Lesson 2

Sounds of the Farm

Objectives:

• Students understand that animals live in different kinds of environments.
• Students identify the characteristics of animals who live in the farm.
• Students identify the sounds animals of the farm make.

Time Required:

• 3 one-hour sessions

Vocabulary:

• farm
• sound

Materials:

• Old McDonald Song
• Music in the Night by Etta Wilson
• Kid Pix
• Internet
• Farm Animal Word Cards Sheet

Procedures:

• Begin by singing Old McDonald.  Discuss the different sounds of the animals in the song.
• Tell children you will read a story called Music in the Night by Etta Wilson.  When the moon comes up in this story, it marks the beginning of an all night barn yard concert.  Focus on the sounds the farm animals make and discuss story.
• Recall the sounds the animals made on a chart (Make a two-column chart.  One column with the name of the animal and the other column with the sound the animal makes.)  Have students brainstorm other animals that live on the farm and their sounds to add to the list.
• Play a listening game called Pen Pals.   Cut out the word cards from the Farm Animal Word Cards sheet (make enough copies so every student can have a card) and distribute a card to each student.  Tell students not to reveal the name of the animal on their cards.
• Choose spots in your classroom that can serve as make-believe "pens" for the different animals.  (you need the same amount of pens as animals)  Point out to the students where the pens are.  (you can put up a sign with the animals) Now they are ready to play the game.  Explain to students that they must go their "pens" but first they must find their pen pals (other children with the same animal card).  The catch is that they cannot use words to find their pen pals.  Each child must make the sound of the animal on his or her card.  Once all the pen pals are together, they go to their pens.  The game is over when all the animals are in their pens.  (If you do not have a lot of space in your classroom, play the game outside since it is a movement activity.)
• Make a class animal sounds book.  Use Kid Pix and have each student select and illustrate an animal from the chart and draw a speech balloon next to its mouth, and type the sound that the animal makes.  Print student's work and bind the student's pages into a class book. 

Evaluation:

• Students will be evaluated on the illustration of the farm animal with the sound the animal makes they created on Kid Pix.

Extension Activities:

• Students can visit www.kiddyhouse.com/Farm/.  Scroll down and look for the rooster playing a horn and click on the farm animal sounds.  Students can click on the farm animals to hear the sounds they make.

Home Learning:

• Students will use a word processor and write riddles emphasizing the sound the animal they choose makes.  For example I am a big animal.  I give milk.  I say moo-moo.  Who am I?  Students can also add an illustration if they choose.  Have students share their riddles with the class the next day.

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