Future+Farmers+of+America

==A) **Cluster Name:** **Future Farmers of America ** ==


==** __Cluster’s Curriculum Plan (March 23-30):__  ** == 

 -Visit the Queens Botanical Garden
= = = Wednesday, March 25th: =

-Video presentation on weeks activities
==  C) **Cluster Goals: ** <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia,serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(ie What do you want to accomplish in this cluster? Example: //The Music Label Cluster will allow participants to learn how to write, record and produce their musical ideas in order to create a demo CD.)//  == <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Got the Greenhouse in the roof garden operational - (Richard repaired the thermostat, thank you!) ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Students became aware of how to plant a crop. ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Became aware of farm operations visiting the Queens County Farm Museum and the Hawthorne Valley Farm upstate. ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Investigated the requirements of an Aquarium by visiting the New York Aquarium. ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Investigated horticultural crops at the Queens Botanical Garden. ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Due to a deficiency in the green house there is presently not enough sunlight; however, we have decided to use it as a nursery for our crops. ===
 * ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Because of inadequate sunlight we recommend that the green house be moved to the opposite end, where there is more sunlight. ===

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 * 1) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Actual planting of crops such as squash, beans, lettuce, beet, potatoes in school. ===
 * 2) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Visited the Queens Botanical Garden. ===
 * 3) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Visited the Queens County Farm Museum -a guided tour explaining farm operations. ===
 * 4) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Visited an organic farm upstate-The Hawthorne Valley Farm. ===
 * 5) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Visited the New York Botanical Garden. ===
 * 6) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Visited Hawthorne Valley Farm- upstate. ===

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> G) **Skills Students Have Learned:**
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 * 1) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> How to research, plant and grow crops. ===
 * 2) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> How farm animals live and how to care for them. ===
 * 3) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Became aware of a variety of plants, animals and aquatic animal needs. ===
 * 4) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">How a greenhouse works. ===
 * 5) ===<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">How to work collaboratively. ===

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; display: block; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(0, 255, 255);"> =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: center; display: block;"> March 23, 2009 = <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> On our first day of Rensizzle Week, the Future Farmers of America had to clean the green house in the roof garden. The green house appears not to be having direct sunlight because it is blocked by the wall, as a result of this, full sunlight isn't reaching the plants. A solution could be to move the green house to the right, that way more sunlight would reach it. However, we are going to use it as a nursery to plant seeds. When we cleaned, we threw out and removed dead plants. The temperature throughout the week was too cold for us to grow our plants. We then resorted to using room B4, where the temperature was more convenient. We planted all different kinds of plants such as: broccoli, squash, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers and beats. After our lunch break, we again planted potatoes and peas. Each pot was watered with lots of care and love! <3



<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Riaad instructs us on how to plant the seeds properly.
= = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(255, 0, 255); text-align: center; display: block;"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(255, 0, 255); text-align: center; display: block;"> = = = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(255, 0, 255); text-align: center; display: block;"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(255, 0, 255); text-align: center; display: block;"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(255, 0, 255); text-align: center; display: block;">March 24, 2009 = <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Today, we went to the Queens Botanical Garden. Of course, before departing from school, we checked our plants/vegetables. We watered them if needed only. After taking the train and arriving at the Main Street stop of the 7 train, we had to walk many blocks to get to our destination: the Queens Botanical Garden. There, we took a self tour of the place, observing many plants and other things they had. We did this until we got "in trouble" and Riaad had to talk to someone in a building. We rested for a while in that building and then went home.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">[[image:farming_018.jpg width="514" height="393" align="right"]]
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: left; display: block;"> **<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> Wild berries in the garden. **<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: right;">

<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">**<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Entering the garden and enjoying the view. **  <span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: right;"> =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(128, 128, 0); text-align: center; display: block;">March 25, 2009 = <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> On Wednesday, our group went to the Queens County Farm Museum. It took a while to get there since it was located on the border of Long Island. Our group took the train and then a long bus ride before we got to our destination. There, everyone was really excited to see an actual farm with all its animals and agriculture. Due to the weather conditions, crops weren't growing yet. However, they were preparing the land by removing rocks and stones from the soil. Eventually the tractors would be used for further preparation of the land. Our group was assigned to a tour guide who took us around the farm and explained the different things that happens on a daily basis. We went to two green houses where they grew vegetables and flowers. The guide then took us around the whole the farm, showing us the different animals that live on the farm. Some of these animals were chickens, roosters, hens, cows, pigs, ducks, rabbits, and many more that are usually seen on a farm. We even got to feed the goats at the farm with grounded hay. Prior to leaving the farm, all group members had a chance to go on a hay ride. Everyone sat on stacks of hay and straw, while the tractor pulled the cart along. The hay ride was enjoyable, although a little bumpy. Because of this, pregnant woman and people with back problems aren't allowed on a hay ride. Our trip to the Queens County Farm Museum was very interesting and<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> i nformative. <span style="background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">**<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">FFA in front of an old house in the Queens County Farm ** <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">** In a greenhouse, listening to the guide that was explaining what they were growing there **<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(0, 255, 255); text-align: center; display: block;"> = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(0, 255, 255); text-align: center; display: block;">March 26, 2009 =

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">On Thursday, we went to the New York Aquarium, in Coney Island. In order to get there we took the 7 train to 74 St. and Roosevelt Ave. Then, we took the F train to the last stop. This was a pretty long trip, but people kept themselves entertained with their ipods, and playing Nintendo DS. Even though it was a rainy day we had lots of fun once we got there. We saw fishes, sharks, turtles, frogs, penguins, otters, sea lions and much more. At some point, we saw a show where a sea lion named Osborne performed with its trainers. Osborne pretended to be a shark, jumped very high, clapped, danced, EVERYTHING! He was an amazingly cute sea lion, he even kissed his trainer. =) Once the show was over we continued taking pictures and learned about animals at the aquarium. We got to touch starfish and horse-shoe crabs. The trip lasted for approximately three hours. After a long day at the Aquarium we went to eat a big healthy meal.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center; display: block;"> =<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center; color: rgb(128, 0, 128);">March 27, 2009 = =<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center; display: block;"> = <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center; display: block;"> On Friday, our group did not go on another trip. Instead, Riaad decided to stay in and work on something else. We decided to create our presentation to show the other Rensizzlers what we did all week and how much we learned in the many trips we went on. Our slide show was suppose to have videos but we were not able to create one like that. Instead, Enrique put together a slideshow with pictures of everything we did all week. FFA finished the presentation quickly, so Riaad decided to bring the plants to the roof garden. This is because there was no sunlight in room B4. The green house in the roof garden did not recieve much sunlight either, but it recieved some at noon, as Riaad observed. Hopefully, our crops will be able to grow better and healthier. At the end of our day, Riaad ordered pizza for FFA and we all ate lunch together :]