I do children's programs at the library. The children do like show and tell so if you have visual aids that they can see they will remember it better. If you take a bit of different soils and rocks to pass around it will keep them interested. Will you tell them what the different kinds of soil are used for or how it was formed? I'd kinda like to sit in on that even though I learned that along time ago. dooley
Eeek indeed! A couple of things to keep in mind, kids that age like gross, and secrets. So tell 'em how much of the soil is made of worm poo, and do it conspiratorially ("I wouldn't tell this to the class next door, but I think you guys are smart enough to handle it". Something like that.) Start off with a worm casting, um, poo statistic and you'll have them from the get-go. ( I was a school employee for 11 years)
Thanks for your support guys. I spoke to the teacher tonight and he is hoping I will wax lyrical about how important the soil is for life and the damamge we can do if we use chemicals and so on. I have already started putting a few idea's down on paper, including worm poo and the benefits of horse poo - I figure poo always makes kids laugh. I may well take a jar full of manure to make the all go gross and I might collect some worms over the weekend and put in a jar for them to all manhandle. The handouts idea is a good one, I might do a soil profile sheet. I will definately let you know how I get on. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek
What a great responce from our gang here. There are some good suggestions here. I also think it would be great to take jars of things like clay, sand, compost, humus etc,etc. for the kide tpo look at and even smell--and the idea of the teacher isn't crazy at all. I for one, do not think that one can over emphasize the importance of soil. Good luck now...
Done and dusted. I was a bumbling wreck for some of it, but as I got into the swing of things it went okay and I happilly rambled on for about 20 minutes, then the kids asked loads of questions. To be honest, they were more interested in the allotment and growing veggies. Wonder if I can encourage a school vegetable garden??? I took in a bunch of carrots pulled freshly from the plot and they at them after I had left and when they all came out from school they were all full of praise about how sweet and yummy they were. So relieved it is over! I got so nervous. Thanks for your support. I don't think I will be volunteering again mind you.
Glad to hear it went well, I have been thinking about you this morning hoping you were calm and having a good time. If you can get a school garden going, they will learn first hand more than they can learn from books. And the food you harvest could go to a local food bank.
Well done, EJ. I never doubted the outcome, and I think you ought to do the same talk every year. I read that for the first time in very many years, seed shops in England sold more veggie seeds than flower seeds this year. Growing food is an upgoing trend.
There was a news report last month about the number of vegetable gardens being created in this country in the last couple of years too. Long time gardeners were turning their flower gardens into vegies for the family and new gardeners were starting their first vegie gardens. Just too many ecoli and salmonella scares from imported crops lately.
Glad you came through it ok EJ as I knew you would. Kids sound as if they had a great time with you, well done.
Thanks guys. I think with the current credit problems, more and more people will grow their own to help with the weekly shopping bill. I would hate to have to rely on a supermarket for all of my fruit and veggies. Something I would like to try more off is bottling or canning - I have only ever done that with fruit...anyhow, I digress...I don't know if I would be brave enough to volunteer to do it again, although James did say that his friends thought I was great and loved eating the carrots.
