'Harvesting' the Web for Farm Resources
Fall is the traditional harvest time. Leaves are falling, pumpkins are ripening, and apples are just waiting to be picked from the trees. With many crops ready to be gathered, it's the perfect time to "farm" the Internet for agricultural resources! Included:
Web sites for students of all ages!
Way too often young people are recognized for the problems that a few
of them cause. Often unrecognized are those youngsters who are making a
positive impact on their schools and communities! One such group of kids
is from Mesa, Arizona. They recently combined their desire to improve their
community with their "growing" knowledge of agriculture. The result was
a garden that supplied homeless shelters with fresh produce, elderly citizens
with fresh flowers, and students with a better understanding of farming.
The leader of the project, J. Joseph Pearl, came up with the idea for the
activity to "teach the kids about organic farming."
The students operate two gardens, one in spring and one in fall, that are located very much
in the city. "All the food goes to local families and the food kitchens
for the homeless," explains Pearl. "There's nothing wasted, and I mean
absolutely nothing."
Growing a garden is a wonderful activity for students,
but it isn't the only way to dig deeper into the agricultural scene. There
are many resources your students may tap into right from a computer. Let's
plow through a few of them together!
DOWN ON THE FARM
Introduce your students to animals that live on a farm with a visit to
Barnyard Buddies. Here they will
meet Gary the Goat, Randy the Rooster, Polly the Pig, and their other friends
who make their home at the Finn Farm. What would these farm animals say
if they could talk? You'll find out! The "Circus Champions" story describes
an adventure these characters shared when they stumbled across an old abandoned
barn. There are character biographies, posters to color, and a "Race to
the Barn" game to print and play. Your students may read letters to the
Barnyard Buddies that were written by other children to find out which
characters were their favorites.
One member of the barnyard crew that your
students will immediately recognize is the tractor, and who knows more
about tractors than John Deere? In the Kids'
Corner of this company's Web site, your students will discover that
farm animals aren't the only characters who can speak -- here the equipment
does the talking! The leader of the mechanical work crew is Johnny Tractor.
When he and his friends discuss who is the most important member of the
group, sparks fly! Read the Johnny
Tractor and His Pals Storybook (alternative link) to learn if the machinery will ever be able to work together again.
Another excellent resource from the John Deere Kids' Corner is an activity book, The
Adventures of Ready Rooster Coloring Book. Safety around farm equipment
is the emphasis in this set of pages that you may print and share with
your class. The book deals with safety issues that include buckling up,
staying away from sharp points, and being careful around farm equipment
and animals. Ready Rooster crows, "Play it safe. Sometimes it's good to
be a chicken." This is especially true when it comes to the dangers on
a farm!
Speaking of farm equipment safety, Dr. Danger of Farm
Safety 4 Just Kids has a lesson for your students on PTO safety. PTO
is "power take off," an area in a tractor where power is transferred to
an additional implement like a mower or spreader. This portion of the device
is particularly dangerous because of its speed and location. Dr. Danger's
lecture explains where to find the PTO and how to avoid problem situations.
In addition to Dr. Danger's page, Farm Safety 4 Just Kids offers farm safety
tips and a quiz that tests your students' agricultural knowledge! There
is more to a farm than equipment, and your class will learn about all of
a farm's occupants at Kids Farm.
This Web site is tailor-made for young students because it contains many
pictures of animals and plants, people and places. The Red Bluff Ranch
of Colorado presents this look at farm animals, wild animals, things that
grow, and equipment on the farm. Keep up with the latest bulletins from
the farm at "What's New." Your students will enjoy the stories of how animals
have been rehabilitated and released through the Wildlife Animal Rehab
Center, including the "tale" of Fudge the baby rabbit.
Put together the
fun of the farm and a famous and lovable character from PBS's "Sesame Street"
program, and you have Elmo
Minds the Farm! In this interactive story for youngsters, Elmo is faced
with a tricky group of animals who mislead him with the sounds that they
make. He's left to try to solve the puzzle with the help of Farmer McDonald's
favorite song. (Can you guess what it is?) You will find it easy to incorporate
this music into an activity with the Web site and a discussion of animals
that may be found on a farm. Have your students add some new verses to
the old song!
FUTURE FARMERS
Not all farmers grow vegetables or raise cows, but they face equally difficult
obstacles in producing their crops. Your students will learn about these
problems when they explore Vineyard
Challenge. This Web site explains the various types of grapes that
are commonly raised and the weather conditions and pest control issues
that their growers deal with. It enables participants to design virtual
vineyards where they manage their crops over time and handle each year's
environmental changes. The goal is to keep making money and preserve the
crops. Some students may diversify, while others will choose to remain
with a single variety, but all will be made more aware of the pitfalls
and rewards of farming as a livelihood.
Vineyard Challenge is just one
Web site that affords visitors the opportunity to be "virtual farmers."
Another is Grown
in Washington. Here students may create new crops and name them by
using "The Amazing Food Factory." Students may also investigate how science
can help farmers find new products to raise and to sell. They can even
engineer bigger, better fruits and vegetables! Read the story of "Raising
Goopagourds" to illustrate the role of science in farming. "My Life as
a Potato" is an adorable story; it demonstrates the process that creates
one of our favorite "American" foods -- French fries!
DOWN-ON-THE-FARM WEB SITES, UP ON THE WEB!
Pork 4 Kids
Students who do their eating in restaurants and their shopping in supermarkets can
be left with the impression that food is delivered, not grown or raised.
This Web site from the National Pork Producers Council bridges the gap
between field and store! Find lots of nutritional information for teachers
and students, especially regarding pigs and pork.
Vrrrooommm-Farming for Kids
At this Web site teachers can learn more about a video series that introduces
concepts of modern agriculture to children. There are two puzzles to download
and share with your class.
GoatWeb: 4 Kids Only
Here you'll find goat jokes and pictures of goats that have been submitted by
children. There is also an excellent "goat parts page" that identifies
all of the body parts of a goat.
Article by Cara Bafile
Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World
Originally published 09/19/2002
Links last updated 09/12/2005
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