mfarm

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The FarmFrom Stormie:
Although I'm posting additional ideas below as often as I can, I have reserved my very favorite "farm and farm animals" activities for my "ANIMALS" booklet (see "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers").

Ideas for focusing on the farm activity of gardening:
Large Motor: Hoe and Rake Patterns: In advance, smooth out the surface of the sand in the sandbox. Allow children to experiment with a child-sized hoe and rake: How many ways can you make patterns in the sand? (They can move the tools forming a straight row, or with a wavy move, zig-zag move, etc. They can also use the corner of the hoe as well as the straight edge to make rows.
Extension: Allow children to place the tools in paint then make patterns on strips of butcher paper.

Math Center Free Choice Activity: Seed Matching: In advance, cut out lots of vegetable shapes (cucumber, tomato, radish, etc.) from construction paper and place them in a pile. Buy packages of vegetable seeds. Place all the seeds in individual containers with the corresponding empty package attached to the top of the containers. Children who come to the Math Center pick out paper shapes from the pre-cut pile then glue the appropriate seeds onto the cutouts.

On the Farm: (Creativity Within the Limits of a Theme): After discussing "the farm," provide a barn cutout for each child to glue on paper. Instruct them to finish their "farm" pictures any way they wish using provided collage and drawing materials. Observe and encourage as they work. You might ask, "What animals live on a farm?" "What tools/machines does a farmer need?" "What could farmers grow in their gardens?" Have the children tell you about their completed pictures. Print their exact words on their papers.

Farm Animal Activity:
Tails: Buy two copies of a "farm animal" children's book from a dollar store. Cut out all the tails. Glue them to index cards and laminate them. Children can match the tails and name the animals the tails belong to.
Variation: Do the same with ears, legs, and/or noses.

New Fun With Old Rhymes:

JONATHANby Rose FylemanJonathan Gee went out with his cow;He climbed up a tree and sat on a bough.He sat on a bough and broke it in half,And John's old cow did nothing but laugh.I love this silly little rhyme just because it is silly -- the thought of a cow laughing. It simply lets children enjoy words for their own sake. After reading the poem to them, repeat the second line and see if they can figure out what a "bough" is. Discuss the words that rhyme.

Here's a great song from Donna Coffey in Nancy, Kentucky:

Time to Milk Old Daisy(Tune: "Skip to My Lou My Darling")written by Donna Coffey Time to put our boots on, time to put our boots on, time to put our boots onTime to milk "Old Daisy"(pretend to put boots on)Get our bucket and get our stool, get our bucket and get our stool, get our bucket and get our stoolTime to milk "Old Daisy"(pretend to get a bucket and sit on a stool)Get the udder then squeeze and pull, get the udder then squeeze and pull, get the udder then squeeze and pullNow you're milking "Old Daisy"(pretend to milk a cow)Listen to the milk go swhoosh-swhoosh-swhoosh, listen to the milk go swhoosh-swhoosh-swhoosh, listen to the milk go swhoosh-swhoosh-swhooshNow you've milked "Old Daisy!"(put hand up to ear & listen)Note from Donna: I put milk in a rubber glove and let the children milk the cow as we sing. This is also a good project to do during "June Dairy Week."

What a great sensory experience idea from R. Stratton:
Sheering Sheep: Children brush or fingerpaint a half-and-half mixture of shaving cream and Elmer's Glue onto a sheep shape then "sheer" the sheep with craft sticks.

From Stephanie Joseph, Marietta, Georgia:
Homemade Butter: Stormie, my favorite "Farm" activity is making homemade butter. We pour whipping cream into small jars about 1/2 full. The children take turns shaking the jars (it takes a while and ususally the adults need to take some turns too). Soon the fat and the liquid start to separate, but keep shaking. The "butter" finally forms a clump in the jar. Drain off the liquid, add a pinch of salt, and then spread it onto bread or crackers.

From Monica Burton:
Rake Art: Children can learn about rake patterns in the art area too: Place drops of paint on smooth, shiny painting paper (sometimes called fingerpaint paper) and let them "rake" through it with plastic forks. It creates some interesting patterns and swirls and since the "rake" is small it is good for fine motor development.

Favorite Books:
Donna King, Roxboro, North Carolina says:
This farm storybook The Year At Maple Hill Farm, Written and Illustrated by Alice and Martin Provenson, has many wonderful pictures and is very informative about life on a farm as it takes you through one whole year.

From Stormie:
Pig, Horse, or Cow, Don't Wake Me Now, by Arlene Alda: It's morning and all the farm animals are waking up. This book has absolutely adorable photographs of farm animals.
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