How to Use These Activities

These activities were designed for use in informal educational settings such as 4-H clubs, scout meetings, museums, nature centers, science centers, camps, and afterschool programs. They also enrich formal education at home and at school. The experiential activities can stand alone or can link to a variety of studies such as history, science, technology, math, computer science, and information technology.

How others use Plants & Technology - A Legacy of Technology

Work with a Youth Group

• 4-H'ers in Lewis County, NY enjoyed tie-dyeing t-shirts with indigo dye and exploring the variety of tints and tones that are possible.
• In Delaware County, NY, 4-H members worked together to make paper using a variety of recipes.
• Youth and volunteers from Delaware, Livingston, and Wayne Counties will demonstrate mat weaving in the Youth Building at the 2005 New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY.

Enrich Elementary School

• Students in Genesee County, NY, incorporated mat weaving, paper making, and rope making into their community history and simple tools curricula. They learned technical skills, improved their journal writing, and mounted a display of their work in the school lobby.

Engage Youth in Curriculum Development

• Cornell University students visited the Farmer's Museum, Cooperstown, NY, to better understand museum outreach to youth, the factors important in successful curriculum development, and methods for engaging young people.
• New York teens helped develop and test paper-making activities as part of a summer campus experience at Cornell University.

Support Community Events

• Cornell University students helped children dye fabric and explained the oxidation-reduction reaction of indigo dye as part of the annual Chemistry at the Mall, a chemistry-awareness event sponsored by the American Chemical Society.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and 4-H teen leaders offered a workshop on paper making at the Farmer's Museum, Cooperstown, NY, as part of the museum's Memorial Day weekend festivities.
• Cooperative Extension staff in Otsego County, NY, led these hands-on activities as part of Kids' Fest at a local Farmers Market to raise awareness of science-technology programs for youth and to support the efforts of local growers.

Partner with Community Agencies/Organizations

• Staff from the Wayne County Historical Society, the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Program, and the Rochester Weavers Guild teamed up to teach youth from four local high schools about plant materials and textile products. Youth toured the museum, built tools, practiced paper making and mat weaving, and received a resource packet. They will, in turn, lead activities at their school and share their research with their peers.
• Stonewall Farm, Keene, NH, engaged local students in paper making as part of their museum outreach.