The Alpha Etas have been working with the first grade at a local elementary school. Each semester, a group of members travels to the school with an agricultural presentation. Last fall, we presented "How Your Food is Made" and told the students about where their food comes from. We showed them different raw product and explained what they are turned into. For example we showed them raw wheat and explained how bread is made. They also made their own butter by "churning" cream (shaking babyfood jars filled with cream). At the end of the presentation, they got to eat the butter they had made!
In the Spring another group presented "Farm Animals and Their Products." They learned facts about sheep, cattle, pigs, and chickens and about the products we get from each. The students got pictures of farm animals to color at the end of the presentation.
The key in both presentations was to provide activities for the kids to participate in instead of forcing them to sit still and listen for an hour! The most difficult part was organizing members' schedules so they could attend without missing classes. I'm sure we'll continue this project in the future.
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