The Children's Farm

Thank you for your interest in a field trip to The Children’s Farm. To enhance your trip and maximize the learning potential, we have put together some questions and activities for your use before and after your trip. These can be copied and pasted into a word processing program for you to use as you see fit. Also, if you have other questions and/or activities that accompany your trip to The Children’s Farm, and are willing to share them with other educators Happy Farming!

Introduction to the Farm (for use before field trip)

Each small group (15-20 students) will have it’s own tour guide

When you arrive, the tour guide will introduce him/herself, and explain the rules of the farm.

Please do not climb on the fences – if too many people climb on them, they may break.

Please do not feed the animals – some of our animals are not very smart, and they might mistake your finger for a tasty carrot.

Please do not pet the animals around their mouths (per above) – you may pet them on their heads, necks, backs and sides.

Sometimes many children may be at the farm at the same time. Be sure to stay with your tour guide so you get to see everything!

Make sure to have lots of fun! This is very important!

Your tour guide will tell you about each of the animals. When he/she is done, please ask any questions you may have. You will then be invited into the pen for an up-close look and feel of the animals.

Questions to discuss before you visit the farm.

What animals do you think you might see at the farm? (Chickens, pigs, rabbits, goats, sheep, cows, horses, ponies, a donkey, cats, a dog)

How do humans use each of the farm animals?

Chickens (Eggs, Meat, Feathers)

Pigs (Meat, Skin)

Goats (Milk, Meat)

Cows (Milk, Meat)

Sheep (Wool, Meat)

Ponies (Rides)

Donkey (Rides)

Horses (Rides, Work – pulling buggy)

Rabbits (Meat, Fur)

Cats (catch mice)

What kind of skin covering does each of the animals have?

Chickens (Feathers)

Pigs (Hair - coarse)

Goats (Hair - soft)

Cows (Hair - soft)

Sheep (Wool)

Ponies (Hair - soft)

Donkey (Hair - soft)

Horses (Hair - soft)

Rabbits (Fur - soft)

What do the different animals eat?

Chickens Chicken mash (ground corn, oats, wheat)

Pigs – corn

Goats – oats & hay

Cows – corn, oats & hay

Sheep – oats & hay

Ponies - oats & hay

Donkey - oats & hay

Horses - oats & hay

Rabbits – rabbit pellets (ground hay & grains)

Who takes care of the animals?

The farmer takes care of the animals.

Where does the farmer get hay to feed the animals?

Hay grows in a field – like grass – the farmer cuts it, lets it dry, and puts into bundles called bales for storage in the barn.

Where does the farmer get corn and oats to feed the animals?

Corn and oats are plants that grow in the field.

After your visit to the farm:

Review above questions, reinforcing information learned on your visit.

Have students complete the following story, using information they learned at the farm:

We went on a field trip to The Children’s Farm. We saw a _________, who was covered with wool. She was eating ___________. The horses were in the corral. They are used for ____________. The horses live in a big red ___________. In the chicken coop, we saw where the chickens lay their ______________. We went in the pigpen. Pigs eat ____________. We saw a big ____________, who gives us milk. Our tour guide let us pet the rabbits. Their _____________ is very soft. My favorite animal was the ______________. We had lots of fun.

Some activities to reinforce concepts learned at the farm.

Have a few students show the contents of their lunch (or bring in your “lunch”, with selected foods). Have the class identify from where the different foods came.

                        Ex.       Ham sandwich – ham from pigs

                                    Bread from wheat

                                    Egg salad sandwich – eggs from chickens

                                    Chocolate candy bar – coca plant

Have students find pictures from magazines of various things we get from animals Students can use these pictures to make collages (small, individual, or large collages in groups).

Ex.       From cows: pictures of families eating dinner, “beef” adds from magazines, people wearing leather clothing, shoes, purses, etc.

From chickens, ducks: pictures of people eating eggs with breakfast, pictures of feather pillows, down comforters, fried chicken, etc.

Have students find pictures from magazines of various things we get from animals Students can use these pictures to make collages (small, individual, or large collages in groups).

Ex.       From cows: pictures of families eating dinner, “beef” adds from magazines, people wearing leather clothing, shoes, purses, etc.

From chickens, ducks: pictures of people eating eggs with breakfast, pictures of feather pillows, down comforters, fried chicken, etc.

Call (708) 361-3650 for more detailed information.

Back to Children's Farm

The Center
Community Center Foundation
12700 Southwest Highway * Palos Park, IL 60464
(708) 361-3650
email centerpalospark@sbcglobal.net