Students will have the opportunity to explore various aspects of the wonderful world of the Honey Bee. Students will be guided through 4 different stations, each one focused on a different topic. In the first station, students will work with our great Bee Building Volunteer Teachers, and have the chance to examine a live bee colony at work and see how honey is made. In the second station, students will observe the various products that we use everyday that have honey in them or need bees to be made. At the third station, students will be working together to create a honey bee craft that they will be able to bring home. Finally, in the fourth station, students will receive packets of bee-friendly flower seeds and a sample of Haagen Dazs Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream. In addition, on our grounds, we have a Honey Bee Garden that features flowers that promote bee pollination, that students can visit.
Students will have the opportunity to go to the Poultry Barn and learn from one of our knowledgeable Poultry Barn Volunteer Teachers. They will learn about the life cycle of a domesticated chicken and get the chance to watch chicks hatch in our Fair Hatchery. Students will also have the opportunity to hold and/or pet a baby chick that was born here at the fair. Our Fair Teachers will explain how farmers care for chickens, i.e. feeding, water, etc. Be sure to come with lots of questions!
During Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Fair week, the Topsfield Fair puts on the EBSCO Green Pavilion in our show tent. The Green Pavilion consists of 20 Eco-Friendly companies and organizations. Students will have the chance to walk around the show tent to see demonstrations and hands-on activities. Classes can have the opportunity to see solar panels, rain barrels, composting and much more!
Students learn what life was like for area farmers during the years leading up to the Revolution. Information based on Dorchester farmer Colonel Samuel Pierce's account book allows students to take on the roles of real people, including farmers, weavers and blacksmiths. Hands-on activities allow students to further explore the production of goods using colonial resources and technology.
Using the wool from our flock of sheep, students learn each step in the process of creating cloth. While they pick, clean, card, and spin wool by hand, they learn how technology provides improved tools to make each step faster and more efficient.
How much water can an elephant hold in it's trunk? What does an elephant eat? Come spend some time with Beulah the elephant and learn from the experts. Even help us celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, October 5th!
Students will have the chance to spend time in Coolidge Hall Kitchen with some of our Fair Volunteers. As a part of this program, classes will learn about making healthy food choices, right from local farms (who are also here at the Fair). Each group of students will also have the opportunity to learn how to make a simple, healthy snack with some of the fruits and vegetables from the area.
Groups have the opportunity to tour the Fair and all of our buildings with this new program. Each student will be given a map of the fairgrounds, marked with the 9 stops in their adventure. At each spot, children will find a board with questions and answers, as well as a mural in which they can get their picture taken. Once students answer the questions, they can stamp their map. Once children have all 9 stamps, they can turn in their map for an "Agricultural Adventure" ribbon!
In an effort to help more schools attend the Topsfield Fair, we are again offering our Free Lunch program. During 3 days of the Fair, the Fair will feed 400 students lunch (Sign ups fill up fast!). Lunch will include hot dog, milk, apples and cookie. This program is based on a first come first serve basis.
Dear Educator,
I hope that this letter finds you starting off a great 2011-2012 school year. It is that time of year again, time for the Topsfield Fair! We would like to take this opportunity to invite you and your students to our Agricultural Classroom. Student field trips will be scheduled on the mornings of Monday, October 3rd through Friday, October 7th. This year, like in past years, we will be offering a wide range of standard-based programs for your students to take part in. Attached to this email is the 2011 Education Newsletter which includes all of our programs and the days on which they are offered. In addition to our programs, we offer a free lunch program on Tuesday, October 4th, Wednesday, October 5th and Thursday, October 6th.
To sign up for student field trips, all you have to do is go to our website (www.topsfieldfair.org) and click the "Education" tab. I have also attached to this email a copy of the registration form if you would prefer to use that. The form can be faxed to us (978-887-3016) or mailed to us (P.O. Box 134, Topsfield, MA, 01983). Also, under the "Education" tab, you can find curriculum support for pre- and post-field trip for some of our programs. Classes are asked to be on the Fairgrounds by 10:00AM and off the Fairgrounds by 2:00PM. Admission is free to all students through Grade 5. Teachers and chaperones are also admitted free on a 1 to 4 Chaperone to Student ratio. Additional chaperones and students above the 5th grade receive a special advanced rate of $5.00 when arriving with a registered school group. Parking is free for school buses at the River Gate Lot A entrance on Route 1.
After you register, you will receive a field trip information packet. This packet will include a schedule of the day's events and the educational programs that your group will be attending while on the Fairgrounds. We also have a Teacher Resource Center which we invite you to use for resources for your classroom. It contains a variety of worksheets and informational papers highlighting the learning experience that your students will gain.
We are very excited about the 2011 Topsfield Fair and are happy to announce the theme for 2011: "Fun Never Grows Old." We have been working very hard all year to add many new things to the Fair and to the Education Department.
The Education Department is available to answer any questions to help make your Fair experience a great one! We are looking forward to your visit.
