Learning & Thinking Skills in Agriculture.

The generic skills of personal, learning and thinking are essential to success in life, learning and work. We have produced some lessons using our agricultural theme which help to develop these essential skills and also some of the functional skills of English, Maths and ICT.

The lessons could be used as part of a topic on farming or as one off activities which teachers can dip into to complement other subjects.

Because of their self contained nature, providing all the necessary information via video, they could also be used as cover lessons when the teacher is unavailable. We have made these lessons freely available too so everyone can enjoy and use them ....

For more details see Curriculum links below

These lessons are suitable for use at KS 1, 2 + 3 - see teachers notes below

List of lessons.

Farmers v Bugs

This lesson features videos which show how the following are produced on the farm:

Wheat - Flour
Potatoes
Milk
Lamb Chops

The lesson can take various formats but essentially evolves around a card game in which the players have to collect a set of cards for each of the above products before the other players and also before some players collect a set of Bugs cards which show some common factors which can affect the production of the above products e.g. pest disease etc. It is rather similar to the old 'Happy Families' card game. It can be played with a downloaded set of cards in a single lesson or the pupils can make their own cards of several lessons.

National Curriculum Reference

Teachers Notes:

These activities have been designed to be suitable for use at KS 1, 2 + 3....

The differentiation of these ideas for a particular group will come from:

the amount of input the teachers gives during the running of the activities by use of Q & A for example.
the outcome which is expected from the pupils at the end of the lesson

Our expectation is that pupils will achieve our vision "for all the school children in the UK to have a basic knowledge of where their food comes from and how it is produced from an early age" over the period of their education at KS 1-3 and not in a single episode, knowledge gained in such a way is far more deep rooted and better understood.

Knowledge, skills and understanding:

Learning and Thinking Skills.

The activities included in this section are designed to encourage pupils to think more carefully about how their food is produced and where it comes from.

They will help pupils to acquire and develop their Personal Learning and Thinking Skills, allowing them to become:

team workers
self managers
independent enquirers
reflective learners
creative thinkers
effective participators

By engaging in these activities pupils will be encouraged to join in and form their won opinions. In doing so they will need to:

listen to the opionions of others
change thier views in light of further information
work together in pairs or groups
develop individual work
suggest possible solutions
create new designs
evaluate their work