For our final lesson of the year, the second graders enjoyed buttermilk scones with strawberry jam. The wheat, the butter, the lemon, the raisins, and the strawberries were all produced locally and organically by small family farms. As we ate together, we discussed how President Biden sent the U.S. Citizenship Act to Congress on his first day in office on January 20, 2021. The bill, if passed, would require overtime pay, provide immediate eligibility for legal status, and presents a three-year path to citizenship for farmworkers. We looked at a photo of Biden’s Oval Office, where a bronze bust of César Chávez is now prominently displayed amongst photographs of the President’s family. It is heartening to see our government placing the issues farmworkers face front and center.
Several students requested we sing De Colores again when we first did it together a couple of weeks ago, so we broke out the instruments and noisemakers and had another rousing rendition of the farmworkers’ anthem (with Ms. Butler reprising her accompaniment on the box grater). For our closing circle, the second grade chefs could share something they are taking away from this exploration of farmworkers and/or an appreciation. Many students gave a shoutout to the winter salad we ate in week 4 and many also thanked the agricultural laborers who feed us every day.
I had a chance to show everyone the mandarinquat sprouts that have been quietly growing in one of my kitchen cabinets since our first class. They are ready to plant in soil soon and I’m hoping they will continue to thrive in Ms. Reynolds’ and Ms. Butlers’ classrooms when we’re able to return to school. Thank you to the whole grade-level community for helping make this distance learning unit a success. See you in third grade, chefs!
