Each year, Lampeter-Strasburg High School invites students from Hans Herr Elementary School to attend the Holiday Workshop, where they participate in hands-on learning activities coordinated by the high-schoolers. On Dec. 1 and 2, over 200 third-grade students attended the 26th annual Holiday Workshop.

The workshop was divided into four stations, each hosted in a different classroom. In the wood technology classroom, students learned how an assembly line functions and used one to produce a gumball machine. When they visited the graphics lab, the third-graders designed a cover for an activity book, utilizing tools commonly employed by the desktop publishing industry. In the design engineering classroom, participants learned about architectural drawing and constructed a graham cracker house. In the agricultural room, the children learned about the agriculture industry and the process of farming soybeans that are used to manufacture products.

The soybean science station was operated by members of the Garden Spot FFA, and the lesson was designed by 11th-grade FFA member Sydney Albright. "The overall goal was to introduce the third-graders to the world of agriculture," said Albright. "We wanted to teach them about something relevant, so we decided to pick soybeans. The United States is the second-largest exporter of soybeans in the world."

At the FFA students' station, youngsters first learned about the daily activities of a soybean farm, how the plants are cultivated, what nutrients they need and how the produce is harvested. The third-graders then used materials derived from soybeans to create candles, crayons, hand lotion and lip balm. "The kids loved it; they loved learning about the science involved and getting to participate in something that was hands-on," said Albright. "It was really cool to see them put it all together and learn something."

Albright has been a member of FFA since her freshman year of high school and was selected to assemble the lesson because of her interest in pursuing a career as an agricultural educator. The high school FFA students often mentor the Junior FFA members at Martin Meylin Middle School, but Albright said that participating in the holiday workshop gives the high-schoolers a fresh perspective. "(Students) that help run the station at the Holiday Workshop get to see the perspective of their teachers and what they normally do," said Albright. "I'd love to help with the lesson again next year."