Stillwater NewsPress

Agriculture

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May 14, 2010

Teacher brings farm to students

By Laura Hoffert lhoffert@stwnewspress.com

STILLWATER, Okla. — When an e-mail popped up in Jan Strickler's inbox, she knew her school had the opportunity to become part of something great.

"There was a generic e-mail that was sent and I read it and got more information on it because I thought it was something I could really do," Strickler said.

Since that e-mail, sent two years ago, the pre-kindergarten teacher at Will Rogers Elementary has been involved with "Farm to You," a statewide health education program.

The event began April 29 and consisted of Will Rogers Elementary School's students walking through a 40-foot by 40-foot exhibit set up in the gymnasium.

"I grew up on a farm so I thought this was something I know about and could help others with," Strickler said.

Each class, Pre-K through fifth-grade, split into two groups of 10 and went through the interactive health exhibit. The first stop is the farm. Students see how food is gathered and then the students go to an interactive market to see how their purchases will benefit their health.

"You make your way through the body. You start out with the mouth and see how food helps the body," Strickler said. "Then they walk through the body more and the students are shown how healthy food helps your stomach and how bad food harms the stomach.

The exhibit ended with a display on germs and the importance of keeping hands clean and healthy.

Strickler said students enjoyed seeing how farms are a direct source of foods found in local markets.

"They loved it. They thought it was awesome," Strickler said.

The 500 students involved participated in a drawing conrtest and won prizes.

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