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Some Big Job ideas The following are some of the routine Big Jobs at the Children’s Farm School. I have omitted those specifically relating to a farm, as few programs have this setting. However, planting gardens and having pets for children to care for, either indoors or outdoors, can create opportunities for Big Jobs. I observed a school in Tokyo where children joyfully donned boots and grabbed brooms to clean out the cement duck pond for the two pet ducks. The teachers told me that the children were all eager to be the chosen ones each week to perform this important job. Outdoor Big Jobs digging with shovels in the garden hoeing or chopping weeds in the garden watering new lettuce and seedlings in the garden sweeping the blacktop play area filling up the birdbath using plastic water buckets winding up or moving the hose filling the water table uncovering the sandbox moving animal cages to shady spots moving the work tables or the water table pulling up grass to feed the rabbits wheelbarrowing garden weeds to the compost pile raking mowed lawn clippings for mulch bringing the rabbits inside or out, moving their cages I drive into the barnyard with ten 50-pound bags of feed to unload from the back of the truck. Remembering never to do a job that a child can do, I go into the classroom and ask the teachers if the children need a Big Job this afternoon. Jenny takes the first group out to unload half the bags, put them in the red wagons, and haul them into the barn. When I look outside 20 minutes later, the children are still at work. “Good grief,” I think, “they don’t have to do it all!” When Jenny and the children come inside, Jenny tells me, “That was wonderful. They loved unloading the feed. And I needed to get a few little guys cooperating this afternoon.” Fall Big Jobs pulling up broccoli “trees” to take to the compost pile raking leaves into a big pile to jump into raking leaves to put in wagons and dump in the woods rolling and harvesting gourds and pumpkins, sorting and stacking them in piles using wheelbarrows to take leaves or hay to the garden or woods moving outdoor tables into the storage place together moving a large log to use for a bench Winter Big Jobs shoveling snow to clear paths and patio; building a big mound to play on rolling snowballs to build a playhouse for all to share Spring Big Jobs raking up old hay or leaves rediscovering the sandbox; cleaning it up bringing old rabbit manure down to the garden in wagons turning over the garden, digging for worms setting out the toys on the outdoor play area helping to spread wood chips under the climber cleaning up the rope swing area, taking sticks to a pile digging in the garden planting potatoes, peas, beans  Jared and Rachel approach the crates of toy farm tractors and other toys at the side of the building. They call to a teacher for help. The teacher says, “I’m busy over here helping Jane carry the paints. You can do it together.” “We can’t, we’re too little!” The teacher replies, “Maybe you can find a friend to help you.” Rachel and Jared call to Joey, who comes over and tries to lift the crate. Unsuccessful, he motions for them to join in. Together they lift, tug, and slide the crate down the slope, over the rock edge of the playground, and onto the flat play area. Soon the three are involved in playing together. Their play continues peacefully for more than 20 minutes.                               Planting gardens and having pets for children to care for, either indoors or outdoors, can create opportunities for Big Jobs. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

 

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