Well, we survived the onslaught of first graders to the farm today. Z had just finished a unit about small farms in his classroom and I suggested that they come out to a real farm for some hands-on experience. I was a bit nervous, but mainly due to the numerous unpredictable factors in the trip (i.e. the animals).
As if to remind me of the unpredictable nature of animals, one of our younger pigs decided to break out of his pen right before the bus arrived. So as I tried to coax the pig back into his pen, one of the mothers who arrived early to help directed the bus to a parking spot. Luckily Abraham decided that he wanted to go back in (you CANNOT force a pig over 75 pounds to do anything...just coax). We tried to secure the spot where he escaped before, but it wasn't a permanent fix. About halfway through the field trip he escaped again. The kids didn't even notice he was out before I bribed him back into his pen with a bucket of grain. I fixed the hole with a door and some baling twine (thank God for baling twine). He didn't escape again.
As for the field trip, I set up the trip so that the kids rotated through several stations with their leader. Each station had a leader who was there to ask/answer questions and help the students to get in touch with the farm. There were five stations in all:
1. Pigs - with Hammy Fae
2. Chickens, Ducks and Geese
3. Goats - minus Tumbleweed who couldn't quit head-butting the kids
4. Horses - with JD, our friend's mini-horse (not a pony)
5. Field/Garden
With the animal stations, the kids looked for their food, water, shelter, and space, fed the animals, and pet them. With the field/garden station, the kids planted corn (free labor) and planted their own flower in a pot to take home. Everyone had a great time and nobody got hurt.
I sometimes forget how enraptured you can get with a farm full of animals. All of the kids were very engaged in their activities and nobody acted inappropriately. The animals were very good as well. Hammy let everyone rub her belly and feed her carrots - quite a sacrifice for her, I'm sure. The goats and the horses let the kids love on them, brush them, and feed them grain - so selfless. And the chickens, well, let the kids feed them. The chickens are not so interested in kid love...but Pecker was well-mannered which is unusual. He may have heard that I have become proficient at the butcher process. And while I'm not exactly sure where the kids planted the corn, I know that they did plant it. All in all, a great day!
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