Pierre Van Cortlandt MS Students Experience Goat Visit

From Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School: Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School in Croton-on- Hudson is filled with kids every day, but on May 25, a different kind of “kid” was on campus.

Students from several classes had an opportunity to get up close and personal with visiting goats brought in by AnnMarie Sasso, who raises them for a therapeutic, special needs program in Westchester. Following a presentation by Sasso, students were able to interact with the goats.

During her presentation, Sasso discussed goat anatomy and various uses for goats in the modern world, as well as in ancient civilizations. Students learned about the types of goats and how they can be used as milk goats, pack goats and as companions, much like other domesticated animals.

To connect the presentation to the humanities curriculum, students read an article about pack goats and their role in ancient civilizations. They answered text-related questions, engaged in their own research and prepared questions to ask during the presentation. They also read an Achieve3000 article about goat milk being used to make ice cream. All of this prior work led to wonderful engagement and interest during the unique presentation and goat interactions.

Image Courtesy of Croton Harmon