By

Dawn Earnesty,   St. Charles Elementary

Play:

Topics:

Student Leadership

The Fuel Up to Play 60 team at St. Charles Elementary school decided to try a new Play this year focused on farm to school. The Fuel Up to Play 60 team of 8 students and 3 adults brainstormed ideas for the play and it became obvious that not all of the team had every experienced a "farm" before. This resulted in a dairy farm tour of Goma Dairy Farm in Marlette, Michigan. Despite the snow, the team loved every minute of the baby calf being born, cheese stick snacks, plastic boot covers, watching the cows being milked and eating and much more! This ended in wanting the entire school to experience a farm day! This resulting a dairy day at St. Charles Elementary that included a visit from a calf, farmer says physical activity station, Olivers milkshake book reading and Blueberry/Strawberry milk shake station and finally a chance for the student team to show pictures and share their experience with every student and teacher at the school!

How did students and adults work together as a team?

Planning and implementing dairy day activities! Ordering supplies to manning each one of the stations!

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Our cow backed out at the last minute!! Luckily everyone knows a farmer and we were able to secure a new cow last minute to visit the school.

How do you plan to make this Play last during the school year and beyond?

Continuing to promote dairy and where it comes from within the cafeteria through posters and other signage.