| The Farm Unit |
Sneak Peek at the Week:
*We'll publish LOTS of class books, learn about farm animals, crops, and why we need
farms.
*"Roll It and Eat It" Ice Cream: We'll make ice cream using coffee can freezers.
*"Barn-raising": We'll paint our barns this week.
*We'll publish LOTS of class books, learn about farm animals, crops, and why we need
farms.
*"Roll It and Eat It" Ice Cream: We'll make ice cream using coffee can freezers.
*"Barn-raising": We'll paint our barns this week.
Shared Reading:
The Farm by K-Crew Animal
Talk by K-Crew
The Farm by K-Crew Animal
Talk by K-Crew
Focus Poetry:
"Sheep"
"The Tale of a Tail"
"Sheep"
"The Tale of a Tail"
Journal Topics:
*Draw a barn.
*What could you see on a farm?
*Draw your favorite farm animal.
*Draw an animal family (ie, rooster, hen, chick).
*Draw a farmer working on the farm.
*What could you hear on the farm?
*What products do we get from cows/geese/sheep/hens/pigs?
*Draw a barn.
*What could you see on a farm?
*Draw your favorite farm animal.
*Draw an animal family (ie, rooster, hen, chick).
*Draw a farmer working on the farm.
*What could you hear on the farm?
*What products do we get from cows/geese/sheep/hens/pigs?
Center Ideas:
fine motor: perforate pig shape, scribble art rooster
art: painted hen, curled paper sheep
writing: "On the farm, I can see...." "Farmers are good at ....."
fine motor: perforate pig shape, scribble art rooster
art: painted hen, curled paper sheep
writing: "On the farm, I can see...." "Farmers are good at ....."
Literature:
The Grumpy Morning by Darcia Labrosse
Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell
Color Farm by Lois Ehlert
Night Is Coming by W. Nikola-Lisa
Sheep In a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
*After reading this story, we list what we might see on a farm. Students complete a barn
scene using a die-cut barn and farm animal stickers. Then they write about it!
Fiddle-I-Fee by Melissa Sweet
Over in the Meadow
Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
*Of course, we have to act out this story! First with a volunteer performance, then as a
whole class.. "going across the yard (floor), over the haystack (table), through the fence
(chairs)," etc. Each student illustrates his/her own book retelling the story. The text is
taken from the story. Students illustrate, and use "Rosie popsicle stick puppets" to act
out all the prepostional phrases.
Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox
*We used a pull-through story strip copied from Teachers' Mailbox (Sept/Oct '99) . Then the
students retell the story, by pulling the fox strip through the bushes..... "Goodness
gracious me! I can see a nose, two eyes, and two ears in the bushes..." They LOVE this
tale!
Mary Had a Little Lamb photographs by Sarah Josepha Hale
"The Turnip" (MacMillan rebus story)
The Enormous Turnip by Nicola Baxter
*This is a great tale to act out, too! After retelling the story, each student sequences 6
picture cards on a sentence strip.
Come Along, Daisy! by Jane Simmons
A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Plant or Animal?: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Mammals are Animals: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Plants Grow Almost Anywhere: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Food From Plants: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Big Egg by Molly Coxe
Over on the Farm by Christopher Gunson
*Students will complete their own Farm Products book, matching products to their
appropriate animal pages. [Sheep- wool yarn, cow- picture of cheese, pig- picture of
ham, turkey- picture of roasted turkey, goose- feather/down, hen- fried egg (white
squiggly circle shape, kids add yellow dot sticker)]
Two Cool Cows by Toby Speed
Two Tiny Mice by Alan Baker
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim
The Day the Goose Got Loose by Reeve Lindbergh
*As a "book souvenir," students make a goose covered with Kleenex "down".
Don't Forget the Bacon! by Pat Hutchins
Where's My Egg? by Tony Mitton
Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks
*This is a great rhyming book. Students were paired up and asked to come up with 2
objects that rhyme. Students then completed the sentence:
"She hung up (student's name) and his/her (object),"
on a shirt (for boys) or a dress (for girls). The illustrated clothes were hung in rhyming
pairs on a clothesline.
Farm to Market by Joan Wade Cole
The Pig in the Pond by Martin Waddell
It Started as a Seed by Dr. Alden Kelley (CTP)
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble
Anna'a Garden Songs by Mary Q. Steele
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Pigsty by Mark Teague
*We discussed the phrase "pig out" and what it meant. Then we listed what everyone
like to "pig out" on on a pig-shaped chart.
Wheel Away! by Dayle Ann Dodds
Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker
Pigs Aplenty by David McPhail
From Grass to Butter by Ali Mitgutsch
The Milk Makers by Gail Gibbons
*After reading these two books, we discuss all the dairy products we can list... then we
make ice cream!
On the Farm by Richard Scarry
Inside a Barn In the Country by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
*Students complete a barn shaped-book, illustrating/writing on each page:
A ______ lives on a farm and says, "_____."
A ______ lives on a farm and says, "_____."
A ______ lives on a farm and says, "_____."
But, a _____ does NOT live on a farm. It lives in ______ and says, "_____".
All About Farm Animals by Brenda Cook
*Students highlight words (number and color words) and illustrate an "On the Farm"
book. The text is:
I can see one pink pig.
I can see two brown cows.
I can see three black sheep.
I can see four yellow ducks.
All About Seeds by Melvin Berger
"Down On Grandpa's Farm" (chart written from Hap Palmer's song)
*After singing the song, we ask what kind of animals were in the song..... Then we get
specific: What kind of cow? (a big, brown cow) We discuss descriptive words, making a
list of descriptors for each animal. Then students illustrate/write their own page for our
Down On Grandpa's Farm class book. The text is:
Down on Grandpa's farm, there is a ________, ________ (animal).
The (animal) it makes a sound like this, "____, _____."
Old MacDonald Had a Farm (The Wright Group)
*We make an Old MacKindergarten Had a Farm class book. The text is:
Old Mac (student's name) had a farm. E-I-E-I-O! And on that farm there was a (animal). E-I-E-I-O!
The Farm Concert by Joy Cowley
*We read and discuss all the sounds the animals made.... and how the size of the print
affects our volume when reading them. Then we review speech bubbles/quotation
marks and list all the noises all the farm animals could make. Students complete a
folded barn paper. On the front is the text:
I knew it was a (animal) when I heard it say, " _____".
On the inside, the student illustrates the animal, adding its speech in a speech bubble.
Mrs. Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley
Yes, Ma'am by Joy Cowley
The Grumpy Morning by Darcia Labrosse
Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell
Color Farm by Lois Ehlert
Night Is Coming by W. Nikola-Lisa
Sheep In a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
*After reading this story, we list what we might see on a farm. Students complete a barn
scene using a die-cut barn and farm animal stickers. Then they write about it!
Fiddle-I-Fee by Melissa Sweet
Over in the Meadow
Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
*Of course, we have to act out this story! First with a volunteer performance, then as a
whole class.. "going across the yard (floor), over the haystack (table), through the fence
(chairs)," etc. Each student illustrates his/her own book retelling the story. The text is
taken from the story. Students illustrate, and use "Rosie popsicle stick puppets" to act
out all the prepostional phrases.
Hattie and the Fox by Mem Fox
*We used a pull-through story strip copied from Teachers' Mailbox (Sept/Oct '99) . Then the
students retell the story, by pulling the fox strip through the bushes..... "Goodness
gracious me! I can see a nose, two eyes, and two ears in the bushes..." They LOVE this
tale!
Mary Had a Little Lamb photographs by Sarah Josepha Hale
"The Turnip" (MacMillan rebus story)
The Enormous Turnip by Nicola Baxter
*This is a great tale to act out, too! After retelling the story, each student sequences 6
picture cards on a sentence strip.
Come Along, Daisy! by Jane Simmons
A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Plant or Animal?: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Mammals are Animals: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Plants Grow Almost Anywhere: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Food From Plants: Concept Science by Judith Holloway
Big Egg by Molly Coxe
Over on the Farm by Christopher Gunson
*Students will complete their own Farm Products book, matching products to their
appropriate animal pages. [Sheep- wool yarn, cow- picture of cheese, pig- picture of
ham, turkey- picture of roasted turkey, goose- feather/down, hen- fried egg (white
squiggly circle shape, kids add yellow dot sticker)]
Two Cool Cows by Toby Speed
Two Tiny Mice by Alan Baker
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root
Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim
The Day the Goose Got Loose by Reeve Lindbergh
*As a "book souvenir," students make a goose covered with Kleenex "down".
Don't Forget the Bacon! by Pat Hutchins
Where's My Egg? by Tony Mitton
Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks
*This is a great rhyming book. Students were paired up and asked to come up with 2
objects that rhyme. Students then completed the sentence:
"She hung up (student's name) and his/her (object),"
on a shirt (for boys) or a dress (for girls). The illustrated clothes were hung in rhyming
pairs on a clothesline.
Farm to Market by Joan Wade Cole
The Pig in the Pond by Martin Waddell
It Started as a Seed by Dr. Alden Kelley (CTP)
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble
Anna'a Garden Songs by Mary Q. Steele
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Pigsty by Mark Teague
*We discussed the phrase "pig out" and what it meant. Then we listed what everyone
like to "pig out" on on a pig-shaped chart.
Wheel Away! by Dayle Ann Dodds
Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker
Pigs Aplenty by David McPhail
From Grass to Butter by Ali Mitgutsch
The Milk Makers by Gail Gibbons
*After reading these two books, we discuss all the dairy products we can list... then we
make ice cream!
On the Farm by Richard Scarry
Inside a Barn In the Country by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
*Students complete a barn shaped-book, illustrating/writing on each page:
A ______ lives on a farm and says, "_____."
A ______ lives on a farm and says, "_____."
A ______ lives on a farm and says, "_____."
But, a _____ does NOT live on a farm. It lives in ______ and says, "_____".
All About Farm Animals by Brenda Cook
*Students highlight words (number and color words) and illustrate an "On the Farm"
book. The text is:
I can see one pink pig.
I can see two brown cows.
I can see three black sheep.
I can see four yellow ducks.
All About Seeds by Melvin Berger
"Down On Grandpa's Farm" (chart written from Hap Palmer's song)
*After singing the song, we ask what kind of animals were in the song..... Then we get
specific: What kind of cow? (a big, brown cow) We discuss descriptive words, making a
list of descriptors for each animal. Then students illustrate/write their own page for our
Down On Grandpa's Farm class book. The text is:
Down on Grandpa's farm, there is a ________, ________ (animal).
The (animal) it makes a sound like this, "____, _____."
Old MacDonald Had a Farm (The Wright Group)
*We make an Old MacKindergarten Had a Farm class book. The text is:
Old Mac (student's name) had a farm. E-I-E-I-O! And on that farm there was a (animal). E-I-E-I-O!
The Farm Concert by Joy Cowley
*We read and discuss all the sounds the animals made.... and how the size of the print
affects our volume when reading them. Then we review speech bubbles/quotation
marks and list all the noises all the farm animals could make. Students complete a
folded barn paper. On the front is the text:
I knew it was a (animal) when I heard it say, " _____".
On the inside, the student illustrates the animal, adding its speech in a speech bubble.
Mrs. Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley
Yes, Ma'am by Joy Cowley
Math/Graphs:
*After reading Over In the Meadow, students review numerals/sets by completing a 1, 2,
3, 4 flip chart (Picture a page folded length-wise. With the fold at the top, write/type
large numerals 1-4.... out of order. Now, draw a dotted line between the numerals (from
the open edge to the folded edge), dividing the page into 4 sections.).
Students cut on the dotted lines to create 4 little "flip" doors. Under the 1 door, students
draw one farm animal; under the 3 door, three farm animals, etc.
*We like to review shapes, after reading Lois Ehlert's Color Farm. We give each table a
bag full of colored shapes and see what pictures they come up with.
*We graph favorite farm animals and estimate how many plastic farm animals are in a jar.
*After reading Over In the Meadow, students review numerals/sets by completing a 1, 2,
3, 4 flip chart (Picture a page folded length-wise. With the fold at the top, write/type
large numerals 1-4.... out of order. Now, draw a dotted line between the numerals (from
the open edge to the folded edge), dividing the page into 4 sections.).
Students cut on the dotted lines to create 4 little "flip" doors. Under the 1 door, students
draw one farm animal; under the 3 door, three farm animals, etc.
*We like to review shapes, after reading Lois Ehlert's Color Farm. We give each table a
bag full of colored shapes and see what pictures they come up with.
*We graph favorite farm animals and estimate how many plastic farm animals are in a jar.
Science/Social Studies:
We read It Started As a Seed before planting our own seeds (beans). We also observed
the sprouts and roots on a sweet potato placed in water. They were amazed at how fast
they grew!
We examined rooster feathers with magnifying glasses and even observed the changes
an eggshell undergoes when left in vinegar (We place an egg in a glass of vinegar.
They notice the bubbles forming around the shell, the smell of the vinegar, and later how
the shell feels different. After 4 days, the shell is no longer hard, but rubbery. It will even
bounce..... just do so carefully!).
We read It Started As a Seed before planting our own seeds (beans). We also observed
the sprouts and roots on a sweet potato placed in water. They were amazed at how fast
they grew!
We examined rooster feathers with magnifying glasses and even observed the changes
an eggshell undergoes when left in vinegar (We place an egg in a glass of vinegar.
They notice the bubbles forming around the shell, the smell of the vinegar, and later how
the shell feels different. After 4 days, the shell is no longer hard, but rubbery. It will even
bounce..... just do so carefully!).
Links:
Down on the Farm
Fun on the Farm Unit
Farm Unit
Farm Animals
Hattie and the Fox
The Enormous Kinder"Garden"
Farm Theme
Down on the Farm
Fun on the Farm Unit
Farm Unit
Farm Animals
Hattie and the Fox
The Enormous Kinder"Garden"
Farm Theme
