Today, third and fourth grade students at Barrett were excited to go outside and learn about agriculture with the help of the Jefferson County office of The Alabama Cooperative extension System.
There were many areas that the students were able to rotate to: a pumpkin craft, a gardening game, a vegetable demonstration, a petting zoo, and a farmer's market stall.
At the pumpkin craft area, students were given a miniature pumpkin and stickers to decorate their pumpkins with.
The game involved a relay race where students were divided into teams, with each team having two buckets of soil. The team members were tasked with moving the buried vegetables from one bucket and planting them in the second bucket one at a time.
At the table with the vegetable demonstration, students were invited to touch and smell different vegetables and herbs, and then were given a demonstration of how to plant and care for a kale plant. Students were excited to learn that they could plant a garden in something as small as a bucket!
A beekeeper was set up with a small contained hive of bees where students were able to watch bees interact within the hive. The beekeeper explained how bees collect pollen to create honey, and the difference between honey and beeswax, along with the uses for both.
Students then moved into the petting zoo area, where the Jefferson County Alabama Extension team were prepared with three goats, a donkey, two pigs, a bull calf, chickens, a pony, and a camel. Students were instructed on how to safely approach and touch the animals, and were able to pet them and ask their handlers about the animal's age, experiences, and names. Mr. Pride's fourth grade class got to witness the treat of our fearless Principal Lawson taking a turn riding the camel and the pony!
To wrap up the experience, students spent time shopping at a farmer's market stall, where they could choose from an array of fruits, vegetables, nuts, pickles, and candy apples. This experience taught students not only about the produce they eat, but also money skills and spending their $6 at the market stall.
This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn about agriculture, how they can create their own gardens at home, and how to eat and live healthy lifestyles!
