Circle Time: All Kinds of Farms

1. Read the book, Right This Very Minute by Lisl H. Detlefsen.
2. After reading, review the Vocabulary Development Photo Cards.
   1. Show the cards to the children and say the name of each photo on the card. Encourage the children to repeat the vocabulary words after you.
   2. Ask the children to identify the object or action on the card and describe what it is or does.
   3. Possible prompts:
      • Grain: Some farms grow grains. Grain is a tiny piece of food that grows on plants like wheat, rice, and corn. We use grains to make yummy things like bread, cereal, and pasta. What grains do you like to eat?
      • Fruit: Some farms grow fruit. Fruit is a food that grows on trees or plants. Some examples of fruit are apples, bananas, cherries, strawberries, and grapes. What are some of your favorite fruits?
      • Vegetables: Some farms grow vegetables. Vegetables are healthy foods that come from plants. Some vegetables grow above ground, like lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers, while others grow underground, like carrots, potatoes, and onions. Can you think of any vegetables that are green? Red? Purple?
      • Harvest: Harvest is when farmers pick the food they grew in their fields. Fruits and vegetables like blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, and corn are all harvested in the summer. Fruits and vegetables like apples, pumpkins, and carrots are harvested in the fall when they're ripe and ready to eat. Have you ever harvested your own fruits or vegetables?
      • Livestock: Livestock are animals that are raised on farms for food or other useful things. Some examples of livestock are cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens. Can you think of some food we get from livestock?
      • Weather: Weather is what we call the different kinds of conditions outside, like sunny, rainy, cloudy, or snowy. For farmers, the weather is very important because it helps their plants grow. Why do farmers like sunny weather? Why do farmers like rainy weather?
3. Teach the students the On the Farm song. Here are some tips for teaching preschoolers a new song:
   1. Use Visuals: Use pictures or props to help children understand the lyrics and the tune of the song. You can use hand gestures or actions to make the song more engaging.
   2. Break it Down: Teach the song in small parts, repeating each part until the children are familiar with it. Sing the song slowly and clearly so the children can follow along.
   3. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Encourage the students to sing the song repeatedly until they have memorized the lyrics and the tune. Repetition is key in helping children learn and remember new songs.

Literacy: Crop Letter Match

1. Explain to the students that farmers and ranchers grow or raise many different commodities. Some commodities come from animals, like milk, wool, and meat. Some commodities are crops, like grains, fruits, and vegetables.
2. Tell the students that they will look through the sensory bin to find matching crops and letters.
3. Show the students how to match the letters to the Crop Cards. For example, find the letter "A" and search for a crop that also starts with the letter "A" to make a match. Locate the "almond" crop card.
4. Instruct the students to color the corresponding letter on the Crop Letter Match activity sheet when they find a match.

Math: Counting Crops Interactive Reader

1. Review or introduce what a ten frame is and what it's used for. For example, "A ten frame is a tool that helps us count and understand numbers better." 
2. Show the students a physical ten frame or a picture of one. Explain that a ten frame has two rows with five spaces in each row, making ten total spaces.
3. Have the students practice counting with a ten frame. Give the students a number and invite them to place the same number of counters on the ten frame. Then, count together to reinforce the concept.
4. Distribute the Counting Crops interactive reader and invite the students to complete the booklet. The students may use counters to complete the ten frames, or draw a picture of each crop in the corresponding number of spaces.

Social Studies: Where Does My Burger Come From?

1. Ask the students, "Have you ever taken a bite of a hamburger and wondered where all the ingredients came from?" Explain that in this activity, students will take a closer look at the ingredients on a burger and identify which ingredients are grown by farmers and ranchers in the community.
2. Invite the students to brainstorm different ingredients used to make a burger. With each idea, place the corresponding ingredient on the pocket chart. Talk about where the ingredient comes from. For example, "I love pickles on my burger. Give a thumbs up if you like pickles too. What vegetables do we use to make pickles? (Cucumbers) Who grows cucumbers? (Farmers) Cucumbers are vegetables that are usually grown in a field."
3. Continue with each burger ingredient, making connections to local agriculture when possible.
   • Bun: wheat
   • Patty: meat, usually beef
   • Ketchup: tomatoes
   • Mustard: mustard plant
   • Mayonnaise: oil (canola or soybean) and eggs
   • Cheese: milk, usually from cows
   • Pickles: cucumbers
   • Tomatoes
   • Lettuce
4. Distribute the Build-a-Burger handout. Invite the students to color the different ingredients, then cut them out and glue them onto a paper plate. If they start with a bottom ingredient first (most likely the bottom of the bun), the other ingredients will fit properly on top.