‘The lessons are really fun’

Williamsburg students learn food facts in roving ag mobile

By Wendy McCardle, wmccardle@altoonamirror.com
WILLIAMSBURG — Surrounded by test tubes, funnels and cylinders, about 30 Williamsburg Elementary fourth-graders became nutrition scientists Thursday as part of the Ag Education Mobile Science Unit at the school this week.

Patricia McConnell, one of the program’s teachers, said the mobile units are made possible by Friends of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. They provide agriculture and science lessons for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. There are three units in use in the state; a fourth will be added next year.

‘‘The lessons are really fun,’’ said McConnell, who is in her second year as a mobile teacher. ‘‘It’s an enjoyable way to learn about farming.’’

On Thursday, students participated in three different programs — turning milk into glue, testing beverages for antioxidants and making crayons from soybeans.

McConnell began the second lesson with the mantra, ‘‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’’ and asked why fruits and vegetables are important.

‘‘They give you everything you need to stay healthy,’’ she said.

She then explained the significance of the colors of many vegetables and fruits — orange ones like cantaloupe and pumpkins, for instance, provide vision-improving and cancer-reducing lycopene, while green kiwis and honeydew provide lutein for eye and heart health.

A related activity focused on red- and purple-colored fruit drinks. Students analyzed grape juice, cranberry juice and fruit punch Gatorade for anthocyanin, an ingredient found in many fruits that protects many parts of the body.

The students discovered that although the three liquids look similar, hues in drinks like Gatorade could be a result of artificial dyes.

Using baking soda as a base, students spurred a foamy reaction with the real juices — indicating the healthy ingredient they were testing for.

‘‘If you want something good for your body, take some grape juice,’’ McConnell said after it generated the most foam.

Student Peyton Brown couldn’t decide what his favorite part of the experiment was.

‘‘I liked it all,’’ he said.

Classmate Kayla Dodd also enjoyed the program.

‘‘I liked seeing the baking soda make [the drinks] foam,’’ she said.

McConnell said she has students who remember what they did the previous year and look forward to the mobile unit’s next visit.

Principal Linda Smith agreed, saying students usually are excited after a lesson and want to show off what they created.

‘‘It’s geared toward their level,’’ Smith said.

Although the visits are helpful with new standardized test requirements, Smith said it is important for students to learn about the agriculture industry.

‘‘It’s important to know why we have farmers,’’ Smith said.

Last year, the mobile unit’s $1,800 a week cost was paid by the school board, Smith said. An anonymous local family provided the funding this year.

‘‘We’re really fortunate that we can do these sorts of activities,’’ Smith said. ‘‘It’s just about the love of science. What you learn here, you take with you and you remember it.’’