Children learn food groups from giant pizza party

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Tyler Todd (left) and Josh Hodges (right), along with other fourth graders from Adams Elementary school in Cleburne, enjoy pizza, milk and ice cream at Pizza Ranch in Cleburne. Pizza Ranch invites fourth graders from across Johnson County to learn about where the ingredients from pizza come from, and introduces them to the agricultural aspects of food. -- Photo by Mindy Poehl

Oct. 28, 2004 - With 700 fourth graders gathered at the same event, something must be interesting to keep their attention. Pizza definitely got the kid's attention at the sixth annual Pizza Ranch, Oct. 21.

Held at the Johnson County Sheriff's Posse Grounds in Cleburne, fourth graders across the county were able to learn about one of their favorite foods- Pizza.

"The purpose is to show kids where pizza comes from," Cole Criswell, Johnson County agricultural Extension agent, said. "Each session teaches them about different parts of the pizza. . . beef, pork, wheat, dairy and vegetables."

The students from each school were divided into groups, and each group moved to different stations, learning about each section of a pizza. Two hundred local high school FFA chapters and the county's 4-H clubs volunteered at the event.

"The kids will learn about the importance of agriculture through one of their favorite foods," said Garry Branham, Johnsonn County Extension agent and event coordinator. "They are at the age where they want to learn and they are interested in things like this."

A wheat station was set up in which children were told how wheat is harvested and turned into the pizza crust. Plastic bags of pizza crust dough and wheat were available for the students to touch. At the dairy station, one mama cow and two baby cows were available for the kids to watch and pet as they learned how the cows are milked and the milk is turned into cheese. A table with vegetables and herbs was set up to demonstrate how they are harvested. And, a beef and pork station was set up with a cow and a pig to let the kids know where their favorite toppings originate.

Volunteers passed out samples of cheese, wheat crackers, pepperoni and salami, to give kids a taste of what each station represented. Following their learning experiences, kids filled up on pizza, ice cream and milk.

While enjoying their pizza, fourth graders from Adams Elementary School of Cleburne, spoke about what they learned.

" We learned about wheat and pork and beef and cheese," said Josh Hodges, while Tyler Todd added, "and we learned how pizzas are made from those things."

"I learned how to make a pizza," Chelsey Clark said. "You use flour, tomato sauce, cheese and wheat and toppings, like pepperoni."

"I learned about cows and that dairy cows can weigh 1,200 pounds," said Sierra Anderson.

Dana Martinez probably summarized the reason why the fourth graders were so interested in learning at the event. "I love pizza!"