Fourth Graders

[John N Mi]

The Northern Michigan Flywheelers each september host the fourth grade classes of the schools around here. About forty different classes. We do some of the things that happen during our annual show in july. I get to tell the kids about balance beam scales and how they are important to farm life. We pretend that the kids and adult chaperons are a truck loaded with wheat. Weigh the loaded truck, remove the wheat, weigh the empty truck and then do the math to find out how many bushels of wheat. I then use a smaller platform scale with a double beam to weigh some acorn squash ( I have them from my garden ) I get to do this for four days next week. I do get tired but it is fun to do.
John

 

[mnbob]

Kudos to you John. Those kids will remember the experience and the math application forever. You never know which event such as this can change a persons life and lead to a career instead of gangs and worse. Keep up the good work. Bob

 

[Anonymous-0]

Neat Idea. Many kids see no use in learning stuff that they can't use and you have shown them that that can use this "Math stuff" and that it is easy.

 

[rrlund]

Something that's a mystery to me,does Michigan Farm Bureau have an Ag in the Classroom program like other states do to teach these kids some of these things?

 

[Rick Kr]

John,

Where are you in N. Michigan?


RRLUND,

I don't recall seeing anything lately on FB Ag in the class. I know the local extensions have 3 or 4 different 2 hours classes that they teach to the local elementary schools on request.

Rick

 

[Janicholson]

Well done. Worth the effort to practicalize any child. JimN

 

[John N Mi]

The Flywheelers show grounds are three miles north of Boyne Falls on US 131. The kids seem to realy like the feild trip. Hog kettle popcorn, hay ride, border collie sheep herding and ice cream too.
John