Panchalinga village’s school, located in the Sirsi district of Karnataka, has conducted an innovative activity that is planting a paddy field right in the schoolyard, which blends learning with agriculture on the school campus.
School turned into a farm as kids grew rice for lunch
On planting day, the school turned into a bustling paddy farm. Teachers, with and kids, stepped barefoot into the muddy water and planted seedlings in neat rows. This activity was a planned one as the culmination of around three weeks of preparation. The Kids, with help from their parents, had sown paddy seeds and prepared the nursery beds. Furthermore, Kids learnt about the natural fertiliser made from cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, and soil, and how to apply it to the plants, understanding its role in boosting crop health.
Kids Grew Rice for Lunch and Dinner in an Open-Air Classroom
The activity was more than farming, as Panchalinga teachers in an open-air classroom teach kids about soil, water management, teamwork, and sustainable agriculture. Notably, several of these children come from farming families, but the project ensures they understand the full process, from seed to harvest, in a hands-on way.
The objective of growing rice for lunch
The activity was carried out to grow rice for lunch or dinner, as the rice grown in this field will be used for Annadasoha, a community meal served at the school.
In the era of digitalisation, when many schools are transforming into digital classrooms, Panchalinga’s village School is retaining the traditional skills that still hold a significant place in modern education. The paddy field is not only a source of rice but a living lesson in community, sustainability, and the dignity of labour. When the harvest comes, every grain on the plate will tell a rice for lunch story created by the efforts of kids as well as teachers in the activity with muddy feet, and the joy of learning something new that could not be found in books.