National 4-H Curriculum

4-H programs use a wide range of 4-H educational materials to meet the needs and interests of youth. Visit the National 4-H Curriculum Web site to learn more about the more than 190 exciting, experientially-based 4-H Curriculum materials for youth and volunteers.

4-H Science, Engineering and Technology (SET)
Curriculum Request for Applications (RFA) -
Full proposals from selected pre-proposal applicants

This fall, National 4-H Headquarters, CSREES, USDA announced the first in a series of calls for the development of national 4-H curricula. The first call focuses on curriculum that will populate a suite of SET curricula around Environmental Sciences. The specific content areas for this call include Engineering, Basic Sciences, and Alternative Energy as they relate to Environmental Sciences.

Funding is provided through National 4-H Council to support the development of effective high quality SET curriculum. Projects up to $100,000 will be considered. Funding levels will depend on the scope of the proposal and time and resources needed to produce the curriculum.

Following intent to apply and pre-proposal review processes, selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal for developing national 4-H SET curriculum. Awardees will work with National 4-H Headquarters, USDA and National 4-H Council, our private partner, throughout the development of the curriculum. Updated quality review standards and processes are noted in the RFA document. Highlights include checkpoints during curriculum development and pilot testing—designed to ensure the curriculum meets quality standards during development—and a one-year conditional acceptance following a review process. During this period, curriculum users will be asked to submit feedback, and curriculum developers will conduct an outcome evaluation. Successful completion of these activities, including any necessary revisions in response to feedback and outcome evaluation results, will result in formal acceptance of the curriculum as national 4-H curriculum.

ONLY those who have been invited to submit a full
proposal following pre-proposal reviews are eligible for consideration for an award to develop curriculum.

No other proposals will be reviewed.

Click on the following links to access:

• FY 2008 Request for Applications (Revised)
• Appendix A: Application for 4-H SET Curriculum Development
• Appendix C: 4-H SET Curriculum Planning Worksheet
• Appendix D: 4-H SET Curriculum Planning Worksheet Guiding Questions

The application (Appendix A) is due by noon, Monday, November 24, 2008 to natl4hcurr@csrees.usda.gov.

Applicants may submit a revised Appendix C by the deadline, if desired. Otherwise, peer reviewers will use Appendix C as submitted with pre-proposals. Appendix D remains available as a guide for completing Appendix C.

Questions? Contact Ryan Schmiesing, National Program Leader, or Maria Arnold, Youth Development Program Specialist, at National 4-H Headquarters, USDA at 202-720-5075 (Ryan) or 202-720-8857 (Maria) or email natl4hcurr@csrees.usda.gov .

See also...
Materials in Spanish