Students learn, demonstrate skills

Friday, March 26, 2010
Greencastle Middle School seventh-grader Kayla Lee demonstrates how to saddle a horse during Suzanne Funk's language arts class.

GREENCASTLE -- Students in Suzanne Funk's seventh grade language arts class at Greencastle Middle School don't just get to learn -- they also help teach.

As part of the curriculum, the students prepare several speeches. One of those is a demonstration speech, during which the students show their peers how to do something step-by-step.

"It's a great one for this time of year," Funk said. "It's getting nice out and their attention span is waning. They get to do something they like and show off a little bit."

Some of the demonstrations become too big for the classroom and have to be moved outside. Recently, Kayla Lee's grandparents loaded up Kayla's horse, and the class went out into the school parking lot to watch Kayla put a saddle and bridle on the animal.

"This is the first time we've ever had anyone bring in a horse," Funk said. "It's definitely been a banner year."

Dylan Price, whose father is a volunteer fireman, brought in full turnout gear and showed his classmates how firefighters suit up for calls.

"I've been watching (my father) since I was little," Price said. "My dad and grandpa have been in fire service pretty much since I was born."

Some students have prepared recipes while others have done crafts or demonstrated wrestling moves.

Andy Sutherlin made a coat rack from deer antlers.

"It was just an idea I had," Sutherlin said. "I hadn't really done it before; I just made it up as I went along. The antlers were just lying there in a fencerow, and I thought they'd make a good coat rack. I like to work with my hands."

Sutherlin said he has especially enjoyed sampling the food his classmates have prepared for demonstrations, particularly Breanna Ferrand's dirt pudding.

"I was kind of nervous, but not as much because I know all these people," Ferrand said. "These have been really fun to watch ... especially Kayla's, because I like horses."

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