4-H PROJECT RECORD BOOKS

Created By: Neil Callahan

Edited by: Jackie L. Helton and April W. Bowman

What are Project Record Books?1. Curriculum Books are 4-H books which contain

knowledge about a subject.2. Project Record books are sheets that are

completed that tell what you learned and did from your curriculum book.

3. Curriculum Books or Guides come in many subjects. For example:

• Electricity• Horse• Leadership • Animal Science

Life Skills Gained Through Project Record Books

• Communication skills• Decision making skills• Categorizing & Organizing data• Analyzing & Utilizing information• Sharing information with others• Civic responsibilities in the community

What do you do with the Curriculum Book?

• Use the book to learn about the subject.• Expand your knowledge. Learn more about the

subject using other sources.• Choose an activity that you would like to do that

involves using the knowledge you have learned.• Complete the activity.• Document what you did and learned using the

proper project record sheets.

Project Record Sheets

Project Record Sheets and Project Record Book competition are divided into 5 age categories:

• Cloverbud (5-8 years old)• 9-10 years old• 11-12 years old• 13-15 years old• 16-18 years old

Please note that Cloverbud books are not submitted to district for competition..

Project Record Categories

• Animal Science• Citizenship & Civic Education• Communication & Expressive Arts• Consumer & Family Science• Environmental & Earth Education• Healthy Lifestyles • Personal Development & Leadership• Plant Science• Science & Technology

Project Selection Sheets

• Project Selection Sheets list most Curriculum Books that 4-H has available within these categories.

• Each selection sheet is divided into 5 age categories that help make it easier to select age appropriate materials.

• It is recommended that youth start with the first book in a series even if they are old enough to be working in the third book of the series.

Filling Out Project Records• Each Project Record Sheet has a separate set of

instructions that will tell you how to fill it out. Be sure to read them carefully before starting.

• Read the Project Record Sheet carefully and answer the questions as stated.

• Always follow the instructions to the letter.• If you have questions, please contact April

Bowman, 4-H Agent at 703-2850 or at 4H@forsyth.cc.

What if?

What if I want to do a 4-H Project Record on a subject that has no 4-H Curriculum Book?

• A curriculum book is a guide that helps you complete your project record sheets. You may do independent study in order to complete your project record if there is not a curriculum book available. Contact your 4-H Agent to discuss what category your project record falls under before beginning.

Where Do I Start?

• You should start in January listing your goals for the year. Include things that you want to do AND things that you want to learn for ALL of your 4-H projects.

• Include a date that you want to accomplish this goal.

• You may add pages to have more space.

What’s Next?• As you do activities and learn things, list them in

Section 2. Be specific.– i.e. Instead of saying “I learned about bicycle

safety” say “I learned that I need to wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads to keep me safe when riding my bike” and “I learned how to adjust my brakes on my bicycle to keep me safe”.

• You may add pages to this section.• You should only include things in this section that

relate to this ONE project.

Section 3 – Express Yourself• This section is slightly different for each age group.

• Stick to your page limit!

• Suggested items for inclusion are:– Labeled and scrapbooked pictures– Poems that you have written related to your project– A collage of pictures that you have cut out of magazines– A videotape of you (2 minutes only)

My Story• Your story should:

– Introduce yourself, your family and tell about where you live

– Introduce your 4-H club and any project helpers that you have.

– Include a paragraph on each 4-H project AND a paragraph on each 4-H activity.

– Conclude by telling something that you like about 4-H, etc.

• If you do more than one project record you only need to write one story.

13-18 Year Olds• Teens must list their involvement with:

– Leadership• Holding Office• Teaching a Workshop

– Citizenship• Helping someone with a campaign• Running for an office

– Community Service• Adopt a Street, Grandparent, Stream, etc.• Volunteering at a Nursing Home

Putting the Bow On• Once you have completed your project, you may

want to rewrite it so that everything is neat.

• Place your project record in a pocket folder.

• Write your “Name, Age Category, County/District (Northwest), and Category” on the top right corner of your folder.

Jane Doe

9-10

Forsyth/Northwest

Animal Science

Things to Know about Project Records

• Only two project records per 4-H member can be submitted for district competition.

• You may not make improvements to a project record once it is turned in to the 4-H Office.

• You can be named a district gold medal winner in a category only once for each age category.

• Incomplete project records are not accepted for competition.

Dates To Remember• Project Records are due to 4-H Office by the

First Friday in January following New Years.• The project records will be judged for county

winners.• County winners will be awarded at Achievement

Night and move on to district competition by March 1.

Adult Supervision

• The project record work should be the work of the 4-H member, not an adult.

• Each 4-H’er should set their own goals, however some goals would be similar for all 4-H members.

Project Record Recognition

• Prizes are given to county winners.• Everyone that completes a project record will earn

scholarship dollars.• District awards are given for each age group.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are awarded.• Gold winners receive $50 cash or other awards as

posted in the 4-H Awards Handbook at http://www.nc4h.org/publications/forms/index.php.

Any Questions?