Filed Trips to Local Farms

This Fall the Pre-K and Preschool classes took Filed Trips to Local Farms. Our goal in taking children to local farms was for them to have as much hands-on experience as they can, so that they truly understand, with all their senses where food comes from. The more they can touch, smell, and taste the things they are learning about, the more deeply they will understand and remember what they learn. 
 

Taos Village Farm  

When we were at Taos Village Farm we were welcomed by farmer Micha (Taos Farm House Lunch Program), Roy and Jonnie(owners) and Taos Academy 6th and 7th graders.  The children first helped collect eggs and feed the baby goats and pigs. We then walked down to the field and greenhouse where the children helped harvest tomatoes, beets, carrots, kale and onions! It was wonderful to see the children connecting with local agriculture and being mentored by Taos academy students about the farm.

 

After each field trip Micah, and her assistants Lizzie and Nikki (Farm House Café) came to school with all the vegetables/fruit we had harvested.   We revisited the field trip with the children.  Then children had the opportunity to cook using the ingredients they had harvested.

 Raspberry picking at Las Augus Farm

The children were so excited to go the raspberry farm. When we got there we were greeted by Andy Tafoya (owner and Jaxson Dad ) . He first talked to the children about being gentle with the plants and then showed them the difference between a ripe and non-ripe berry.  Each child was given a cup for raspberry’s but as children were picking more were eaten then made it into the cup! Children were very interested not only in the raspberries but the entire surrounding and asked many questions.

 

New Mexico Early Learning Guidelines Meet:

#3 The child's behavior demonstrates health and hygiene skills.

#4 The child demonstrates safe behaviors in increasing numbers of situations.

#5 The child demonstrates development and

expansion of listening skills.

#6 The child communicates experiences, ideas and feelings through speaking.

#14 The child uses the scientific method to  investigate the physical and natural worlds and to hypothesize and make predictions.\

#15 The child acquires scientific knowledge related to life sciences.#17 The child exhibits self-awareness.

#18 The child demonstrates self-control.