Lesson Plan #: AELP-AGR0200

A Day on the Farm

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Melissa Maust
Email: neve_73@hotmail.com
School/University/Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Date: January 23, 2001

Grade Level: 1

Subject(s):

Duration: 45 minutes

Description: Students will learn about the importance of farming and the responsibilities that a farmer has. Students will plant bean seeds and monitor the growth of their plants for six weeks.

Goals: Students will be able to explain how a farmer's job is different from that of a businessman. 

Objectives:

  1. Students will be able to discuss different farm animals.
  2. Students will be able to compare and contrast the work a businessman does and the work a farmer does.
  3. Students will be able to discuss what is needed for crops to grow.
  4. Students will name farm products that can be found at the grocery store.
Affective Objectives:
  1. The students will discuss what animals they would like to see if they were able to visit a farm.
  2. The students will discuss what farm grown foods they like most and why.
Psychomotor Objective:
  1. Each student will plant a bean seed and monitor its growth for six weeks.

Materials:

Vocabulary:

  1. farmer - Someone who raises animals and plants crops.
  2. farm - A farm is where a farmer raises his/her animals and plants crops.
  3. soil - Soil is like dirt. Crops need soil to grow.
Procedure:  
Ask students what they know about farms and the job of a farmer. Explain that farmers do more than take care of animals. They must also plant food and help produce dairy products that we drink and eat. Read the story, Down on the Funny Farm. [This book is about all of the animals you usually see on a farm. One day the farmer goes out to start his daily chores only to discover that all of the animals are acting differently. The cow is acting like a chicken, and the horse is on the roof acting like a rooster. The farmer has to get everything back in order.]

After reading the story, discuss the events that took place in the book. Ask students to share their comments. Discuss the differences between the jobs of a businessman and a farmer. Ask, "What does a farmer wear to work? What does a businessman wear to work? What is a farmer's main job? What are some things a businessman does?"

Inform students that they will get a chance to be "farmers" by planting bean seeds. Give each student a styrofoam cup and a bean seed to plant. Over the next six weeks, students will keep a daily journal to record information about their plants (how high the plant has grown, illustrations of what the plant looks like, etc.) Students can take turns watering and measuring the plants. After six weeks, students can take the plants home.

Assessment: Ask students to draw a picture of a farm, using any art materials that they wish. Students will write a short story about a day on their farm.

Useful Internet Site:
* Welcome to Farm School
http://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/
Learn about family farming, where food comes from, the history of farming, and much more.