In the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, one may encounter a variety of interesting projects and coursework through a vast offering of courses. Now, if you were to solely judge student learning progress on their ability to sing a song about making butter, you are missing what goes on behind this process. Students enrolled in Community Leadership 5330: Teaching Methods in Non-Formal Education have been engaged in their learning to plan lessons, develop a unit of instruction, and facilitate non-formal learning environments. Through a valued partnership with the Columbus School for Girls, COMLDR 5330 students are provided the opportunity to develop lessons for first grade students. The first of which was a butter making demonstration to display changing states of matter and share a preview of agriculture through dairy product facts.
In small groups, COMLDR 5330 students worked diligently to create an educational and enthusiastic 30-minute lesson to teach their first grade audience about butter. By working together, students successfully achieved their task of creating a lesson plan with all required components and prepared any additional learning aids-from costumes to bringing toy cows! Keeping the first grade audience in mind and being aware of learning styles, creativity was evident! With lesson plans and butter-making supplies in hand, students were ready for a field trip to the Columbus School for Girls to teach butter-making demonstrations!
Krysti, Sarah, and Renea pour heavy whipping cream into a container to make butter.
A close ratio of college students to first graders provided a learning environment of close interactions of our student educators with their first grade learners. Equipped with their skills in a variety of teaching methods, students utilized songs, games, active learning, and demonstrations to teach their first grade learners the process of transforming heavy whipping cream to spreadable butter to be enjoyed on crackers!
Zach, Michelle, and Caitlin teach first graders about butter making.
Through COMLDR 5330, students are constantly immersed in their learning and skill development through a variety of teaching experiences. These students are actively preparing another lesson for Food & Fiber Day, when the Columbus School for Girls first grade classes will join our students at Ohio State University’s very own Sheep Facility! With opportunities to teach in front of their peers and to first graders, these students are gaining beneficial experience to prepare them for their aspired careers in non-formal education!
Thank you to teaching assistant Kayla Oberstadt for writing this blog post and sharing the photos.