All Around the Farm
Young children love farm animals! The bright images and simple sounds capture their attention and stimulate their senses. I The sounds that farm animals make—like a cow’s “moo” or a sheep’s “baa”—are easy for babies to mimic, making it a fun way for them to practice early speech skills. Farm animals are also frequently portrayed in stories, songs, and toys that are designed to be friendly and approachable, creating a comforting and familiar theme for young children.
This deligtful unit is so engaging, a great theme for teaching early concepts and promoting social play experiences. Learning about farms introduces children to where their food comes from, fostering an understanding of the connection between nature and everyday life. It helps develop an appreciation for animals and plants, encouraging empathy and responsibility. Farm-related lessons also enhance vocabulary, math, and science skills through hands-on, sensory-rich activities.
Here are some generic farm learning objectives:
- Students will be able to identify common farm animals (e.g., cow, pig, chicken, sheep).
- Students will recognize the sounds that different farm animals make.
- Students will understand the basic purpose of farms (e.g., to grow crops and raise animals).
- Students will learn about the different types of food that come from farms (e.g., milk from cows, eggs from chickens).
- Students will learn and use farm-related vocabulary (e.g., barn, tractor, field, harvest).
- Students will discuss how farmers take care of animals and why it’s important to be kind to animals.
- Students will explore the growth process of plants, from seed to harvest.
Check out these fun farm lesson ideas:
Introduction
Such a fun unit! The most important thing is to follow the students' lead and share in the joy and delight. Explore together.
For early childhood, show a new farm toy and a variety of animals to play with on the farm. Then ask, "What is this?" "I wonder if there are real farms?" "What does a farm do?", "Have you ever been to a farm?" You can also start by singing "Old MacDonald" with props, and asking similar questions at the end, "Old MacDonald had a farm... farm? What's a farm?"
For older students, consider starting with food. List favorite foods and consider, "Where did the food come from"? Trace it back to core ingredients.
Consider writing students ideas about a farm on chart paper to reveal prior knowledge and misconceptions.
K-W-L is a strategy to list what students K- Know about a topic, W- Want to Know, and at the end of the unit list what they L=Learned.
Vocabulary
Farm Animals: Bring out the farm toys and play animals. Include zoo and farm aniamls. Ask about the animals. What animal is this? Can it live on our farm? Explain that in order to live on the farm the animal must do or make something for the farmer.
- Cow - "Yes!" Why? "He gives the farmer milk and beef." (Place the Cow in the Barn)
- Lion? "No!" Why not? What would happen if a lion lived on the farm? He needs to go to the zoo!
Make sorting mats for students to sort play animals during independent play. Here are full sheet mats or half page sorting mat (depending on the size of the animals.)
Explore different vocabulary from the farm unit. Start simple with farm animals or delve into more complex farm equipment, processes and products.
Play "Farm Bingo" with vocabulary
Play a game of "I Have Who Has". Pass each student a strip of paper. Pick a student to read their strip (with help as needed). "I have a cat - who has chicks". Everyone listens to hear if they say their animal. The one who has "chicks" reads their strip, "I have chicks, who has a cow?" Continue around until it end back at the first person.
Find the farm animals in the scene
Try other farm vocabulary games for more repetition with variety.
Literacy
There are so many delightful books about the farm! Go to the local library and fill the book center with a variety of books about the farm, fiction and non-fiction. During independent reading time, you never know which areas may spark interest and lead lessons in new directions. Some students may love silly farm animal stories, others may show intersts in machinery or foods.
Here are some favorite stories about the farm - click the link for more LessonPix materials related to the story.
- Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington: This story shows an apple farm and how food we eat goes from the farm to the market.
- Chicken's Aren't the Only Ones by Ruth Heller: What animals lay eggs? This rhyming books teaches all about the different animals who lay eggs.
- The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle: This simple repetitive story shows a spider meeting many different animals on the farm.
- The Good Egg by Jory John: Not really a farm story, but a great tangent social skills story about an egg who learns the importance of self-care and balance.
Alphabet Knowledge & Phonological Awareness
Explore letters and letter sounds with these motivating farm animals.
Match the letters and farm animals
Cut these puzzles. Match pieces as you say onset and rime.
Use small letters or magnetic letters to match and spell different farm animals.
Sing alphabet song as you play an alphabet game.
Writing
Write your own farm story.
Write farm animals.
Music
Sing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm". Use Menu, puppets or picture cards to choose the next animal to sing.
Movement
Roll the die or spin a spinner. Then move and imiate the animals. For added fun, use it in a game of charades.
Math
Include farm vocabulary in math activities.
Science
Classification
Sort the animals by attribute.
Match the mamas and their babies.
Fine Motor / Visual Perceptual
Make farm lacing cards for a fine motor center or table top activity.
Print fun farm themed mazes
Evaluation
Have students self-evaluate by showing whether then can do lvel 1, 2, 3 or 4.