Making the Farm Connection!

I wonder whats in the big red barn I wonder whats in it for me. It starts with sh And it rhymes with beep Oh what do you think it could be?

A farm visit is a beautiful way of giving our city children an opportunity to develop a sense of wonder and joy for the natural world besides exploring how food is grown and how animals are raised. Education, away from the classroom environment is always invigorating and this was happily heeded when all the classes of The Indian School-Second Shift went on a field trip to Mogly Farm on 15th February, 2016.

[gallery link="none" ids="6410,6411,6412"]

Located at Brijwasan, Gurgaon, Mogly Farm is a petting and vegetable farm where one can revel in feeding all the animals. The children were in high spirits as they looked forward to the day. The teachers accompanied their respective classes and a group of more than 200 students was taken to this one-of-its-kind farm. On arriving, the children were cordially received by the coordinators there, who greeted us with an interesting welcome song. After making themselves comfortable on the lush green grass, the little ones quickly took to their surroundings and ran about in their glee as they absorbed the freshness, while others headed for a walk through the wholesome vegetable and fruit garden. The excited visitors were not let down as the vegetable garden was in full bloom that made for an indulgent spectacle! Children adore animals and our young students were in for more amusement when they saw a variety of farm animals. There were cows with their calves, goats munching on the grass, buffalos, a peacock, horses, sheep, ducks, donkeys, hens and roosters, to name a few. Not to miss, the white mice were squeaky clean, and the beautiful masakali pigeons were a piece of art! The lovely guinea pigs and rabbits entertained the children like never before. The children were thrilled to see and feed them all! Next, the children sat down to satisfy their taste buds with the scrumptious and tempting lunch served. The highlight of the day was getting to milk a cow! Ok, not a real cow but a makeshift wooden cow! This was a great way to teach the children where milk comes from. Children learn best by doing and they could gently squeeze the rubber udders to experience what it is like to milk a cow, much like a farmer would. End? No, the fun didn't end there as the children delighted in the farms exciting play area which included the swings, trampoline and the sandpit. And how would the little guests remember what they experienced? So next there was a take-home activity for the children to cherish the memories of the day. After much learning and merry-making it was time to pile into the buses and head back. The happy faces of the children spoke of the success of the excursion. They couldnt wait to share their experience with their friends and loved ones! As a follow-up exercise, the teachers conducted some fun learning activities based on the farm theme, the next day. The children enjoyed participating likewise some drew, some spoke. Overall, it was a rewarding hands-on experience where children learnt how a farm works and could connect with where their food comes from. Ms. Kritika Negi.