Gilroy Life, 10/27/2018, “Animals, flowers and farming heroes: Exploration and discovery at the fair.”
A visit to the county fair is a fun way to kick off the school year, bond with friends, and foster an environment of discovery and learning. In September, Mount Madonna School second through fourth grade students enjoyed a day at the Santa Cruz County Fair, exploring the agricultural displays, livestock exhibits and learning about farming practices.
“As part of our ‘then and now’ social studies curriculum, second graders learn to differentiate between things that happened long ago and things that happened yesterday,” said teacher Jenni Leach. “They come to understand the importance of individual action and character, and can explain how heroes from long ago and the recent past have made a difference in others’ lives. My students are comparing and contrasting American farming methods historically through current practices. They learned about the history of the 4H program, and were introduced to farming heroes such as Luther Burbank, Washington Carver and Cesar Chavez.” Read more