November 12th - Expansion and Review Meeting, Ext. office, 6:30 p.m.

November 17th - Leader/Officer Training Youth Partnership Workshop, Ext. office, 6:30 p.m.

November 24th - Deadline to sign up for Make it - Take it Workshop.

December 5th - Christmas Parade , decorate float 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Ride float lineup 10:45 a.m.

December 8th - Federation Meeting, Ext. Office, 6:00 p.m.

December 8th - Make It - Take It Workshop, Ext. Office, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

December 24th - January3rd - Holiday Break.

REMINDER *******REMINDER *******REMINDER*******REMINDER

Please remember to pre-register for all the workshops and other 4-H events. All you need to do is call the office so we can put you on a list to attend. This helps us plan how much we need to buy and or cancel the workshop if we do not have at least 10 4-Hers attending. Thank you!

Federation/Leaders Youth Partnership Training is scheduled for November 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

All members are welcome and will earn a Federation point for attending.

December Federation meeting is scheduled for December 8, 2009 at 6:00 pm. Call the office to sign up.

Federation questions?? Call Susan at 762-2191.

Publication orders are due in the office by November 2nd for delivery on November 17th or place orders January 4th for delivery on January 19th or March 15th for delivery on March 30th. Please contact the Extension office if you have any questions.

762-2191

Susan Houska

shouska@ilinois.edu

Christmas Parade

"Candy Cane Dreams"

We will be decorating the wagon for the parade at the Extension office on Saturday, December 5, 2009, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Line up for the parade will be on Kratz Road at 10:45 a.m. Parade begins at 11:30 a.m.

You will earn 1 Fed. point for decorating and 1 point if you ride in the wagon or walk with 4-H.

762-2191

We will know where the wagon is in the line-up the first week of December. We will let you know where you should look for us in the line-up. We are asking parents to drop the kids off and pick them up this year so they won't have to be in the cold for a long time.

The Expansion and Review meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday November 12, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Please call the office to sign up to attend.

Susan Houska

shouska@illinois.edu

762-2191

We are excited to offer a Piatt County 4-H T-shirt. Contact your Leader to order yours today!

Deadline to order your shirt so you will have it for gift giving is November 20th.

Susan Houska

shouska@illinois.edu

Below are some great resources for getting girls interested in science, engineering and technology. Just to note, many people outside 4-H use the term "STEM" (science, tech, eng and math) while we use SET (science, eng, tech).

Guide to Evaluating Promising Practices in Informal Science, Technology, Engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Education for Girls

A study by Girls Scouts of the USA and Motorola identifies three ways to engage girls in science and math. These strategies, excerpted from the executive summary of this report, are:

• "Discover by Doing: Experiential activities are critical to success.
  • Encourage active, hands-on participation rather than demonstration or lecture.
  • Design activities that allow for experimentation and problem-solving.
• Make it Real: Connect activities through relevant, project-based, real-world examples.
  • Show girls how STEM disciplines are part of and related to their everyday experience.
  • Allow girls freedom to choose the curriculum themes and activities of most interest.
• Provide positive relationships with role models and mentors.
  • Use mentors to bring context to potential career choices.
  • Choose mentors from diverse backgrounds to allow girls to see others like them and different from them who are succeeding in STEM careers."