Animals gets kids excited about learning

Classes adopt anything from pigs to alpacas, horses

Saturday, November 10, 2007

By CIGI ROSS

The Register-Mail

ALEXIS - Students in Alexis and Gerlaw are adopting miniature horses this fall as part of an agriculture lesson.

For three years Sandy Bertelsen, agricultural education coordinator for Warren and Henderson counties, has been teaching students about farm animals by using lessons plans leading up to a visit with animals. Bertelsen has had classes "adopt" pigs, calves and alpacas, and this fall the students are learning about miniature horses. The horses belong to Bill Bertelsen of Alexis.

The mini-horse lesson is being taught to first- and third-grade classes at United North Elementary School and the entire school at Cornerstone Christian School in Gerlaw.

Students participate in four lessons about horses, horse care and horse nutrition before having a party to meet their adopted horse.

Maggie Wallace's first-grade class has adopted Brownie and on Friday learned how to make rope.

"If you're going to adopt a horse you need to learn how to rope a horse and tie a knot," Bertelsen said.

Merle McClain, of Oquawka, has been making rope for five years. He said he met someone who taught him to make rope at an historic reenactment event. He's been doing it ever since.

McClain brought his equipment to United North Elementary School to show the students how to make rope and let them each take a turn at the wheel and take a couple feet of rope home.

McClain told students natural plant fibers were used to make the twine they were using to twist the rope.

Bertelsen said incorporating animals into the lessons keeps students interested.

"They are anxious for you to come in," she said. "It's educational, and they're having fun. When the animal visit day comes they're so excited."