Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this lesson, students investigate what animals you might find on a farm. They begin by thinking about what all animals need to survive, and then explore what animals you might find on a farm, working to sort these animals into a range of different categories. Students then think about what farm animals need to survive and how a farm needs to provide all these things. They work independently or in pairs to create a dream farm based on a set of instructions that helps them create a farm where the animals have all the things they need to survive. Students share their dream farms through a gallery walk format.

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 what animals need to survive.
  • Students understand that farmers need to provide animals with food, water and shelter.

21st century skills:

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions: 

Year 3 Science

  • Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things (ACSSU044)
  • Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations (ACSIS060)

Year 4 Science

  • Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive (ACSSU073)
  • Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations (ACSIS071)

Years 3 & 4 Design and Technologies

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

Syllabus outcomes: ST2-4WS, ST2-10LW, ST2-11LW.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.2.

Relevant parts of Year 3 Science achievement standards: Students group living things based on observable features and use diagrams and other representations to communicate their ideas.

Relevant parts of Year 4 Science achievement standards: Students describe relationships that assist the survival of living things and use formal and informal ways to communicate their observations and findings.

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 sorting activity, guide students through design of dream farms.

Resources required: Student Worksheets – one copy per student. A device capable of presenting a video to the class. Paper. Pencils/pens. Farm Animal Recording Sheet. Dream Farm Example.

Keywords: The Show, farming, agriculture, animals, dream farm.

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

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher Preparation

Learning intentions:

  • Students understand what animals need to survive.
  • Students understand that farmers need to provide animals with food, water and shelter.

Success criteria: Students can…

  • … list a range of animals.
  • … illustrate how animals rely on their environment to survive.
  • … participate in group discussions and activities.
  • … create an annotated map.

Teacher content information: For over 160 years, The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has been running the Royal Melbourne Show. Like other agricultural shows around the country, The Royal Melbourne Show aims to build the community's knowledge and understanding of the vital role agriculture plays in everyday life by providing opportunities for the community to experience and connect with a range of different aspects of farming and agriculture.

Visitors to the Show are given the opportunity to get up close to a range of farm animals, to meet the farmers who raise these animals

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: What animals would you most like to have on your dream farm?

Design your dream farm

You now need to imagine that they are a farmer and you are designing your dream farm. You will need to create a map of your dream farm that shows how your farm would look and how all the animals that live on the farm would have access to the things they need to survive such as food, water and shelter.

Your farms should have:

  • Cows – Cows need to live in large fields and have access to water and some shade to keep cool
  • Goats – Goats need a medium sized field and also need to have access to water and some shade
  • Chickens – Chickens can live in a small area, but will need a chook house to live in at night
  • One other animal of your choosing – You will need to research what this animal needs to survive, such as what shelter they need and whether they need a large water source (like a dam)
  • A house for the farmer and good fencing to keep the animals in.

You should annotate your

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