Anatomy Lessons

Last week, Cameron's class visited a farm.  They delighted in collecting eggs, holding chicks, bringing water to the ducks and learning about composting.  This was particularly entertaining to me, as we've recently started composting and Cameron is into it big time.  "And you can even compost coffee grounds!" said the farmer, as Cameron turned to raise his eyebrows at me and nod knowingly. 

The highlight, however, was milking the goat.  "Should I bring in a boy goat or a girl goat to milk?" she asked the class.

"A girl goat!" several children chorused.  This got a few of the boys riled up and they began to chant, "BOY! BOY! BOY!"

"Only girl goats can give milk," explained the farmer.  She brought in a goat who appeared to need to milking so badly that I don't know how she could walk.  All the mothers in the audience gave an audible groan of empathy.

The farmer introduced the goat and then asked the children, "How can you tell that this is a girl?"

A little boy waved his hand in the air enthusiastically.  "She has a GIRL name!" he shouted triumphantly.

"Well, let's say you didn't know the goat's name.  Is there another way you could tell?" 

"Oooohhh!" said another child, pointing.  "Because of THOSE!"

"That's right," said the farmer.  "Do you know what those are called?"

"YES!" squealed a boy.  "They're the gutters!"