Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School students in agriculture teacher Talia Baker’s Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources class and the Herkimer FFA recently read the book “I LOVE Strawberries” to second graders in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
“The high school students learned about the importance of literacy at young ages, practiced reading out loud and prepared all of the lesson materials to lead the classes independently,” Baker said. “Students also learned about food safety as we prepared a strawberry snack to conclude the activity. Although students were nervous going into the Elementary School to lead the lesson, everyone left with smiles on their faces and were surprised at how engaged the elementary students were throughout the activity.”
Agricultural Literacy Week was March 18-22. In celebration of New York agriculture, volunteers throughout the state read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary students, with a focus on second grade classrooms. The Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School students visited three second grade classrooms at the Herkimer Elementary School as part of this initiative and also led second graders in an activity about the lifecycle of strawberries. The “I LOVE Strawberries” books were donated to each classroom library in celebration of Agricultural Literacy Week as well.
Baker said her students enjoyed presenting to younger students – making comments such as that they wanted to go back the next day.
“It was great to see high school students making connections with younger students,” Baker said.
Herkimer junior Karleigh Dygert was one of the students who expressed how much she enjoyed the experience.
“I think I need to be a teacher,” Dygert said.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources students practice reading out loud to each other in class before heading to the Herkimer Elementary School to read “I LOVE Strawberries” to second graders in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources students prepare strawberries to give out as a snack when reading “I LOVE Strawberries” to second graders in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
Herkimer ninth grader Hailey Gerhardt hands out strawberries to second graders as a snack to enjoy when Jr./Sr. High School students visited to read “I LOVE Strawberries” in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School senior Althea Brown reads to students in the classroom of second grade teacher Aimee Jacobs in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
Herkimer junior Connor Chase helps a Herkimer second grader with a strawberry-themed activity when Jr./Sr. High School students visited to read “I LOVE Strawberries” in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School senior Abby O’Hara reads to students in the classroom of second grade teacher Brenna Kirkpatrick in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
Herkimer Central School District second graders work on their “Lifecycle of a Strawberry Plant” activity when Jr./Sr. High School students visited to read “I LOVE Strawberries” in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.
Herkimer Central School District second graders work on their “Lifecycle of a Strawberry Plant” activity when Jr./Sr. High School students visited to read “I LOVE Strawberries” in support of Agricultural Literacy Week.