Mediapolis Busy Bees
Questions? Email us at busybees@mepotelco.net
Record Book Information
Record Book Criteria and Helpful Hints
What to look for:
Blue Sticker: Included in record book: Name Page
4-H Yearly Summary
Project record pages
4-H Story
Self-Evaluation (newly required in '03)
Legible handwriting or type written
RED Sticker: Not including any of the above
Purple Sticker: Correct order of required items (see above list)
Longer, (more than one paragraph), well written 4-H Story
3 or more project area pages
Neat, legible and complete sentences, handwritten or typed
Something extra - could be picture, good descriptions of projects, or other items pertaining to project area.
You can tell extra time was taken in preparation of record book.
Youth committee agreed that if something was out of order in the record book, and the book was overall deserving of a Purple Sticker, the Purple Sticker could still be given.
4-H Record Keeping Systems
4-Her's have a variety of ways to learn the important life skill of record keeping. Members may choose the system that meets their needs and learning styles. An excellent resource to help learn more about record keeping is the publication "Achieving Goals through 4-H Record Keeping (4H91), available at the Extension Office.
4-Her's are encouraged to develop a record keeping system that includes:
* completion of a 4-H record for one or more projects
* completion of a Yearly 4-H Summary
* completion of a 4-H Story
* participation in s self-evaluation or conference
Also, 4-Her's may select one ore more of the following ways to keep their records:
* basic project record form
* experienced project record form
* advanced project record form
* video tape
* audio tape
* project worksheets (special ones available for market or breeding animals, dairy, dogs, horses, and photography
* portfolio
* computerized records
* create your own system
Whatever record keeping system a 4-Her chooses, it should reflect goals, accomplishments and future plans.
Using 4-H Project Record Forms for Record Keeping
If 4-Hers decide to use written project record forms, they can choose among three different options. These three are called Basic (4H96A), Experienced (4H96B), and Advanced (4H96C). These forms were developed for beginning record keepers and progress to more experienced and advanced record keepers. Parents and leaders should help the 4-Her choose the form that best fits each member's interest, skill level and needs for the project.
Each form asks the 4-Her what goals were set, look at progress made and to evaluate their experiences. The forms are designed to help the 4-Her learn more about record keeping and to record more detailed information and include leadership and citizenship experiences.
Remember: A project record is for the entire project (i.e. Clothing) NOT for each exhibit that was taken to the fair. You can put all of your work in an area on one record sheet.
Order of Record Book
For members who keep their records in a notebook or 4-H record book, here is a guide for the order of forms.
1. The first page is the NAME PAGE. This should be a plain piece of paper that has the following information on it: current photo, name, age, grade, club name, number of years in 4-H, and the year (2001-2002).
2. 4-H Yearly Summary or Participation Summary. This form includes information about participation at the local, county, area and state levels. This should be updated annually to show the work done in the most recent year.
3. 4-H Project Record. One per project and they can be in any order desired. The forms available are outlined above. Any pictures or other related material may be placed behind the project sheet.
4. 4-H Story. Members are asked to write a story highlighting the events of the year and citing activities that special meaning to them.
5. Self-Evaluation. This form is used by members who want to assess the year's work and see if they met their goals or what might be done differently in the future.
Records form the previous years should follow the current year.
Link to the Des Moines County Extension Office http://www.extension.iastate.edu/desmoines/homepage