What I’m Doing With My Summer….

Yes, as Willy asked, school IS out.  That’s not the reason for my Babblesense entries though.  Sometimes I just feel like that’s the ONLY thing I have going on in my life to write about and I want to write other things to prove I actually have a life.  *grins*  Apparently, I do not.

Although school is out, I am still at school all day.  You see… We have a summer camp going on in the morning and in the afternoon I am training teachers on the Ag in the Classroom Curriculum.  Ag in the Classroom is designed to raise awareness of the role of agriculture in society and the economy.  They have quite an amazing curriciulum – at least at our Florida state level anyway.  The lessons relate to all areas of core curriculum taught in school – science, math, language arts, social studies, health, etc.  There are many hands on amazing lessons – such as building a model of a watershed – and then eating it when you’re done.  Trust me – nothing gets their attention like food!  There are lessons involving growing things as well – gardens in a glove and homemade chia pets for example.  I have been trained as a trainer and am trying my best to spread the word.

The reasons are two-fold.  One – the students I am exposed to every day have NO FLIPPING CLUE where food comes from BEFORE it hits the grocery store shelves.  "Plants?  Strawberries are plants?  What do you mean beef comes from a cow?"  

The second reason dovetails the first nicely.  We all have different learning styles…some can read and learn, some have to hear it, etc.  But I have never met anyone who didn’t learn something when they had actual hands on active lessons.   Even the lessons which are not edible, are interactive, involve doing research and using your brain to reason and think – across ALL curriculums and for all ages K-12.  Is this the only answer?  Heck no.  But it an awesome piece of the puzzle – or it should be!

Oops!  When did I climb up on that soap box?  Sorry.  Let me climb down here.

I try to make the training fun.  If the teachers enjoy it they are much more likely to look into the curriculum more and use it.  So we have been doing a lot of fun things the past 3 days.  What I have noticed – is that my group is acting like a bunch of 5th graders at camp!  It is awesome!  They are playing and doing the lessons just as if they were the students!  And as they do, they are seeing the value and the contribution these materials can make to their classrooms.  I am tickled pink!  (Happy Wolf Howls!!!!)

Studying hard

Making "chia pets"

What’s inside a melon?

 We have to COUNT those seeds?

Garden in a glove

Where does your money go when you buy food?

Oh – the camp for the students?  It is so awesome!  My big disappointment there is that more of the students are not choosing to take part in it.  They are getting to:

Cook (of course)

Learn about college – and how much $$ getting a college education can add to their bottom line.

Learn ballroom dancing (so they can Dance with the Stars!)

Learn about music (the guy in the red shirt –

is one of Busch Gardens elite Afrikan drummers)

Hang out in a relaxed atmosphere with their teachers..

 And I’ve even managed to get the deputy cooking!  LOL

And prepare for their American Idol auditions!

At the end of the 3 week day camp – they will have the opportunity to spend a week living ON CAMPUS at the University of South Florida.  They’ll have more fun learning experiences and get a taste of campus life.

So yes – school is out, but Ms. Wolf ….. is in!