10/15/18

Today began with a new set of animal care jobs.  The groups did a great job learning the ropes to taking care of a new set of animals.  More importantly, they did an excellent job of working together!  I've discussed how people all have different personalities and that some personalities have to be extra careful not to become "bossy pants" and shut people out.  The kids are learning actual strategies on how to make a point to discuss, cooperate, and enact a plan.  There are always natural leaders among people, and learning how to effectively work in a group is a life skill that is invaluable!


Next, the group came in to talk about some farm news.  Our angora rabbit did not have babies, so we will rebreed and try again.  The class also was able to hear an actual story of why we should all remember to keep the tops on the feed containers. During the break, a top was left off of the layer pellets.  The next morning, my daughters headed out to do their chores... and found a very fat, sleeping opossum curled up right in the bottom!   Finally, we talked about the importance of cats here on the farm.  The cats have been working hard lately!  As the weather gets cooler, the mice have been out in full force.  I may need to get another barn cat to handle them!  This lead us right into our story by James Herriot about the little kitten named Moses.  The class listened as I read the first few pages of the story today.  I paused every so often to explain tough words and to give examples here on our farm of things that were mentioned.  In the story, the vet comes to the farm to trim the hooves of a cow.  He talked about how difficult this job is, and how the cows kick.  I explained to the class that there is a cool invention that makes the job less stressful on the cattle and safer for the farmer!  There is actually a contraption that holds the cattle in a safe position and then just tips them over!  The kids found this totally fascinating... which means it would make for a great topic for our farm fusion writing assignment!





We integrated a little math into our day today!  The class cut out different coins to paste around their "piggy bank".  We talked about the pictures on the coins.  (For example, they learned what the torch, olive branch, and oak branch on the dime stand for.)  They learned/reviewed the names and values of each type of coin, labeling them on their page.  Then, we did a few adding exercises.  Keep practicing adding money at home!

The class then got to work painting the borders on their plate projects, as well as the details on their pasture scenes.  Next week, they will be completing these (hopefully), as we add a final element that they aren't going to expect!