The first-ever Agriculture Literacy Night at Manchester School in Windham on Thursday, March 2 and showed that the differences between farmers and students are minimal as each day brings something new.
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| Students and their families participated in Agriculture Literacy Night at Manchester School in Windham on March 2 and activities included reading about agriculture and gardening. PHOTO BY JOLENE BAILEY |
After Manchester School Principal Danielle Donnini had welcomed and introduced everyone attending the event, the format of the night was styled as an open house.
Numerous activities for students and parents involved classroom stops of four Book Barn Libraries, visiting with local farmers and gardeners, making crafts, and playing games. Additionally, there was a Story Walk hosting the story “Right This Very Minute" by Lisl H. Detlefsen.
The idea for the event sprouted from when Sanborn and a colleague had desired to join forces for a schoolwide agriculture event.
Sanborn was honored as the 2022 Maine Agriculture in the Classroom’s Teacher of the Year. Following her attending the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in New York with Fifth Grade teacher Cindy Moore, she partnered with Jeanne Demers, one of Manchester’s reading specialists, to plan an event for more people to gain knowledge about agricultural literacy.
“I currently have a book barn, a -sized bookcase shaped like a barn, on loan from Maine Ag in the Classroom along with over 100 books related to agriculture. When we originally started planning the event, we knew we wanted more barn-shaped bookcases.” said Sanborn.
Replicas of the original book barns were created by high school students in woodworking classes. Hancock Lumber had made a generous donation of wood, and Lowe’s had discounted paint to positively unite the community together. Manchester currently has four student-made barn bookcases for Manchester School to use.
Displayed in the specialized bookcases were books for students containing agricultural information, connections with gardeners, proper food service, composting information, and ways to eat healthier.
The Manchester Book Barns were overflowing with material for kids to read. Along with the bookcases, several books were displayed prominently on desks showcasing agricultural topics.
Demin-nat Andieh, a Manchester School fourth-grade student, was impressed with the evening’s activities.
“I came tonight to hear the story and make new friends,” Andieh said.
Students received a preview of the Story Walk book and were encouraged to attend this event. Although it was not mandatory, students turned out and filled the cafeteria with their families and friends.
“I was interested in the book and what it was about. Mrs. Sanborn was reading it and I wanted to know what would happen towards the end,” said Harrison Eskilson.
After walking through the school hallways lined with student artwork, there were various activities spread throughout the entire school. Anybody interested could create flower crafts with pipe cleaners, paper straws, paper, and tissue paper. Games were also included, consisting of drawing, coloring, and a game of bingo, and farm finding addition.
Students were also engaged by listening to speakers from agricultural professions, and connections with food service and ways to learn and eat healthier.
Cooking Club students from the school helped cut strawberries and make salads for the guests. Their homemade “maple syrup balsamic vinegar dressing” and produce that was served to guests was grown in the school garden. Participants said that they enjoyed the dish and watched its process of creation representing new agriculture recipes.
Representatives from Coopers Greenhouse showed students and parents a maple syrup documentary about how the product is made. They shared knowledge about maple syrup’s density, how you can tell what the correct temperature it should be, and how the thickness can affect the syrup after being boiled.
Students had advertised and promoted Agriculture Literacy Night by working with Richey Vickers from the school’s technology department, to create posters on a Google slide and bookmarks. Fidget plates were made by students, reciting questions to remember the night, “One thing you wonder? The title of the book that looked tasty? Something you learned tonight? My favorite workshop was… Why?”
Sanborn said that Manchester students had recently accomplished a hunger unit, focusing on topics such as food insecurity, sports helping hunger, meal plans, ending world hunger and ways to prevent it. Most of the student’s work about hunger was shown in the library throughout poster boards, artwork, and 3-D creations.
At the end of the night, drawings for donated agricultural door prizes were conducted for participants. <
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