A new way of teaching!

I watched two videos that were very interesting. The first one was called The Edible Schoolyard. This took place in California, at Martin Luther King Middle School. The students had a class where they planted, harvested and ate organic food. The garden and kitchen was used for Social Studies. It also covered other educational areas like Math, by learning how to measure when cooking. Also in Science, the way things grow. The garden was made for the center of teaching. The students also learned the basics of Ecology. This garden taught them how to cooperate, do projects, and build a community. This garden was started in 1994 by Alice Water, to improve the school lunch program. If the students grow it, they cook it, then they want to eat it. They also learned how to set a table, talk, values, and generosity.
This is what we need more of today. Student do not know where their food comes from. This is great for them to have hands on learning. They will learn more and they will appreciate where food comes from. They will never forget it.

The second video was A Night in a Global Village. Some children from Denver went to a Ranch in Arkansas, to walk one night in the less fortunate shoes. They took numbers and split up into groups, with a teacher to make a family. They were told what country they were from and what resources they had. Each family received only a bucket of supplies, but it wasn't all that they needed. They had to do some bargaining with the other countries for food or supplies. The structures that they lived in where those of other countries. They focused on poverty, hunger and sustainable development. One member of each family was made to look like they were pregnant and another loses an arm. This was done so they can understand the struggles of the culture. As the night falls they scramble for resources. They eventually learn how to work together. The next morning they had breakfast and shared their experiences. They also feed the farm animals and performed skits of what happened that night. There are three more of these facilities for students across the nation and 2 different classrooms teaching about animals and U.S. consumer choices that affect other countries. Instead of teaching about other countries, Nothing beats living the lesson and experiencing it for a night!

At my middle school when I was younger, they had a garden like the one The edible school yard. I wasn't fortunate enough to be in the class. Classes like this should be required at some point in the a childs education. It gives them a better uderstanding where things come from and an apprection for hard work. It also covers all aspects in education.

Video's like these two can make me better as a techer, if the resouces are available in the schools. I want to have lots of hands of activities in my classroom. I always learn better doing things hands on! You are not only learning it, you are experincing it. Most than likely the students will never forget it.

Click the link to watch A night in a Global Village. Click Here
Click the link to watch The Edible Schoolyard.Click Here