Indiana 4‐H Youth & Adult Congress 2008
“Simplicity is in! Activities for Club Meetings” 2008 Indiana 4‐H Youth & Adult Congress Lesson Plan Youth Session B and Adult Session 2 Presenters: Angie Riffle, Jennifer Logue, Debbie Searcy, Cindy Hartman, Jonathan Ferris, and 4CLS Participants Introduction to Session The activities that are included in this session are ones that you can learn today and then lead in your Club Meetings once you return home. You’ll find a sample of activities for each grade group that you may work with. Adults and Youth are both participating in this session today; so you’ll be able to work with each other to determine the best way to share this information with your groups at home. You’ll notice that each of the activities in this session include what we call “debriefing” questions. These questions help you think about the activity that you participated in, and how you might be able to apply the skills you gained to other parts of your lives. The time taken for debriefing is at least as important as the time taken to participate in the activity. Be sure to include this time when you are planning your meetings. Circle of Support 10 min (used as mixer) Life Skill: Accepting differences; empathy Description: Affirming your differences and commonalities within a group Source: “Step Up To Leadership, My Leadership Portfolio”, Grades 9‐12, p. 12‐13 and “Step Up To Leadership Mentor Guide”, Grades 6‐12, p. 48‐49 Supplies needed: List of trait descriptions (optional: index cards with topics printed on them) Instructions for Leader: 
Follow instructions found on p. 48 of Mentor Guide. 
Be certain that everyone is included in some way during the activity. 
Ask a sample of the debriefing questions found on p. 49 of the Mentor Guide. Suggestions: o
What did you learn about each other and yourself? 1 Indiana 4‐H Youth & Adult Congress 2008
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What did you have in common with others in your group that you didn’t expect? o
What differences do you have with others in the group? How did you feel when you discovered those differences? o
How did it feel to have the group’s support when you were in the circle? How did it feel to be supportive of others when they were in the circle? o
Which of the differences among the group members might be a challenge for the group as they work together? How would you overcome these challenges? o
How can your differences be used constructively? Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes 15 min Life Skill: Empathy Description: Immerse yourself in another’s world to understand how they feel. Source: “Step Up To Leadership, My Leadership Workbook” for Grades 3‐5, p. 12‐13 and “Step Up To Leadership Mentor Guide”, Grades K‐5, p. 42‐43 Supplies Needed: 
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Blindfolds Gift wrap or newspaper Boxes 
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Tape Scissors Suggestion: Rotate this activity with “Keep it on the Level” group, depending upon group size Instructions for Leader: 
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Follow instructions found on p. 42 of Mentor Guide. Provide the group with a task to complete: work together as a group to wrap a package. Assign various members of the group with some of the following restrictions: o Use of only one hand o Use only your non‐dominant hand (put your dominant hand behind your head) o Unable to see (blindfolded) o Unable to speak o No use of thumbs (tape thumbs to rest of hand) 2 Indiana 4‐H Youth & Adult Congress 
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Ask a sample of the debriefing questions found on p. 43 of the Mentor Guide. Suggestions: o How did you feel at different points in the activity? o Was there a time you felt frustrated? o How did you work together as a team to complete the task? o How does this activity help you understand how to work with others more effectively? Keep it on the Level 10 min Life Skill: Teamwork and Contribution to Group Effort Description: Lowering the broom handle will challenge your teamwork. Source: “Step Up To Leadership, My Leadership Portfolio”, Grades 9‐12, p. 28‐29 and “Step Up To Leadership Mentor Guide”, Grades 6‐12, p. 62‐63 Supplies needed: 
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Broom handle, dowel rod, pool noodle, or other similar item: 1 for each 12 youth One “watcher” per handle. Suggestion: Rotate this activity with “Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes” group, depending upon group size. Instructions for Leader: 
Follow instructions found on p. 62 of Mentor Guide. 
If anyone loses contact with the stick on its way down to the floor, the group starts over. 
Ask a sample of the debriefing questions found on p. 63 of the Mentor Guide. Suggestions: o
Were you able to get your stick all the way to the floor without anyone losing contact? If so, how? o
What planning did you do before beginning the activity? o
Did anyone assume a leadership role in the group? What did that person(s) do? o
Did everyone participate? What would have happened if someone decided not to participate? o
Was your team successful? Why or why not? o
How could the criteria of team success that you identified be used in other teams of which you are a member? 3 Indiana 4‐H Youth & Adult Congress 2008
The End is in Sight 25 min Life Skill: Achieving goals Description: You will try to achieve a team goal of getting out of a “traffic jam”. Source: “Step Up To Leadership, My Leadership Journal”, Grades 6‐8, p. 22‐23 and “Step Up To Leadership Mentor Guide”, Grades 6‐12, p. 32‐33 Supplies needed: 
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Copy paper with arrows printed on each sheet, markers/pens, tape 9 sheets of paper will be needed for every 8 people (two teams of four) Suggestion: Everyone does this activity together. Instructions for Leader: 
Follow instructions found on p. 32 of Mentor Guide. 
Lead activity explaining the goal that the two teams are to switch sides, according to the stated rules. 
Ask a sample of the debriefing questions found on p. 33 of the Mentor Guide. Suggestions: o
What did your group do to reach the other side? o
How did your group work together as a team? o
Who took on leadership roles? What did they do? o
Did everyone’s ideas get heard? o
How did you encourage each other during the activity? o
What suggestions can you take from this activity to help other groups you are a part of to reach their goals? 4