Evaluate: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FARM
KEY CONCEPTS
• compare and contrast animals
• discuss animal behaviors
• explore the similarities and differences between humans and animals.
SUMMARY
Students work in small groups or individually to create a farm
diorama using the plastic animal set and other props. Students are encouraged
to make up stories about the animals, comment on their similarities and
differences.
MATERIALS NEEDED
Cardboard box, round cardboard container such as an oatmeal container,
construction paper, markers/crayons, clay or playdough for creating creatures
or people, cloth and grass for fields. The diorama is unlimited. Try to
keep it to scale so that students learn the relative sizes of the animals
to each other and to people.
DIRECTIONS
1. Set up a cardboard box and silo (easily made from an oatmeal
container wrapped in construction paper). Place the model farm animals
from the kit at the farm. Add some cardboard people or model people if
you have them to the farm.
2. Students work in smallest groups possible
in terms of classroom management (one-on-one, pairs or 3-5) to create
a story of a Day on the Farm. They might focus on one animal, and compare
and contrast that animal's day with everyone else's day. They might
do an all-farm hourly check, to see what everyone is up to at 7am, 10am,
2pm and 5 pm.
3. Ask the students to verbally describe similarities and differences about
the animals.
4. Group the animals into two categories. Animals can be sorted by:
covering
(feathers versus hair)
number of legs (two versus four)
how they escape
danger (fly versus run)
beaks versus teeth
small versus large
bird
versus mammal
Assess the students' understanding of similarities
and differences. Use the AnecdotalNotes.pdf to
track student success in making categories.
5. The evaluator uses the AnecdotalNotes.pdf to assess the comments and
creative ideas of each student.
RESOURCES
All About Farm Animals by Ann Winterbotham (Doubleday and Company,
Inc. , 1988). 45 pages, with color illustrations. This beautiful book gives
a vivid picture of farm activity. It includes clear explanations of feeding
animals, milking cows and processing the milk, shearing sheep, and other
ways people take care of animals. Many other interesting facts about farm
animals are given. The easy text and expressive illustrations make this
book enjoyable for a wide range of ages.
