Old MacDonald had a farm, and Central Manor Elementary students recently learned the importance of such a farm in today's world when the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau's Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab visited their school.

Each class in kindergarten through sixth grade visited the 32-foot trailer for an informative, hands-on lesson.

Kindergartners learned about the farm-produced resources needed to make pizza with the "Little Red Hen's Pizza" lesson.

First-graders learned about the components of a farm with the "Farm Charm" program. Second-graders participated in "Crawly Critters," a lesson designed to show that not all insects are pests.

Third-graders learned to make "Glue from Milk" and the fourth-graders learned all about soybeans in "The Mighty Smooth Bean."

Fifth-graders saw firsthand just how bacteria and germs hold on to one's hands in the "How Well Do You Wash?" program. Sixth-graders participated in the "Water Analysis" program, which stressed the responsible care of natural resources.

The younger students participated in 30-minute programs and the older students spent an hour in the mobile lab, which is one of three that travel throughout the state. Kathy Flowers, a teacher with the mobile lab, instructed each group and helped the students complete experiments and projects.

During the "Farm Charm" lesson, first-graders defined agriculture and identified plants and animals related to agricultural production.

The students created their own "farm charms," which basically consisted of plastic bags into which they inserted samples of the ingredients vital to farming — soil, water, sunlight, fertilizer, worms, seeds and animals. The charms were turned into necklaces the students could wear.

First-grader Tara Kinser learned that "Plants can grow with water."

Her classmate, Jenna Flatley, was rather impressed with the whole lesson.

"We got to make a farm!" she exclaimed.

Additional information about the Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab is available by calling Tonya Wible, coordinator, at (717) 439-0863 or by emailing her at tdwible@pfb.com.

The lab is designed for grades three through seven, but curriculum is also available for the younger students.