| This Months Curriculum Unit is
"Perfectly Pigriffic Pigs Unit"
NHAITC and PLANET GREEN UNITE
TO KEEP NH GREEN
PLEASE HELP US
RECYCLE FOR AG EDUCATION
You can help NHAITC keep the planet green and raise funds by recycling your ink cartridges and cell phones with us. Just save your cartiridges and drop off at the NHAITC office or call us and we'll come pick them up! |
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Spring, Sheep and Talking About Farm Animals in the Classroom! By Lisa Nevins
In 11 years of breeding sheep I've never had an orphan. It's been a heartwarming, experience and one that leaves me wondering what to do with this sweet baby. One day while feeding him, I was thinking about a newsletter topic, as he pawed my leg for more, it came to me with a loud Maaa.. Sheep! What better time to talk about such a versatile animal, now that the Wooly Wool Unit will soon be for sale, NHAITC will take part at the Sheep & Wool Festival in May, and each day brings another lamb or two!
I decided to raise sheep as an organic, natural way to restore overgrown pastures and to keep pastures down that I can't mow with a tractor and maybe sell the wool and meat. I wasn't concerned about breeds in the beginning, but through trial and error, I've learned what I like and don't like in the world of sheep. I pick them now for personality, ease of care and prolific breeding. My current flock of sheep live outside all the time with access to shelter whenever they want. They even have their babies right out in the pasture! In the winters I provide hay and grain but the rest of the year they graze on lush pastures, doing a quiet but environmentally sound job of clearing land. The pastures are rotated between sheep and horses. The sheep provide the natural ferilizer the pastures need to maintain the grass for the horses, saving money on fertilizer and fuel costs while creating less of an impact on the natural resources of the farm.
I don't usually name my sheep as they are not my pets; instead they have a different purpose. The natural meat is sold to local consumers and the wool to local spinners. Although they are not pets they get exceptional care. I make sure they get vaccinated, wormed, fed, sheared and whatever else they may need to grow healthy.
Learning about sheep, the wonders of wool and the many by-products we get from sheep, is always fun for children. NHAITC can help educators bring sheep to the classroom, even if you've never touched one! Our sheep curriculum on loan and our Wooly Wool kit, both provide wonderful ways for children to explore the versatile sheep and how raising sheep played an important role in NH history. In fact at one time almost every town in NH had as many as 60,000 sheep!
I've gone on, but if you would like to share more interesting facts abou sheep with your students please read on and enjoy the newsletter, meanwhile I still have my original dilemma, what to do with my first orphaned lamb. I shouldn't have fallen for him, but certain animals hold a place in your heart, so meanwhile I'll enjoy my time with him until he's living with the flock like a real sheep
and then decide. |
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| Did you know that WOOL?
*Wool is the natural fiber grown from sheep.
*Wool clothes are cool in the summer and warm in the winter
*Wool will not catch on fire? This means wool is flame-resistant.
*It takes one fleece to make a man's suit.
*President Woodrow Wilson grazed sheep on the White House South Lawn. The wool obtained from the sheep was sold to raise money for the Red Cross during World War I. The flock included "Old Ike," a tobacco-chewing ram.
Want to know more Sheepish Facts! Click here to read more! |
| Sheep Lessons & Crafts for Children
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A New Way to Bring the Sheep to Your Classroom.....
The Wooly Wool Unit is aligned with NH state standards to bring you a complete science unit for Pre-k - 2 that encourages interactive, fun learning about sheep while meeting the criteria to increase science test scores.
The unit is currently being piloted and will be for sale sometime early summer. We will be offering a one time facebook/website deal where the first ten people who order the unit can purchase it for half price! It will be a first come first serve so be sure to check our website during late spring, early summer!Featured Headline
Know your target audience. Who are your most important customers, clients or prospects, and why? Know what is important to them and address their needs in your newsletter each month. Include a photo to make your newsletter even more appealing. Inserting a link in your article lets you track which topics attract the most interest. |
WEBSITES WORTH A PEEK
www.kiddyhouse.com/farm/sheep/sheep.html - This website is perfect for the educator, it includes songs, worksheets, history, clip art, coloring sheets, lessons and so much more. A must to look at for more resources!
www.sheepusa.com - This website is good for middle school age children and their educators. It contains lots of information on the sheep industry in the US and a good source for additional links and education resources.
www.first-school.ws/index.htm This site is just awesome for the preschool to 1st grade educator. First-School features free fun preschool lesson plans, educational early childhood activities, printable crafts, worksheets, calendar of events and other resources for children of preschool age. The preschool crafts, lesson plans and activities are appropriate and adaptable for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten level (ages 2 to 6). First-School's content is ideal for home schooling, preschool and kindergarten teachers, daycare, child care providers, after-school and babysitters.
www.nhswga.com - NH sheep and wool growers have lots to offer and plenty of news about sheep to share with those who log on. Great way to get more information on their yearly sheep and wool festival. |
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The Bookshelf
Each month we'll feature a few books on the months topic that we think provide a wonderful look at the many facets of agriculture. This month we bring you books about sheep that have beautiful illustrations, heartwarming kindness and pure silliness!
(The following reviews are from Borders.com)
Weaving the Rainbow by George Ella Lyon
 Answers the question "How do you make a rainbow?" If you are a weaver you can make a rainbow with wool. If you are a sheep you can BE a rainbow. In this story an artist raises sheep, shears them, cards and spins the wool, dyes it, and then weaves a colorful picture of the Kentucky pasture where her lambs were born. Beautiful story with beautiful illustrations.
Nell knits . .. a lot. But Nell doesn't knit just to pass the time. She knits for service. She  makes blankets, scarves, mittens for the children's home, caps, and socks for babies, family members, and soldiers, all before she knits a sweater for herself. What Nell doesn't do is talk a lot. She listens to her friends chat and laugh, and she knits some more. No one is shocked when her sweater garners the blue ribbon at the county fair, but Nell's surprised when town's mayor gives her a special medal for her generosity and service to the community. Nell uses her craft to model her credo - service above self - and ultimately find her true voice .
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw and Margot Apple
What could be better than a misadventure from that rambunctious flock of sheep in board-book form? Two! Now sized perfectly for even the smallest hands, two of Nancy Shaw and Margot Apple's enchanting titles from their sheep series are board books. In Sheep in a Jeep, the hapless flock goes for a drive in the country. In Sheep in a Shop, the sheep are off to the store in search of the perfect birthday gift. With these muttonheads, a normal outing is sure to turn into a joyous lark. Rhyming text and disarming illustrations make these shear delights! |
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