How Farm Animals Help Us

Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm
National Capital Parks East
6411 Oxon Hill Road
Oxon Hill, MD 20745
(301) 839-1176

Instructional Unit:
This field trip will introduce and reinforce the students' understanding of farm animals.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade 1
Science, Social Studies

Objectives:
The student will be able to:
1. Tell how two different farm animals help us.
2. Describe in at least three steps how lamb's wool becomes cloth.
3. Write four facts about a favorite farm animal.

Pre-Visit Activities:
1. Several books about farms will be read to the class:

A Farm by Aurelius Battaglia
On the Farm by Richard Scarry
The Animals of Farmer Jones by Leah Gale
Pelle's New Suit by Elsa Beskow

2. Each child will construct a book about different types of cloth (wool, cotton, etc...). A fabric swatch will accompany the explanation of each material.

On-Site Activities:
Each parent guide will be responsible for 4 children. Each guide will have a map highlighting the different areas of the farm his/her group should visit. Each guide will also have a copy of the animal fact book provided by the farm. The fact books will be sent home several days before the field trip so the guides may become familiar with the information. Each guide will also get a list of questions they might ask their group.
For example: How are goats and sheep alike? How are they different?
Pertinent information about the animals and farm will be shared with the children by their guide.
At 10:30 all groups will meet at the barn to help milk the cow.
At 11:30 all groups will meet at the sheep pasture to watch the sheep gets its annual haircut. By encouraging the group to disperse it will be easier for the guides to keep track of their children. It will also be a calmer, quieter atmosphere which will facilitate discussion and sharing of information about the farm by all of the children. The small group design will encourage the warmth and closeness of a family outing. The children will also be able to see the animals better.

Follow-Up Activities:
1. Each student will make a clue box about a farm animal and share it with the class. For example: I have four legs. I often have twins. Some people like my milk. I will eat anything. What am I? A Goat!
2. Each child will draw and label a flow chart showing how wool becomes cloth.
3. Each child will write a story about a favorite farm animal. The stories will be put together to make a class book.

Appendices:
None

Bibliography:
None

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