1st Grade: Jo Jo's Farm!

Welcome to the first entry of Clara's Inflight project! I have been working with Clara's class on their farm study for the last 5 weeks and much has transpired! If you will be in Town Meeting tomorrow, you will hear the story of Jo Jo's farm from the students. If not, please enjoy this narrative about what has happened so far! Everything I will write about has taken place within the four walls of Clara's room with one short trip to the hallway. So when I talk about "going to Brooklyn" or anywhere else, it means we are using the magical transportation system of theatre! (First Graders are really good at this, by the way!!)

CLICK on the PICTURE for a close up of the map the students' created of Jo Jo's farm! They collectively decided what the farm needed and how it should be laid out.

The drama began with a trip to a farmer's market in Brooklyn, in a neighborhood where there are lots of fast food restaurants, lots of deli's but very few grocery stores. We met Maria (me in role as a 12 year old from the neighborhood) who helped us find the way. She was on her way to buy fruits and vegetables from Jo Jo, the woman who brought produce from her farm to the market every week. We arrived and met Jo Jo (me again with a straw hat and glasses). She was very excited to meet Clara's first graders and told them about how she runs the farm by herself since her children have all grown up and moved away. The students sampled food from her stand and had a dance party to the live band that was playing (courtesy of the stereo).

I then narrated that the next week the students went to visit Jo Jo at the market and the whole place was empty. Only a sign reading "sorry" was hanging where the stand used to be. Maria burst onto the scene frantic about the situation. Clara called Jo Jo (they had exchanged numbers at their first meeting) and Jo Jo asked if she could come to the classroom to explain. When I put the hat back on and entered the room limping, the students were very kind. They asked why I was limping and I told them I had fallen off a ladder and because I was running the farm alone, had decided that I couldn't handle it anymore. I had decided to close the farm. They were shocked and immediately hands were waving in the air and they were shouting, "we can help! we can help!" I really thought I would have to prompt this response....but their generosity and enthusiasm was abundant!

I said, "But you all live in the city! You don't know anything about farms!". "Yes we do!!" they cried. And one student said very adamantly, "we are studying about farms! Look at all these books!". "There's 22 of us!", another student called, "We can do it!" Another student posed, "If the farm closes, the people won't get fresh food! It's the only place in Brooklyn to get fresh food! It's the only place in new york city! It's the only place in the whole state!" I had to correct him, but the sentiment was right: Jo Jo's stand was very important to the health of the city. I told them they should really discuss whether or not they would want to take over the farm while I recovered from my sprained ankle. One student expressed concern about being away from home for so long. Indeed, this was a big decision that they should consider carefully. I told Clara to call me once they had made their decision. I said good-bye, as Jo Jo, and expressed my deep gratitude that the 1st graders were so brave and willing.

The next day when I was at home, my cell phone rang and Clara said, "Is Jo Jo there?". She had her cell on speaker phone and the whole class said, "YES!" They had made their decision. The adventure began!