Making Flour the Old Fashioned Way - T/Th Class

Although this hand mill is not as ancient as the water mill in Pancakes! Pancakes!, it gave us all a better understanding of the making of flour. Debbie and the kids had to put a bit of muscle into this activity; but how exciting it was to see the little piles of flour finally appear.

Threshing the Wheat - T/Th Class

Pancakes! Pancakes! by Eric Carle was the inspiration for many of the farm activities you see. Jack, the main character, desperately wants a pancake for breakfast. But, living in the days of horses and wagons, Jack must help his mother obtain each ingredient before the pancake can be made.

Below, the children learn about harvesting and threshing wheat in order to get flour. With pencils acting as flails, students "beat the wheat" until tiny grains pop out of the chaff.

Making Flour the Old Fashioned Way - MW Class Continued

Making Flour the Old Fashioned Way - MW Class

This time the MW class exhibits their strength as they grind hard kernels they had threshed into soft flour. Way to go, kids!

Threshing the Wheat - MW Class

MW kids are impressed to see that threshing really works--and what fun to have permission to "beat and beat and beat!"

Gathering Eggs from the Chicken Coop - T/Th Class

Gathering eggs was one of my favorite jobs as a kid on our family farm. Students below take turns gathering eggs from our classroom chicken coop. (Hard boiled, of course!)Alexis and Hannah

Hannah and Paige

Paityn and Lily

Jaden and Grant

Julia and Stone

Gathering Eggs - MW Class

"Cluck, cluck!" Our hen house is less dusty than the one I grew up with and the hens aren't as noisy. But it's perfect for a preschool classroom! Ethan

Tyler and Patrick

Chase and Hannah

Valentine's Day Celebration - T/Th Class

Frosting Sugar Cookies - Paige, Paityn, and Stone

Almost ready to eat! Grant, Julia, and Hannah

Getting a little help from Debbie - Lily, Jaden, and Alexis