2010 Harvest Days
"Harvest Days" is based on the provincial grade three curriculum with an agricultural themed event supported annually by the Lambton Kent Ag in the Classroom action committee. It is staged at University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. The facilities enable a variety of farm-like learning experiences for the students. The Harvest Days program is open to all elementary school students in Lambton and Chatham Kent.
A near record year for Harvest Days saw the 2010 program filled quickly with a waiting list being started for 2011. A full day was added on the first week in an attempt to meet all the schools who desired to register. 15 schools, 30 classes, 634 students, 30 teachers and 102 parents made for a grand total of 766 people touring. The weather was a factor the first week with rain on the first day and sprinkles on day two. Students toured as scheduled albeit with makeshift raingear. Thankfully most students were dressed appropriately for the cool wet weather.
"They told me I was going on an educational trip, but this was fun!" exclaimed a student at the end of the day to one of the leaders. Completed evaluations indicate teacher and student satisfaction along with feedback. An independent evaluation was also performed by a teacher who toured on request of the Ag Business Centre. A brief report was provided and will provide valuable comments and feedback for future direction of the program. The program runs twice daily for 7 days in late September and early October.
2010 presenters were:
Mary Margaret McDonald, "I Spy - Agriculture" - Students identify farm buildings, equipment, animals and crops with correct terminology while riding on a covered wagon for a campus tour. Photographs mounted on a poster of items and areas on Campus are matched as they pass the actual objects in a combined version of "I Spy" and "Bingo" for students while on tour. Farm safety is a by-product of the popular tractor and wagon ride. This tour also is an effective way to demonstrate the benefits of partnership with Ridgetown Campus and LKAITC. Teachers and urbanite parents new to the Harvest Days program are amazed at the size of the campus, student population and research projects taking place on site. Lots and Lots of questions are asked of the leaders after the tour. Students love the ongoing activity of farm equipment moving in fields, on driveways and in and out of the equipment sheds.
Margaret Pool "A day in the dairy" - The group toured the dairy facility and milk house and was able to experience the behaviour, smell and size of the dairy cows and their environment. The manure pit was a learning point and was explained as recycling and responsible stewardship. Some touring students were able to observe the professional hoof trimming of the dairy cows taking place in the barn during Harvest days.
John Taylor "Early Settlers" - Dressed in authentic period clothing John engaged the students on the settlement of Kent County at "The Forkes." The three sisters, Corn, Beans and Squash and their beneficial relationship were important farming techniques taught by First Nations people to the settlers to survive the harsh conditions in early settlement of the area. Corn production then as well as now is an important crop of the people of Chatham Kent. Students hear information on the resources available before European settlement, discuss settlement and survival from the early days and progress to today's crops.
Courtney Horvath "Soil and Seeds" - Feeling the texture and identifying the basic elements of soil get students interested from the very start of this station. Identifying seeds and observing the sprouting habits of various beans, wheat and corn are some of the activities highlighted at this stop. Students are encouraged to touch, feel and smell growing seedlings and the soil components. The classes receive packets of soybean, wheat and corn seeds throughout the event. A "Seed Viewer" project developed especially for Harvest Days is included in the school resource package to compliment the grade three learning unit on Plants.
Exploration using our early settlers past, native soils, agricultural production, the food webs and technology are used as a basis for the hands on learning.
The Students and Teachers receive appropriate teaching resources pre tour and post tour which includes activity sheets, pamphlets and posters, games and factsheets with an Agriculture theme. We source appropriate material from various commodity and farm organizations and marketing boards. The Campus provided a pumpkin to take back to each classroom this year along with an LKAITC developed activity sheet. Teachers are encouraged to continue the agricultural theme throughout the school year and the units taught.
