative solutions in their backyards and the world," added Sirangelo. "Cooperative Extension's 4-H program is committed to lifting up youth voices and empowering young people to help their communities achieve a brighter and more environmentally secure future."

Teens feel empowered to take action with 84 percent expressing a desire to be involved in shaping the future success of the planet. Yet they believe everyone is equally responsible for protecting and preserving the environment and that political and business leaders are falling short. The vast majority of teens (84 percent) agree that we need more action from companies on addressing climate issues, and 83 percent of teens want to see more legislative action from the government.

"The future of the Mississippi River is concerning because it is the lifeline to not only Louisiana industries and ecosystems, but also to the entire country," said Louisiana 4-H'er Izzy Dean. "If the Mississippi River and its deltas continue to experience pollution, nutrient runoff, and levees blocking the reintroduction of soil deposits to the floodplains, there will be detrimental impacts for the environment and future generations of humanity," added Dean. "I hope that my soon-to-be career as a coastal environmental scientist can address these concerns by figuring out solutions to mitigate subsidence, restore disappearing habitats, and work to fix the many other problems that plague this very important, yet very fragile, river and watershed."

The survey also found that Gen Z is concerned not just about their own individual futures when it comes to climate change, but on the future of life as we know it. Indeed, 84 percent of teens are worried that if we don't do more to protect the environment now, humans, along with wildlife and other species, will suffer and possibly go extinct.

"For generations, 4-H'ers have recited the 4-H pledge, 'pledging their hands to larger service.' The current generation faces severe environmental challenges with great concern and even greater hope," said Dave Francis, Director of Extension & 4-H Youth Programs for Utah State University Extension. "These young leaders know they can make a difference and are willing to extend great effort to drive change in their local communities to impact the world."

The survey polled 1,500 respondents between the ages of 13-19 nationwide. Data was collected and analyzed on a variety of factors including gender, age, race, urbanicity, and 4-H involvement. The full survey results can be viewed at 4-H.org.

Contact:

Julia Majors, National 4-H Council
jmajors@fourhcouncil.edu
202-262-1782

About 4-H

4-H, the nation's largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for careers tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation's Cooperative Extension System and USDA and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs. Learn more about 4‑H at 4-H.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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New Survey Shows Teens Believe Reliable Broadband is a Key Driver of Equity and Opportunity, Call for Government Action

National 4-H Council — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 23:51:33 +0000

Data reveals that teens believe broadband access is critical to leveling the playing field for pandemic recovery and economic development in their communities.

CHEVY CHASE, Md., Aug. 12, 2021 -- A new survey by National 4-H Council, the Harris Poll, and the 4-H Tech Changemakers coalition-comprised of Land O'Lakes, Microsoft, Tractor Supply, and Verizon-found that teens believe disparities in access to high-speed internet and digital skills are continuing to drive economic and social inequities in their communities nationwide.

Survey results showed that unreliable access to high-speed internet, or internet that is either sometimes or never able to provide the services needed, is highly correlated to perceptions of reduced career prospects, significantly lower levels of digital literacy, and less confidence in the ability to be successful. With high-speed internet access becoming critical in the advancement of young people and local economies, 74 percent of teens (including 79 percent from rural communities) believe that the government should play an important role in providing broadband access to all.

Despite a rising need for high-speed internet, amplified by the impacts of COVID-19, the survey showed that access to reliable high-speed internet has fallen by eight percent over the last two years. Seventy-seven percent of youth had reliable access in 2019, compared with 69 percent in 2021, with Black youth lagging 10 percent behind the general population (59 percent of Black youth reported having reliable access).

The lack of access has significant effects on the lives of young people, with the survey results demonstrating notable differences in confidence levels between teens with and without access to high-speed internet in areas like graduating from high school (92 percent vs 89 percent), having a successful career (88 percent vs 81 percent), having financial success (85 percent vs 80 percent), and life overall (85 percent vs 74 percent). Unreliable internet access also leads to significant gaps in digital skills, despite widespread agreement among teens that "digital skills will be the key to getting the best jobs for my generation" (73 percent agree).

Unreliable broadband access also contributes to temporal inequity: for example, 50 percent of teens with reliable internet access spend three or more hours on homework each day. That number jumps to 62 percent for teens with unreliable access. The same pattern holds true with regard to accessing healthcare (19 percent vs 40 percent) and submitting job/college applications (26 percent vs 48 percent).

The survey also showed that unreliable broadband access has implications for adults across the country. A majority of teens agree that "access to broadband could have helped my community economically during the pandemic" (64 percent, 70 percent rural), and "if my community had better access to high-speed internet, people here would make more money" (63 percent).

These implications impact perceptions of future social and economic mobility as well. For example, 78 percent of teens believe it's possible for them to make more money than their parents, compared with just 67 percent of teens with unreliable broadband access. Teens with unreliable access were also less likely to believe that members of their community could receive a better education (40 percent vs 58 percent), make more money (49 percent vs 56 percent), access more career opportunities (40 percent vs 55 percent), or buy a home (35 percent vs 43 percent) than their parents.

The survey polled over 1,600 respondents in suburban, urban, and rural communities between the ages of 13-19 nationwide. The full survey results can be viewed at www.4-H.org/DigitalDivide.

"The data is clear: lack of access to reliable broadband and critical digital skills are some of the greatest barriers people face today in working toward educational and economic achievement. Expanding access to broadband internet and adoption of digital skills are concrete steps we can take now to drive more equitable access to opportunity across the country," said Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of National 4-H Council. "Together with our Tech Changemakers partners, we're bringing critical digital skills to communities across the country, not only to create opportunities for individuals but to build local economies as well."

"Limited internet access in my rural community leaves students and business owners feeling behind the curve. The pandemic has worsened the situation since I'm now expected to complete many everyday tasks online, such as submitting schoolwork or job applications, even though I don't have reliable access to the internet," said 17-year-old Oklahoma 4-H'er Murphy Peterson. "My sister owns a small business but can't process orders or maintain the website at home. It's difficult to build a profitable business without this important resource. It creates a ripple effect for our economy because people are less likely to stay, start new businesses, and invest back in our community. Along with internet access, a program like 4-H Tech Changemakers would give 4-H'ers a chance to help communities like mine to grow and build a better future."

These findings show the profound impact reliable high-speed internet access and digital skills can have on the lives and futures of American teens and their communities. 4-H Tech Changemakers is National 4-H Council's initiative to help build a more equitable future through digital inclusion, with a focus on Black and rural communities. Made possible by support from Land O'Lakes, Microsoft, Tractor Supply, and Verizon, the 4-H Tech Changemakers program empowers teens to increase digital skills adoption in their communities by collaborating with coalition partners, local elected officials, nonprofits, educators, and businesses. Through 4-H's Cooperative Extension network, 20 Land-Grant Universities (LGUs), of which 11 are Historically Black Land Grant Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will prepare 4-H teen leaders to teach critical digital skills to adults in their community. Tech Changemakers will reach an estimated 50,000 adults across 18 states with digital skills trainings in 2021.

About 4-H Tech Changemakers

4-H Tech Changemakers empowers young people to close the country's widening digital divide by providing them with the education and tools they need to teach digital employability skills, such as online job seeking, social media marketing and software use to adults in their communities. The program recently expanded its commitment to service more than 50,000 adults across 164 communities nationwide.

To learn more, visit 4-H Tech Changemakers.

About 4-H

4-H, the nation's largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation's Cooperative Extension System and USDA and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.

Learn more about 4-H at 4-H.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/4-H and follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/4H.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Land O'Lakes, Inc., one of America's premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2020 annual sales of $14 billion, Land O'Lakes is one of the nation's largest cooperatives, ranking 219 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 100 years of operation, Land O'Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods, Purina Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Truterra. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O'Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minnesota.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is one of the world's leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. The company offers data, video and voice services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers' demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control.

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Defense Department

Kevin Karg — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 03:35:22 +0000

Defense Department

Learn how the immune system helps humans and animals fight off illnesses.

About Supplies Activity Steps Test Your Knowledge Reflection Questions Investigate & Explore Related Activities Shop 4-H Home You searched for results

About the Activity

This fun and educational activity will show kids how the body’s immune system works and how it protects animals and humans against sickness. Plus, there’s candy involved, so it should be a hit.
This is the first in a four-part educational series about preventing and treating illness in animals. View all activities at 4-H Veterinary Science: Stopping Sickness. Grades: 6-8
Topic: Animal Science
Estimated Time: 60 minutes Supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Education and Workforce Development Program.

Supplies
These simple materials will get you started.

A pencil or pen
Internet access to research the immune system
A bag of M&Ms, jellybeans or other multi-colored candy
A calculator
The downloadable activity guide with information on immune systems

Activity Steps
Follow these steps to complete the activity.

Before we start, think about this: Having a fever is not fun, but when you – or an animal – are sick, it’s a good sign. That’s because fevers “turn on” the immune system, helping the body fight infection. So you may feel sick when you have a fever, but that’s because your body is working hard to protect itself!

To start, read through the downloadable activity guide, glossary, and information about the immune system. There’s some pretty amazing stuff in there.Did You Know? Lymphocytes are white blood cells that support your immune system by attacking pathogens (any microorganism that can cause sickness in your body). They are found in the bloodstream and lymph nodes. Erythrocytes are red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues.

Now it’s time for M&Ms! Open your bag of candy and sort the pieces according to color. Put the color group with the most pieces at the top of your working area; put the group with the second-most pieces below this, and continue until the group with the fewest pieces is at the bottom.Note: A typical bag of M&Ms has six colors in it, so if you don’t have enough different colors to do all eight of the blood cell types, that’s fine, the basic idea is still the same.
Count the total number of “cells” you have and record this number.
Assign a blood cell type name from the list in the matching activity to each color of candy.
Finish performing your Complete Blood Count by counting the number of each color candy, then calculating the percent of each type of “cell.” The total of all candy percentages should equal 100.Tip: To calculate a percentage, divide the number of a specific color candy by the total number of cells. Then multiply that by 100 to convert that decimal to a %. For example, if you have 10 red pieces of candy and 36 total pieces, you would calculate the percentage as 10/36, which equals 0.27. Multiplied by 100, you get 27.7, and that’s your percentage of red candies: 27.7%
Record your results in the corresponding table, then refer to the Normal Blood Count chart for different animals. Based on your totals, do you have a healthy level of blood cells for a cat? For a dog? For a cow?Tip: A cat has 6-20 white blood cells (x1000); a dog has 6-17; and a cow has 4-12.

Download

Test Your Knowledge
See how much learned about the immune system and find great activities to try next!

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[tqb_quiz id=’59118′]

Reflection Questions
Questions to deepen wonder and understanding.

How does the immune system protect us against diseases?
What diseases have you been vaccinated against?
How can you better protect your pets or animals (if you have any) against diseases?

Investigate and Explore
Take what you’ve learned to the next level to learn more and explore the possibilities.

Humans have been studying blood for a long time. The invention of the compound microscope in 1590 made it all possible, and less than a century later the Dutch scientist Jan Swammerdam was the first person to observe red blood cells under the microscope, in 1658. Over the centuries we’ve learned a lot about how the different kinds of blood cells drive the immune system, helping it to protect the body by fighting off illnesses. And science has progressed to help the immune system support itself with the evolution of medicines and vaccines.

Vaccines are injections that contain the same germs that cause a disease but have been weakened so they can’t make the body sick; instead, the immune system is stimulated to produce antibodies against the vaccine and, in turn, develops immunity against the disease the vaccine was created against.

The first vaccine was used in 1796 to provide protection against smallpox, but the story of vaccines began long before that. There’s evidence to suggest that the Chinese employed smallpox inoculation – not by vaccine, but by exposing a healthy person to a smallpox scab – as early as 1000 CE. Explore more about the history of vaccines here.

There are all kinds of diseases that used to be common that, thanks to vaccines, we don’t have to worry about anymore, including polio, measles, and smallpox.

Up Next: Biosecurity Dominos

Now that you understand how the body’s immune system helps fight illness, learn how illnesses can spread and how to prevent it in the next activity, Biosecurity Dominos.

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This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, Education and Workforce Development Program, grant no. 2021-67037-33376/ Project Accession No. 1024940, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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About the Activity

SuppliesThese simple materials will get you started.

Activity StepsFollow these steps to complete the activity.

Test Your KnowledgeSee how much learned about the immune system and find great activities to try next!

Reflection QuestionsQuestions to deepen wonder and understanding.

Investigate and ExploreTake what you’ve learned to the next level to learn more and explore the possibilities.

Up Next: Biosecurity Dominos

Related Activities

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Shop 4-H Curriculum and Products

From Airedales to Zebras

Veterinary Science Set of 4

Animal Behavior Digital Download

Horse Program Set of 2

All About Dogs

Dairy Goat Set of 4

View the full collection of Animal and Agricultural Science curriculum on Shop 4-H.

Brought to you by:

Learn About 4‑H Clubs in Your Area

Help 4-H Provide Equal #Opportunity4All Kids

Supplies
These simple materials will get you started.

Activity Steps
Follow these steps to complete the activity.

Test Your Knowledge
See how much learned about the immune system and find great activities to try next!

Reflection Questions
Questions to deepen wonder and understanding.

Investigate and Explore
Take what you’ve learned to the next level to learn more and explore the possibilities.