Up To My Elbows...

... in chicken guts.

I know, all I blog about lately is school.  But I really like school.  I usually end the day thinking, I can't believe they are paying me to do this.

But they are.  And as long as they continue to do so, you will continue to hear about school.

We started a poultry unit in my Creative Foods class.  I enjoy nothing less than poultry.  Seriously, chicken sicks me out.  So this will be a short unit. 

I haven't been an official educator for long, but I've come up with what I think is a pretty solid theory on student learning.  They say that kids only retain like 2% of what you say.  I believe that percentage goes way up when I gross them out.  So I try to make them squirm as often as possible. 

Today we were all squirming. 

Today this vegetarian FACS teacher demonstrated cutting up a whole chicken.  It was quite possibly the most successful day of the semester.  Seriously.

I introduced them to their chicken.  I let them name her.  Then we had her do a little dance. 

They named this gal Betsy.  She's an awesome dancer.

Next we reviewed the giblets.  What are they?  Where do we find them?

Then I stuck my hand inside the bird and pulled out her neck, heart, lungs, liver, and gizzard.

Freaking out the kids.

Violating Betsy.

Grossing myself out.

After we got all the giblety bits out, we reviewed the different parts and then chopped them off.

Julia Child ain't got nothing on me.

I got really graphic and over-exaggerated the breaking of bones and snapping of joints.  The kids were horrified and enthralled.  They kept quieting each other down so they could hear the cracking and crunching of poor Betsy's bones.

Betsy has wings but she can't fly.

Now let's get her legs!

Betsy will never run again.  Not that she ever did.

And next, I'll separate Betsy's thigh from her drumstick.

Craaaaaaaaaaaack.

At one point, there was complete silence and a girl said, totally serious, "This is the best cooking class ever."

Obviously I agree.

Any questions?

The best was removing the back, digging out the breast bone, and slicing the breast in two.  Or really, it was just fun saying the word breast in front of seventh graders and trying to keep a straight face.  It was really hard during 3rd hour when I had one kid say "Giggity" every time I said breast.  Seriously.

Giggity.

So Betsy and her friends were sufficiently deconstructed, the kids were thoroughly grossed out, and after doing this repeatedly today, I am an expert at chicken guts. 

And in case you're wondering, I am more dedicated than ever to not eating animals.  I'm pretty sure I converted several kids today too.  "I will never eat chicken again" was a common theme.

Happy Chicken Day!