Some of the best Farm to School activities emerge naturally from a teacher’s own creativity. While studying the Industrial Revolution, Eric Walker (grades 3/4/5) had one of his “Southern Connections” mail him some cotton. The kids pulled the plant apart to separate the cotton from the seeds. They realized first hand what an incredibly tedious and challenging task that is, and imagined doing it all day for weeks at a time. Students now have a palpable appreciation for Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin, and its contribution to the Industrial Revolution. The class has planted those cotton seeds under the gro- lights and will see if cotton can be grown in Vermont.
Also….
GARDENING!
K-2 woke up the garden beds by removing the leaves and spreading Farmer’s Gold. They also planted their salad greens outside in the raised bed.
3-4 has sown the wheat seeds for their pizza garden. They also transplanted tomatoes into bigger pots, for both the PTA Plant Sale and the sauce part of the pizza garden. We are still on the lookout for pepperoni and mozzarella seeds…
5-8 will remove sod from the top field during PE class and plant a pumpkin and squash patch for fall harvest.
– Kate Reimanis, Farm to School Coordinator, Newton School, Strafford, VT