I am pretty sure Old McDonald has never had a farm quite like the one the second graders went to on Friday! The farm is designed for school groups and families hoping to experience and learn about the goings-on at a farm. It has some typical things, like cows, donkeys, hens, chickens, and lots of different gardens. It also had some unexpected things like two camels, emus, a dog living on the roof, and this weird hen/duck like creature I thought for sure was going to attack one of my students. (For good reason, the boy was picking on it). The additional animals confused my kids a little and they kept saying it must be a zoo instead.
We got on the bus first thing in the morning and my students' biggest question was "can we eat snack now?" We never have snack at 8:15 in the morning, and I wouldn't really have cared except for the fact many of them had been telling me they get sick in car. Nothing strikes fear in me like hearing students talk about getting carsick right before our one and half hour bus ride! I made it explicitly clear there was to be NO eating on the bus! I did however neglect to ban sunscreen. And with five minutes there was sunscreen everywhere!!!! Also, they have no idea how to apply sunscreen. That was fun. Madame B (the French teacher) and I were up front with the driver since there weren't anymore seats back with the kids. So eventually, she and I ignored the cream-covered faces behind us and enjoyed the ride.
When we arrived at the farm, the first activity was a welcome snack. Thankfully, because my kids were starving (not really, since half of them sneaked a snack on the bus). They each got a pancake and cup of juice. Attika (the Arabic teacher) grabbed the other teachers and said the farm employees would take care of the kids and we needed to follow her. We went to our own little tent where we also received a snack and, of course, tea. Moroccan hospitality is nothing to joke about! Madame B explained what the kids would be doing for the day as we sipped our tea. I watched the farm workers herd my children into a barn while the other two classes went to their first activity. I felt too odd being on a field trip with my kids, and yet being nowhere near them! I excused myself and chased after them to take photos and watch my little city-slickers milk a cow!!
Watching my kids interact with a large cow was hilarious! Some of them have farms here in Morocco and most of them have been around sheep and goats, but milking a cow is quite different! They so wanted to do it, but they were terrified at the same time. The best part was their face after trying to milk the cow. They had huge smiles full of pride or they were totally disgusted and couldn't get away fast enough!
After milking the cow, we moved to a bread making demonstration. She explained everything in French/Arabic, but that didn't stop the kids from asking me "what did she say?" to which I smiled kindly and said "I honestly have no idea what she said!" Surprisingly, I did follow the demonstration, but I think it's because I have seen/made bread before. They started to feel the heat and notice the bugs at this point and were very eager to move on to the next activity.
The third rotation was pottery making! Each student got a small chunk of clay to play with. They also got a chance to try the pottery wheel. Getting their hands dirty isn't exactly their favorite thing to do! But they still got into the clay and most enjoyed it.
After the rotations, all 60 kids were ushered into a small room to watch a video of a cow being born. At this point, it was 70 and sunny, with no breeze (which is a constant since we are so close to the ocean in Casa), there were flies everywhere and they really were hungry! So, watching a cow being born was not exactly high on their list. Eventually, the students got up and walked out of the room and back toward the playground/open field. Lunch was served shortly after.
They went back to the small tables and each received a spoon for the large dishes of couscous being served. Lunch was served two and half hours later than we usually eat and they were so hungry even my picky eaters were making do! Again, the adults were served away from the kids and while we ate, the children ran wild. Seriously, they were everywhere! But, no one else seemed worried, so I sipped my tea and ignored the chaos around me! 
After lunch, we boarded the buses (just what I wanted to do with my 19 couscous stuffed kids!). I was hoping the ride back would be quieter but, oh no! One or two fell asleep the rest made up for their silence 10 fold! And felt the need to reapply sunscreen (or just smother their faces in it). Again, Madame B and I ignored them and we fell asleep! My roommates and I have decided I have travel narcolepsy...I will fall asleep in a car (or train or plane). every time. Even if there are 19 crazy kiddos screaming behind me.
We got back to the school 4 minutes before dismissal. I am not really sure if they all got to where they needed to be, but 20 minutes later they were all gone! Overall, it was a really fun day! I think the kids really enjoyed it and I can't wait to hear more of their thoughts on Monday.
We got on the bus first thing in the morning and my students' biggest question was "can we eat snack now?" We never have snack at 8:15 in the morning, and I wouldn't really have cared except for the fact many of them had been telling me they get sick in car. Nothing strikes fear in me like hearing students talk about getting carsick right before our one and half hour bus ride! I made it explicitly clear there was to be NO eating on the bus! I did however neglect to ban sunscreen. And with five minutes there was sunscreen everywhere!!!! Also, they have no idea how to apply sunscreen. That was fun. Madame B (the French teacher) and I were up front with the driver since there weren't anymore seats back with the kids. So eventually, she and I ignored the cream-covered faces behind us and enjoyed the ride.
When we arrived at the farm, the first activity was a welcome snack. Thankfully, because my kids were starving (not really, since half of them sneaked a snack on the bus). They each got a pancake and cup of juice. Attika (the Arabic teacher) grabbed the other teachers and said the farm employees would take care of the kids and we needed to follow her. We went to our own little tent where we also received a snack and, of course, tea. Moroccan hospitality is nothing to joke about! Madame B explained what the kids would be doing for the day as we sipped our tea. I watched the farm workers herd my children into a barn while the other two classes went to their first activity. I felt too odd being on a field trip with my kids, and yet being nowhere near them! I excused myself and chased after them to take photos and watch my little city-slickers milk a cow!!
Watching my kids interact with a large cow was hilarious! Some of them have farms here in Morocco and most of them have been around sheep and goats, but milking a cow is quite different! They so wanted to do it, but they were terrified at the same time. The best part was their face after trying to milk the cow. They had huge smiles full of pride or they were totally disgusted and couldn't get away fast enough!
After milking the cow, we moved to a bread making demonstration. She explained everything in French/Arabic, but that didn't stop the kids from asking me "what did she say?" to which I smiled kindly and said "I honestly have no idea what she said!" Surprisingly, I did follow the demonstration, but I think it's because I have seen/made bread before. They started to feel the heat and notice the bugs at this point and were very eager to move on to the next activity.
The third rotation was pottery making! Each student got a small chunk of clay to play with. They also got a chance to try the pottery wheel. Getting their hands dirty isn't exactly their favorite thing to do! But they still got into the clay and most enjoyed it. 
After the rotations, all 60 kids were ushered into a small room to watch a video of a cow being born. At this point, it was 70 and sunny, with no breeze (which is a constant since we are so close to the ocean in Casa), there were flies everywhere and they really were hungry! So, watching a cow being born was not exactly high on their list. Eventually, the students got up and walked out of the room and back toward the playground/open field. Lunch was served shortly after.
They went back to the small tables and each received a spoon for the large dishes of couscous being served. Lunch was served two and half hours later than we usually eat and they were so hungry even my picky eaters were making do! Again, the adults were served away from the kids and while we ate, the children ran wild. Seriously, they were everywhere! But, no one else seemed worried, so I sipped my tea and ignored the chaos around me! 
After lunch, we boarded the buses (just what I wanted to do with my 19 couscous stuffed kids!). I was hoping the ride back would be quieter but, oh no! One or two fell asleep the rest made up for their silence 10 fold! And felt the need to reapply sunscreen (or just smother their faces in it). Again, Madame B and I ignored them and we fell asleep! My roommates and I have decided I have travel narcolepsy...I will fall asleep in a car (or train or plane). every time. Even if there are 19 crazy kiddos screaming behind me.
We got back to the school 4 minutes before dismissal. I am not really sure if they all got to where they needed to be, but 20 minutes later they were all gone! Overall, it was a really fun day! I think the kids really enjoyed it and I can't wait to hear more of their thoughts on Monday.
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