Activity: The Show – How Is Your Food Connected To Farming? -Years 3 & 4

Quick summary: In this lesson, students explore how they are connected to farming and agriculture through the food they eat. Students begin by thinking about all the different types of products farms produce, and then begin exploring their personal connection to these products. Students will then work in groups to explore the ingredients of a sandwich and undertake research to find out which of these ingredients originate from a farm. 

This lesson has been developed in partnership with The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. For over 160 years, The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has been running the Royal Melbourne Show which, like other agricultural shows around the country, works to build the community’s knowledge and understanding of the vital role agriculture plays in our everyday lives. 

This year’s Royal Melbourne Show will be held between Saturday 21st to Tuesday 1st September.

Learning intentions:

• Students understand that we need farms to produce the food that we eat.

21st century skills:

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions: 

Year 3 HASS

• Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (ACHASSI053)
• Interact with others with respect to share points of view (ACHASSI059)

Year 4 HASS

• The importance of environments, including natural vegetation, to animals and people (ACHASSK088)
• Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (ACHASSI074)
• Interact with others with respect to share points of view (ACHASSI080)

Years 3 & 4 Design and Technologies

• Investigate food and fibre production and food technologies used in modern and traditional societies (ACTDEK012)

Syllabus outcomes: GE2-1, GE2-2, GE2-3, ST2-10LW, ST2-11LW.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Relevant parts of Year 3 HASS achievement standards: Students locate and collect information from sources and draw simple conclusions and share their views on an issue.

Relevant parts of Year 4 HASS achievement standards: Students identify the interconnections between people and the environment. They locate and collect information and data from different sources, and share their points of view, respecting the views of others.

Relevant parts of Year 3 & 4 Design and Technologies achievement standards: Students explain how products, services and environments are designed to best meet needs of communities and their environments.

Topic: Consumption.

Unit of work:  The Show – Connections To Farming And Agriculture – Years 3 & 4.

Time required: 60 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion and lead students through activities.

Resources required: Student Worksheets (one copy per student). Mind Map Farming Worksheet (one copy per student). My Sandwich Worksheet (one per student). My Sandwich Worksheet Answers (one copy). Treasure Hunt Sheet (one per student). Optional: What am I Wearing Sheet.

Keywords: The Show, farming, agriculture, food, fibre.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.