Grainnet

To an average 9-year-old, wheat is likely known only as one of the main ingredients in bread.

Third- and fourth-grade students from school districts in Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth and Easton, however, are anything but average.

Since November, 2008, more than 50 students from the Gifted Students program in each of the three districts have focused on wheat in a curriculum that covers math, science, history, geography, music and crafts.

The effort culminated with a public program featuring skits and music at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame near Bonner Springs April 2.

Sponsored by the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, a unique educational program provides resources to allow a school group to study an agriculture-related topic in-depth.

The Center provides room for an interactive exhibit for other Museum-goers; meanwhile, the Leavenworth County Farm Bureau contributed funding to the project, according to Lee Sigley, education coordinator for the Center.

With these resources, teachers and students selected an agriculture topic of vital importance to Kansas.

“They came up with wheat.

"They used it to develop science experiments and math, history and geography lessons; any way the teachers felt it could fit into their curriculum,” Sigley says.

Given that many students in the three districts are part of military families, choosing wheat as the focal point for six months of study was relatively easy, adds Pat Gibson, gifted students instructor in the Easton School District.

“Three of our schools are on the military post. Those kids are in Kansas for such a short time,” Gibson says.

“Kansas is the Wheat State.

"We thought this would really give them the opportunity to learn more about the state that their living in for this short time.”

Students used wheat as the basis for science experiments, math problems, and to study Kansas History and World Geography.

They developed recipes and baked goods with wheat; made bracelets and practiced wheat-weaving.

For the program at the National Agricultural Center, the students wrote scripts and designed costumes for plays. They also wrote songs themed on wheat.

The April 2 program concluded with the public unveiling of an interactive exhibit that teaches museum attendees how wheat came to Kansas, products that can be made from wheat, how to “make” a wheat plant and a host of other activities.

The display will be on display at the Center until June 1.

The exhibit was a hit with parents and students alike.

Arkansas native Ginger Ashword, a Fort Leavenworth resident and parent of Eisenhower Elementary School 4th Grader Abigail, says the children learned a host of problem-solving and organizational skills during the six-month study – and they are passing that knowledge onto other children who will visit the Center.

“It’s really cool and interactive,” Alford says.

“Other kids will really like it because it makes wheat more interesting for them.”

Adds Sigley: “All the kids that visit through the education programs we offer through all the other schools from other schools will get to see this.

"Other kids are going to see this.

"It is something they can really be proud of.”

For more information, call 785-539-0255.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame
• Kansas Wheat

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