Communications Toolkit Fun Skill-Building Activities to Do With Kids A 4-H Youth Development Book Children, Youth & Family Programs Michigan State University Extension East Lansing, Michigan, USA Special thanks to the Michigan 4-H Youth Development staff members, volunteers, teens and other young people who helped guide the development of this resource. A 4-H Youth Development Book The name “4-H” and the emblem consisting of a four-leaf clover with stem and the letter “H” on each leafl et are protected under Title 18 U.S.C. 707. COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT: FUN SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH KIDS. Copyright © 2000 by the Michi- gan State University Board of Trustees. These materials may be copied for purposes of 4-H programs and other nonprofi t educational groups. The skill sheets, activities and handouts in this publication are designed to be photocopied for nonprofi t educational purposes only. 4-H Youth Development grants permission to 4-H programs and other nonprofi t educational groups to reproduce these masters. Printed in the United States of America on recycled paper. For information address 4-H Youth Development, Michigan State University Extension, 160 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-1039. ISBN 1-56525-013-3 MSU is an affi rmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. 1P–2M–11:99–LP–RM Acknowledgments The Communications To olkit: Fun Skill-Building Activities to Do With Contents Kids was developed by Michigan About This To olkit: Introduction & Genera l Information. .... 2 State University Extension’s 4-H 9 Youth Dev elo pment . Publication of Written Communications .................................................... What Leaders Need to Know................................................... 9 this curriculum was made possible Skill Sheets......................................................................... 17 by a grant from Pharmacia & Upjohn Activities............................................................................ 23 Animal Health of Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the Michig an 4-H Found ation of Vo cal Expre ssion & Public Speaking ................................... 29 East Lansing, Michigan. What Leaders Need to Know. ................................................ 29 Skill Sheets......................................................................... 31 Project Coordinated by: Icebreakers ......................................................................... 38 Kare n Pace, As sociate Pro gram Activities............................................................................ 42 Leader, 4-H Yo uth Devel opment, Michigan State University Extension Visual Communication & Graphic Design. .......................... 55 What Leaders Need to Know. ................................................ 55 Writers: Skill Sheets......................................................................... 59 • Cheryl Howell, 4-H Information Design Warm-Up Activities ................................................... 73 Officer, ANR Commu nications, Activities & Projects ............................................................. 91 Michigan State University Video, Media & Technology ...............................................131 •Ma ry Krone nberg, Fo rmer 4-H What Leaders Need to Know................................................1 31 Youth Age nt, Wa sht enaw Skill Sheets........................................................................1 39 Cou nty, Michi gan Stat e Unive r- Icebreakers ........................................................................1 52 sity Extension Activities & Projects ...........................................................1 55 •K aren Pace, As sociate Pro gram Leader, 4-H Yo uth Devel op- ment, Michigan State Univer- sity Extension •M arian Reiter, Graphic Artist, 4-H Youth Develo pment, Michigan State University Exten sion Edited by: •Re becca McKee, Editor, 4-H Youth Devel opme nt, Michigan State University Extension •M ind y Po pa Sche rr, Fre elance Editor Graphic design by: • Marian Reiter, Graphic Artist, 4-H Youth Develo pment, Michigan State University Exten sion COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT • About This Toolkit: Introduction & General Information – 1 ©2000 Michigan State University Board of Trustees. About This Toolkit Introduction & General Information Welcome to the • Skill Sheets – Information on Why important skills that are needed Communications Communications? for that communication area. Skill Toolkit: Fun Skill- sheets are for you, the facilitator, Helping kids build communication and may be copied for young Building Activities to skills is often mentioned as one of people, when appropriate. Do With Kids! This the most important areas of youth development. The ways we commu- • Icebreakers, Activities and resource was developed nicate – as young people and as Projects – Purposeful activities that for people who work adults – cut across all that we do in help kids work in teams or on their life. Our interpersonal skills and how own to build communication skills. with young people aged we express ourselves in written and Each activity lists information about 12 and up, although spoken form have significant effects the focus, purpose, materials, time, on our professional and personal setting, procedure and tips for “talk- many of the activities endeavors throughout our lives. As ing it over” with participants. can be adapted easily we enter the 21st century, the need • Beyond the Toolkit: More Ideas for use with younger is greater than ever for young people and Resources – Project ideas, to sharpen their skills in reading, books, resources and ideas on how children. In the toolkit writing, speaking and presenting to use the community as a classroom. information. you’ll find information, Most of the materials in this activities and resources toolkit are written for you, the What’s in This adult or teen facilitator who is that will help kids build Toolkit & How working with kids aged 12 to 19. on their skills in vocal Some sections include copy-ready handouts for participants. expression and public You Can Use It The Communications Toolkit is de- speaking, video, media signed to be flexible and easy to What Leaders relations, graphic design use. It has five sections: Need to Know and writing. 1. About This Toolkit Self-Assessment & 2. Written Communications Evaluation 3. Vocal Expression and Public Many of the activities in the Com- Speaking munications Toolkit provide young people the opportunity for self- 4. Visual Communication and Graphic Design expression and creativity, which, for some kids, can be a bit scary. 5. Video, Media and Technology Consequently, the philosophy of this resource book is one of positive Within each communication area learning and growth. Your goal you will find subsections: should be to create a safe, caring, • What Leaders Need to Know– positive learning environment in Including an introduction, life skills which young people can build on that can be learned, a glossary of their communication skills. terms and other general information. 2 – COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT • About This Toolkit: Introduction & General Information ©2000 Michigan State University Board of Trustees. Experienced communicators know Communication Project larger project. Your group may want that the best way to improve one’s to create a local media campaign, for skills is through lots of practice. The Evaluation Guide example, that helps people under- best thing you can do as a leader is If you’re working with young people stand what it’s like to be a teen, to provide varied opportunities for in situations where you want to pro- think about youth violence preven- young people to practice and reflect vide evaluative feedback on their tion, or discover the benefits of 4-H on their skills in writing, speaking, communication projects, please con- or another youth group. graphics and video. The worst thing sider using the following kinds of The contents of this toolkit will help you can do is to allow negative, un- questions. For each of the questions, your group understand the impor- helpful criticism by other young remember to provide the young tance of planning and working to- people or adults, which can squelch people with information about what gether as a team as they write news interest in learning more about a works well and constructive feedback articles, create posters and produce topic. The experiences in this toolkit about what they may want to try television spots. Be creative! Explore emphasize self-reflection and discus- differently next time. the toolkit and create a plan for sion to help young people think • Does it appear that the project using what’s here in ways that meet about how they feel about their own is well thought-out? your needs and those of the young learning process and the areas they people with whom you work. would like to learn more about. • Is the purpose of the message