Farming: Natural Resources (Lesson 2)
Grade Level(s): K, 1-2
By: Sherian Waggoner, 2nd grade teacher

Students identify natural resources, and weather & climate, temperature, and precipitation.

Objectives:

1. TLW understand natural resources do and how they help farmers.
2. TLW understand the difference between weather & climate.

Materials:

Pictures or posters
Rain gauage & thermometer
Dry erase board and markers

Plan:

SET:

ATTENTION GETTER:
Talk about how we would feel if we did not have any water.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT:
Have students discuss how it feels to be thirsty.

RELATE TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE:
Talk about working outside and how they felt when they came inside.

RELATE TO REAL LIFE:
Talk about how good that cold water tasted when you took a big drink.

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURE:

TEACHER:
Ask the students what we have been studing. Review lesson #1.
(Vocabulary Words...Livestock, crop, bar graph)

STUDENT RESPONSE:

TEACHER:
Today we are going to study about farming and how natural resources are used.
(Vocabulary Words... Soil, weather, climate, temperature, thermometer & precipitation)

STUDENT RESPONSE:

TEACHER:
Show the students some pictures with corn on them from different areas. Ask the students what the pictures have in common.

STUDENT RESPONSE:

TEACHER:
In some states that grow alot of cornit is called The Corn Belt.
Does anyone know a state that might be in The Corn Belt?

STUDENT RESPONSE:

TEACHER:
What are some things that influence the amount of corn grown?

STUDENT RESPONSE:

TEACHER:
If soil, weather & climate have an influence. What else might influence the crop? And how can we measure it?

STUDENT RESPONSE:

TEACHER:
What can we use to make a rain guage? (ruler & can)

STUDENT RESPONSE:

TEACHER:
Let review what we have learned.

CLOSURE:
Tomorrow we are giong to learn about a farm raising winter wheat.

INDEPENDENT STUDY:
Vocabulary Words

Comments:

This is the second lesson on the unit of Farming in the United States. It is also a great lesson and fun to do with the students. It can also be modified to meet the needs of all the students from the very intelligent to the mentally challenged.

Related Pages:

Introduction to Farming in the United States (Lesson 1) ( K, 1-2 )
Identify where food comes from, and the four basic food groups.

Farming: Raising Winter Wheat (Lesson 3) ( K, 1-2 )
Students name some uses of wheat, and identify the uses of a line graph.

Farming: Seasons on a Wheat Farm (Lesson 4) ( K, 1-2 )
Students identify the seasons on a wheat farm, and identify the use of a grain elevator.

Farming and the services of a Community (Lesson 5) ( K, 1-2 )
Students identify different types of farms, and different services of a community.