Mobile Dairy Classroom visits Jerger preschoolers
Apr. 11—THOMASVILLE — Preschool students at Jerger Elementary concluded their lesson on dairy with an interactive experience from the GA Mobile Dairy Classroom, allowing the students to pet calves and view a tutorial on milking.
The Mobile Dairy Classroom is an educational program operated by the Agricultural Commodity Commission for milk. It features a fully operational milk parlor, containing a live cow used for milking and feeding demonstrations.
The program is designed to provide children with a better understanding of where milk comes from, how it is processed and the healthy benefits of consuming dairy products.
According to Lead Pre-K teacher Sarah Black, this is the first time the GA Mobile Dairy Classroom has visited Jerger.
"When I previously taught at Scott Elementary, it came every year, so that's how I knew about it," Black explained. "In Pre-K, we specifically teach a farm unit, so I thought it would be fun for our kids here to see."
Black said during the Mobile Dairy Classroom's visit, they taught the students all about the different breeds of cows. Reportedly, many of the students were surprised and thought cows only came in black and white.}The representative from the Classroom also spoke on what cows eat and passed around pellets of food for the students to look at, before explaining why cows have to eat healthy in order to produce milk.
The representative then introduced the students to their baby calf, Cupid, who was born on Valentine's Day.
"She (the representative) brought it down and the kids got to pet it, which was really neat because a lot of the kids don't have that hands on experience," Black said. "That's another reason why we wanted to invite the Mobile Classroom, so they could get that hands on experience."
Black said there were a few kids who were uncomfortable getting close to Cupid, but most of the students really loved it.
Cupid also served as a preview of what is to come next week for Jerger preschoolers, when they begin their farming unit.
Black explained the Mobile Classroom was unable to come during that particular unit, but with them visiting upon the conclusion of the dairy unit, kids were really able to build on what they had already learned.
The kids also got a small preview of milking cows, which they will have the opportunity to try in person next week during their visit to Redemptive Love Farms.
"She (the representative) talked about the udders and sanitation," Black said. "She showed them how to clean the udders and called two students up to show them how the milking machine vacuums the milk out."
Students were surprised to learn it only takes 4-5 minutes to vacuum out a gallon of milk.
"At Redemptive Love Farms, they will get to milk the cows with their hands, collect eggs out of the chicken coop, ride a pony and feed animals," Black said. "It will be a lot of hands on experience."
Two of Black's students, Anna Cone and Ben Graves spoke about the Mobile Classroom visiting them and how much they are looking forward to their upcoming field trip.
"My favorite part was seeing her milk the cow," Cone said.
Graves said he learned that milking cows wasn't that hard.
"You just squeeze it and hold it," he said.
As far as their field trip, both Cone and Graves said they would love to see a horse, with Graves' biggest wish being to ride a horse.
"We are really ready for our field trip," they both ended excitedly.
Black is also thrilled to give the kids another hands-on experience and shared she has already put in a request for the Mobile Classroom to return next year.
