Friday, December 7, 2007

Farmers Market Field Trip








Rachel Hudek
Lesson Plan #5
Fruits and Vegetables
Grade: 3
1. Theme/Title for the day’s lesson with a brief description:
All about the Farmers Market in Winona, MN
The class will be visiting the local farmers market in Winona. They will learn how the Farmers Market is structured and what its purpose is. They will also learn about the history of the Farmers Market in Winona and gain knowledge on its recent production.

2. Materials/resources needed:
Book: “Farmer’s Market” by Marcie Rendon and Cheryl Walsh Bellville, crayons, markers, blank white paper, bus, first aid kit

3. Goals for today’s lesson:
-Students will gain knowledge on locally grown fruits and vegetables.
-Students will understand that the Farmers Market is a vital contribution to the community.

4. Objectives for the day’s lesson:
-Given the trip to the Farmers Market, the student will gain knowledge on the markets history in Winona.
-Given the book, “Farmer’s Market,” the student will receive a brief overview on Farmers Markets.

5. Procedure:
Introduction:
Begin by reading pages 6-11 and 34-39 in the book, “Farmer’s Market.” This book describes the importance of Farmers Markets to local communities and families. It also describes why Farmers Markets sell the fruits and vegetables that they do and how the growing process of the fruits and vegetables works. Allow time for questions and comments. (5 minutes) Next explain to the students that they will be getting their coats on and then loading the bus to go the Farmers Market in downtown Winona. The rules and procedures of the field trip have already been discussed prior to today, so time does not need to be spent on that unless the students have questions or concerns. (3 minutes)

Developmental Procedures:
Once arriving at the Farmers Market, one of the directors will come and greet the students and give a basic overview of the field trip. He/she will explain to the students some of the fruits and vegetables they will be seeing, inform them that they will get to plant their own fruit or vegetable to take home and grow, and that they will also be meeting some of the local farmers. (3 minutes)
The class will be broken into small groups, so the students will get more one on one instruction at each station. At least one chaperone will accompany each group. The groups will tour the different areas of the Farmers Market. These areas include: planting their own fruit/vegetable, talking with local farmers, looking at different fruits and vegetables, tasting different fruits and vegetables, and viewing newspaper clippings and websites that inform others about the Winona Farmers Market. Each station will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. (1 hour and 40 minutes)
Take time to allow the students to ask any final questions they may have about the Farmers Market. Have the students thank everyone at the Farmers Market that was involved in helping with the field trip. The students will then load the bus. (10 minutes)

Closure:
Once the class has arrived back at the school and taken off their coats, have them sit at their desks. Hand out a blank white piece of paper and crayons/markers to each of the students. Instruct them in making a “Thank You” card for the people at the Farmers Market that assisted with the field trip today. Ask them to be as neat as possible, include something they learned from the field trip, and to sign their name on the card. Tell them that they will be mailed to the director of the Farmers Market so he/she knows how much the class appreciated and enjoyed their visit. (20 minutes)

6. Assessments used during the lesson:
Assessments for today’s lesson will be reading the “Thank You” cards to see what each student learned from the field trip. If each student can say that they learned something new from the trip then it was a success.




Guest Speaker: Farmer Jack Hedin

Rachel Hudek
Lesson Plan #3
Fruits and Vegetables
Grade: 3

Title of today’s lesson with a brief description:
Leaning about the life of a farmer
A guest speaker will be coming to class today to talk about his farm that is located in Winona. The produce from his farm can be found at some of the local grocery stores and also at the weekly Farmers Market during the summertime in Winona.

Materials: Computer, Internet, overhead projector, area for produce to be displayed, untensil to cut the fruits and vegetables, plates/napkins


Goals for today’s lesson:
- Students will understand that people make their livings in a variety of ways.
- Students will understand that technology plays a vital role in farming.
- Students will understand that climate and landforms can affect the growth of produce.


Objectives for today’s lesson:
- Given the classroom speaker, the student will gain knowledge on the growth of produce.
- Given the classroom speaker, the student will become aware that things he/she buys at a grocery store can be produced locally.

Procedure:
Introduction:
Begin by having the students brainstorm what they think it would be like to be a farmer. Do they think it would be fun? Hard? Interesting? (2 minutes) Have each student briefly describe why or why not they would want to be a farmer. (6 minutes) They will be asked this question again after the speaker has left.

Developmental Experience:
Before the speaker arrives remind the students that they should be polite and raise their hand quietly if they have a question for the guest. (2 minutes) The speaker has been sent a few ideas about what to discuss with the class, so that the discussion does not go to in depth and also covers the subject matter.

Topics the guest speaker will address: (20 minutes)
Why you chose to begin farming?
Why you picked Winona for your farms location?
How the advancements in technology have helped/hurt the farming community?
How landforms and climate affect the development of crops?
Where are some of the local places you bring your produce?
Some tips for students that may be interested in farming someday and anything else you feel would interest the students to know about you or your farm.
Examples of different fruits and vegetables grown on his farm.
Possible taste test of produce (if time allows).


He will also be showing the students a website that talks about his farm and also shows pictures of the produce and an aerial view of the farm. http://www.featherstonefarm.com/ (8 minutes)

Closure: Thank the speaker for coming in to talk and finish up any last minute questions from the class before he leaves. (2 minutes) Then have the students briefly write a few things about what they learned from the speaker, what they liked/disliked most about his job, if this is a career they would ever consider and any other final thoughts. Remind the students that when it comes to a career choice they can do anything, so if farming is something that interests them they should consider it for a job someday. (5 minutes)

Assessments used during the lesson:
Assessment for today’s lesson will be evaluating what they previously thought about farming compared to what they learned about from the guest speaker. Their prior thoughts are not wrong, but they may now have a new perspective on farming in general.


The land at the Feather Stone Farm

Link to the Feather Stone website:
http://www.featherstonefarm.com/