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Field Trip Combines Learning and Fun

8th graders Kaia Salverda, Zoe Fowler, Kate MacArthur, and Hannah Boden prepare food at Green Plate Special

Above (front left-to-right): 8th graders Kaia Salverda, Zoe Fowler, Kate MacArthur, and Hannah Boden prepare food at Green Plate Special.

On Friday, March 17, 8th grade students visited Green Plate Special and the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. Green Plate Special is a local urban farm focused on sustainable farming and education. One of their main goals is to inspire and empower youth to experience food in new ways through gardening, cooking, and eating together. During our field trip, the crew at Green Plate walked our 8th graders through their farm where they showed us their new chicken coup, green leafy vegetable beds, and mini-greenhouse. In addition to learning about the different pieces of the farm, the students also received a mini lesson in proper cooking techniques as they made their own meal of Soba noodles!

 
 
To complement a great experience at Green Plate, the students were introduced to the exciting world of Bioengineering at the UW. BioE is on the forefront of cutting-edge medicinal research, uniting the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, The students began their experience with a paper and pencil design activity that introduced the field and then asked them to use their new-found knowledge to think of ways to deal with the Zika virus. The students were then free to rotate through various stations with hands-on activities, including a strawberry DNA extraction, introduction to ultrasound, new-age toys for individuals with disabilities, and material that is currently under investigation for prosthetics.
 
All in all, the day was filled with a diverse array of experiences that were both educational and fun!