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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

The HedgerowCurriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care• Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

IntroductionIrish farmers live and work on farms. As well as caring for the animals and crops, the farmer also takes care of the environment. The environment is all the world around us and the farmer looks after the hedges, water, trees and soil.

Lesson Objectives:To make pupils aware that hedgerows exist on Irish farms and to be able to identify them. To be aware that hedgerows have a purpose on the farm.

TeacherGuidelinesIt is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and basic concept of hedgerows before starting the lesson.

Key Words:

hedgerowfieldsflowersseasonovergrownbirds

What are hedgerows? Hedgerows surround and divide up many of the farmer’s fields. They are like little walls on the farm that make sure all the farm animals such as the cows and sheep are living in the right fields.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

What does the hedgerow look like? Hedgerows are big, green bushes with lots of wild flowers growing down low and tall trees up high. When you look closer, you can even spot birds and animals that live inside. Some hedgerows change with the season. During the summer, these hedgerows are big and colourful but in the winter, they can lose their leaves and look very bare.

SuggestedActivities• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 46

• Encourage the pupils to look at the wild flowers hiding in the hedgerow

• Bring in a selection of flowers to class so the pupils can touch and smell them

• Set up your own class hedgerow with real plants, toy animals and birds

• Create a 3-D collage of the hedgerow in an Art lesson

• Read stories and poems about animals and plants that live in the hedgerow

Why does the farmer mind the hedgerow?The farmer makes sure to trim his hedges often because it keeps the countryside looking clean and tidy. It also stops hedgerows becoming overgrown. The farmer is very careful when he trims his hedge so he does not interrupt the birds, their nests or eggs.

Spring Summer Autumn Winter

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know what the hedgerow is and be able to identify one.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

AirandTreesCurriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care• Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

Lesson Objectives:To introduce trees and their different parts. To encourage pupils to appreciate the link between trees and clean air.

TeacherGuidelinesIt is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and basic concept of air and trees before starting the lesson.

Key Words:

trees trunk roots tunnels branches air

Irish trees Trees are all around us. The farmer takes good care of the trees because they make Irish farms and the countryside look beautiful. Did you know that you can tell different trees apart simply by looking at their leaves? You can also tell the age of a tree by counting the rings in its trunk.

LeavesBranches

TrunkRoots

Hazel Alder

Oak Ash

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

SuggestedActivities:• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 47

• Get the pupils to name different plants and animals that live in or near the tree

• Get the pupils to draw a picture of their favourite tree

• Go on a nature walk. Spot and name the different trees you come across

• Encourage the pupils to bring different leaves from their garden into class. Create a collage with all the different leaves for the wall

• Plant a tree in the school garden

• Do leaf rubbings. Get the pupils to place a leaf under a blank piece of paper. When they press hard on the paper and shade over the leaf, the shape will appear

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know what a tree is. They should also know that trees provide us with clean air.

ThedifferentpartsofatreeEvery part of the tree has a different but very important job. Down at the bottom of the tree, you’ll find the roots which keep the tree safely in place. They are like tunnels. Water travels through these tunnels to every part of the tree, even the tip of the highest leaf! The trunk is the hard bit of the tree and it makes sure the tree is standing up straight. Branches come out from the trunk and this is where the leaves grow from. Trees on the Irish farmThe next time you are out in the countryside, take a deep breath. You’ll notice the air all around you is clean and fresh. Trees help keep this air healthy.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

WaterCurriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care• Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

Lesson Objectives:To be aware that water moves in a cycle and to explain what this means. To appreciate the need for clean water on the farm and to be able to distinguish clean water from dirty water.

TeacherGuidelinesIt is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and the basic concept of water before starting the lesson.

Key Words:

watercloudsraindropswatercyclelivesmell

The way water moves Water goes up and down and up, and back down again. Water on the ground (in puddles, rivers and oceans) is heated by the sun and rises up to the sky to form clouds. When it gets cold, water gathers and forms raindrops. These raindrops then fall to the ground and return to the rivers and oceans where the sun can heat the water back up again. This is called the Water Cycle.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

SuggestedActivities:• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 48

• Get pupils to draw a simple diagram of the water cycle, including clouds and rain

• Get the pupils to identify a glass of clean water from a glass of dirty water and discuss the differences between both

• Cows drink 100 litres of water a day! Explain to the class just how much that is (by bringing in a 2 litre bottle of water). Ask them how much water they would drink a day. Learn more about cows on the farm on page 6 and 7 of Dig In! Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside– Module 1

• Invite a local farmer into the classroom and get him to discuss the importance of clean water

Why does the farm need water?All people, plants and animals need water to live. So the farmer has a very important job. He must make sure all the animals can get clean, fresh water whenever they want it. Cows need it to produce healthy milk for us to drink and sheep need it to grow. Even the crops in the field need it so we have fresh and tasty fruit and vegetables to eat.

How clean is your water?The farmer always checks that the water on his farm is clean. Clean water is usually very clear and has no smell or foam. Dirty water can often be dull with a bad smell.

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know about the water cycle and how important clean water is on the farm.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

Soil

Lesson Objectives:To identify healthy soil and to understand its importance in sustaining life. To be aware of the link between healthy soil, healthy crops and animals.

TeacherGuidelinesIt is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and basic concept of soil before starting the lesson.

Curriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care• Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

Key Words:

soil insects animals healthy wheat barley

What is soil? Soil is like a thick brown carpet that covers the ground. It could even be called the ‘carpet of life’ as many insects, worms and even some animals live inside it. Many plants, trees and vegetables also need healthy soil to grow. Whatkeepsthesoilhealthy?The soil needs lots of water to stay healthy so when the rain falls, it holds onto as much water as it can. Like a sponge in a bath, it has lots of tiny little air holes so it can store it all when the weather is dry. Healthy soil means a healthy farmThe farmer makes sure that the soil on his farm is healthy so his grass, wheat, barley, onions, potatoes and other crops will grow. And remember healthy grass is important food for cows, sheep and goats.

Good soil Healthy grass Healthy cow Tasty milk, cheese and meat

Good soil Tasty onions, potatoes and carrots

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

SuggestedActivities:• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 49

• Bring a sample of dry soil and moist, healthy soil into class. Get the pupils to feel both and compare the two

• Get the pupils to examine the moist, healthy soil looking for air holes and insects that live within

• In Art class, make a collage of all the different insects that live in the soil

• Discuss in class the different animals big and small that make their homes in the soil

• Get the class to create an acrostic poem about soil

• Bring a flower pot with holes at the bottom into class. While it is still empty, place it over a sink and fill it with water. The class will clearly see the water pour out the bottom. Then place soil into the pot and fill it with water again. This time, the water does not pour out the bottom as it is being absorbed by the soil

How do you know if soil is healthy?Get some soil and look closely. Healthy soil is a dark brown colour and crumbles easily in your fingers. It’s full of small little holes with lots of earthworms and creepy crawlies living inside. If it’s not too wet or not too dry, then it’s the perfect type of soil for healthy crops, onions, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and brocolli to grow in. (Learn more about Fruit and Vegetables that grow on the farm on page 16 and 17 of Dig In! Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside – Module 1)

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know what soil is and how important healthy soil is for the farmer.