Activities at Green Acres - Barre

Calley Hastings and Lina Swislocki have a big group of children of all ages at Green Acres Housing. There days are packed with lots of activities to keep the kids active and interested and coming back for more. Here are just a few things they are sharing with the kids.

Keeping Attendance on a GFL Chart
This is a great way for kids to set a goal - such as attend GFL at least 6 times this summer or if the kids live in a housing community - to come at the beginning and stay till the end. The Chart that Calley created marks the number of times each child attended. You can design your chart anyway that works for you such as using stickers, checkmarks, etc. It is also a great and easy way to keep attendance.

Growing Gardens Tag
The game goes something like this... When tagged the kids become first a "seed". If tagged again they become a "shoot". Then a "sprout". And then when they become a "plant" they become "It". SO MUCH FUN! And a great way to talk about how eating our veggies gives us lots of energy to run, jump and play!

Making GFL Tee-Shirts
Have kids design their shirt in their journals and then paint their design onto a shirt using fabric paint. A great way for kids to have something special to bring home from the program.

Storytime
Check-out your local library and ask them for books with a gardening theme. There are many wonderful books with beautiful pictures and great stories. A wonderful actviity for all ages.

Making Homemade Butter

Butter Making Song
From Project Seasons - Shelburne Farms

We’re going to make some butter,
Rich and creamy too,
With milk from a cow’s udder
Before you can say moo.

CHORUS:
Oh, shake it, shake it, shake it,
Shake it all you can
Shake it like a milkshake
And pass it to a friend.
Put some cream into a jar,
You can add a marble or two,
Make sure the lid’s on tightly,
That’s all you have to do.

CHORUS
We’re learning while we’re churning,
Hey, this is lots of fun!
It’s easy to make butter,
Let’s eat it when we’re done.

CHORUS
Oh listen very carefully,
It’s sounding different now,
Hooray it’s finally butter!
Be sure to thank the cow.

CHORUS