A diverse landscape, passionate and innovative teachers, and a creative and skilled on-site staff have made for numerous immersive learning opportunities this fall on the farm. This unique property provides our students with hands-on lessons in agricultural education, ecology, biology, environmental science, and much more.
Fourth Grade Learns Wilderness Skills
Most recently, the entire fourth grade spent two days on the farm learning wilderness survival skills in preparation for their reading of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, which is included in the second module of Wit & Wisdom, Lower School’s new literacy program.
“In this unit, the students are asked to craft a fictional adventure story where their character is faced with challenges in an extreme setting,” explains Lacey Hester, fourth-grade lead teacher and grade coordinator. “What they learned over the two days will be invaluable for this work. On top of that, we all had FUN and learned some survival skills along the way!”
In conjunction with Director of Educational Programming Steve Wall, Working Farm Manager Ewan Macaulay, and farm educators Tabitha Burkhead and Sam Humphrey, the fourth-grade teachers planned and prepared numerous activities as a way to introduce students to the concepts and build excitement for their literature lessons. Activities included:
- Fire starting skills in partnership with the fire department
- Shelter building
- Fishing
- Plant identification, with help from Lower School science teacher Tom Fredenberg
- First Aid, with help from Middle School nurse Wendy Barber
- Knot tying
- Backpack and trip planning
- Compass navigation, with help from Senior Park Ranger and Country Day parent, Lance Wirsing
This is the kind of hands-on learning that cannot be replicated in the classroom and the lessons will help students comprehend the themes of Hatchet even more deeply.
Fifth-Grade School in the Woods
School in the Woods is a longtime and cherished Middle School tradition that now takes place on our own property. Check out the fun and camaraderie in this video.
Eighth-Grade Science Labs
In October, eighth-grade students took the classroom outdoors for some inquiry-based learning that ties to the crop lab, water-quality sampling, and tree surveys conducted for many years on Bissell Campus. Over the course of two visits, each student participated in six rotations designed to enhance their classroom learning about the natural world and sustainability.
Cultural Immersion
AP and IB Spanish students recently participated in a unique cultural immersion experience through the new Taste of Cultures program. For the inaugural event focused on Chile, students worked in full Spanish immersion alongside Country Day parent Fabiola Bobo, who shared her story and connection to her homeland, and Marriott Chef Andres Prussing, a native of Santiago. Chef Prussing introduced students to three authentic Chilean dishes, which they helped prepare and enjoy at the Farm. This hands-on experience allowed students to deepen their cultural understanding and language skills while savoring the flavors of Chile.
Other student visits to the Farm this school year include:
- 6th grade back-to-school trip
- 7th grade visit to the farm
- Middle School Student Council Leadership Retreat
- Lower School POCIS Event
- JK-3rd Grade Fall Fests
- Southampton Exchange visitors
- 1st grade science, bird walks, and raptor experience
- Holiday Farm Fest