A Day on the Farm: A Homeschool Lesson On What Farms Are Really Like

Sponsored by Indiana’s Family of Farmers

My five-year-old loves to play a farm simulation game on his tablet. As you advance through the levels of this game, you add a few more elements to your farm. A few more crops, a few more animals, and before you know it you have a collection of livestock that rivals that of Old MacDonald.

This game is just for fun, but it illustrates a common misconception about farms that kids often have (and some adults if we’re being truthful). Songs like “Old MacDonald” and cutesy illustrations of farms presented to kids show farmers that have a few pigs, a few sheep, a few cows, and a few chickens. In reality, career farmers usually focus on one commodity, and that is their livelihood. There isn’t just one type of farm; there are many kinds of farms. The things they do are different, but they are all vital to our economy and our food supply.

Our kids won’t be able to grasp all the nuances of the different types of farms, but they can begin to learn that the Old MacDonald song doesn’t quite get it right. This month’s lesson focuses on educating children about the different types of farms by looking at “A Day on the Farm” through the eyes of several different kinds of farmers. The lessons and activities below are suitable for preschool through 2nd grade, but you might just learn something, too!