BlfrlancMlar Farming, Saturday, Junt 10, 1995
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Third Graders See That ‘Rain Forest’ Contains Many Household Plants
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
EL VERSON (Chester Co.)
“Have any of you been there
yet?”
Melissa Makris, Twin Valley
FFA member, looked over the
group of third graders from Honey
Brook, asking them if they’d ever
been to the (slowly dwindling) rain
forests of South America.
None raised their hands.
Then Melissa asked them, “Did
you see our rain forest yet?”
The tour group from Mis. Lana
Rodgers’ third grade class hadn’t
yet visited the greenhouse at Twin
Valley, host to about 18 different
types of rain forest plants.
When the group finally did
make it into the sunny, steamy
room, some were surprised. One
pointed to a leafy, thick plant
“What’s that?” a third grader
from Mrs. Ellie Wolfs class
asked.
“A coffee plant,” said Erica
Lindberg, a sophomore at Twin
Valley. Erica spoke to the third
graders about the many plant types
grown at the greenhouse.
A few of the children recog
nized the plants as some that are
Denetra Gerberich, senior, showed children from Mrs.
Ellie Wolf’s third grade class how to feed and care for
catfish.
Lura Blosenski, freshman at Twin Valley, showed two polled Dorset sheep, eacn
about seven months old. Their names were Daisy and Maggie. Third graders had a
chance to see what raw wool feels like.
“Many of the common plants
we have in the home are another
type of thing we get from the rain
forest that we don’t know about”
said Renee Frederick. Common
plants include fuchsia, the spider
plant ferns, bougainvillea, and
many others.
Along with husband Ron Fre
derick, ag science teacher at Twin
Valley, and a host of Twin Valley
FFA members. Renee assisted in
the day-long FFA Food For
America activities recently.
In all, about 243 third graders
from Robeson, Twin Valley
Elementary, and Honey Brook
toured the ag science exhibits at
the school.
The exhibits were arranged in
eight “centers,” including a
greenhouse; reptiles, amphibians,
and fish; woodworking; an animal
petting zoo; a groundwater work
shop; and birds.
Also included were the rain
forest and food science center.
At the food science center, third
graders were shown how to make
ice cream by hand.
Outside, Lura Blosenski, fresh
man at Twin Valley, showed two
polled Dorset sheep, each about
»ld. Thi
Amber Baldwin, 9, from Mrs. Rodgers’ class, helped mh.
the daughter of Leslie and David Baldwin, Honey Brook.
were Daisy and Maggie. Third
graders had a chance to see what
raw wool feels like.
Lura said it takes about two
sheep that age and size to make a
sweater.
Andy Risbon, Twin Valley
senior, helped the third graders
hammer together a wooden bird
house.
Adrienne Neff, junior, and Mark
Wright, freshman, provided a
groundwater demonstration to
show how well water can become
contaminated.
Mike and Sandy Reed from
Pike’s Edge Farm in Birdsboro
brought along Leena, a 4-year-old
registered Holstein cow. With help
from Mike, Amber Baldwin, 9,
from Mrs. Rodgers’ class, helped
milk the cow. Amber is the daught
er of Leslie and David Baldwin,
Honey Brook.
Denetra Gerberich, senior,
showed children from Mrs. Ellie
Wolf’s third grade class how to
feed and care for catfish.
*4*. X *
4
Melissa Kegerise, sophomore,
spoke about the many different
birds found in a rain forest
Michelle Jacobs, senior, showed
the third graders her com snake, a
native Pennsylvania reptile. It tried
to make its way to “food” a
small rat.
Erica Lindberg, a sophomore at Twin Valley, spoke to the
third graders about the many plant types grown at the
greenhouse. Here, she holds up a coffee plant.
„ *« wnlor, holds onto her com snake, a
native Pennsylvanla reptile, as it tries to make Its way to
“food” a small rat.
f
.eena
Throughout the day, third grad
ers came in also to view where
food comes from and take home
with them some rain forest plants
grown in a greenhouse.
tii
le cow.
All photos by
Andy Andrews