Introduction

Every day you are a consumer of the products from farms across Kansas and the world. It is important for you to learn about these products and how they are produced in order to better understand your world. If you eat, you *are* involved in agriculture!

The Quest

How do farm animals effect our daily lives?

The Process and Resources

We all know the song “Old MacDonald Had A Farm”. Old Mac Donald has to reconsider his farming practices. He has to decide which animals to keep on his farm.

Each one of you will be on a team to investigate an animal on the farm. With your teammates, you need to build a case for your animal. Tell us all about your animal, being sure to make an interesting and complete case to include that animal on the farm.

You can present your case with a chart, talks, a skit, or other creative ideas. You will then write a short letter telling Miss Schwemmer what you have learned.
You also need to work as a team! As my Daddy would say, “There is no such thing as a lazy farmer!”

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Visit the general websites to get an overall view of farm life.

Visit the websites for your animal.

In order to build a case for your animal, you need to tell us all about them so we are knowledgeable voters. Pretend you are that animal!!

• Farm Video 1 - This is where you need to begin. You will see real farmers doing real things on the farm such as nutritionist, veterinarian, daily care giver and businessman. Watch it several times until you feel like you are there!
• Farm Sounds - Farm sounds of all the different animals!
• Real Farm Videos 2 - This site has many videos for each animal. A good site to visit to learn about all kind of farms.
• Fun Farm Pages Farm 1 - Enjoy these fun farm pages!
• Farm Pictures Farm 2 - Nice pictures of beef and crops.
• Build a farm Farm 3 - Build your own farm
• Kids Links 1 - all kinds of kid’s links awesome
• Farms 4 - go to kids korner
• Farm Animals Farm 5 - Go to the fair fun and click on the animal tent to find good information on goats, lambs, sheep, rataties, ponies, llamas, reindeer, turkeys, pigs, chicks, and bunnies
• Kansas farm Life Farm 6 - good look into farm life in Kansas
• History of Farm Life History 1 - farm from 20’s Nebraska
• Farming in the past History 2 - wheat thresdhing corn harvesting ice harvesting sheep shearing
• Farm life History History 3 - historical farm materials good site
• History of farm Life in Iowa History 4 - http://www.lhf.org/ Iowa
• Farm Activities Farm 7 - good ideas for activities

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

Before you begin the Webquest, your teacher will spend some time brainstorming with you as you write down what you think certain animal produce.

Each committee whould use a KWL chart before you start. When you finish, be sure to add what you learned!

Before you start, the class could do one animal as a class so they have a good model. It helps to have them see that thinking needs to occur, not just getting facts; however, facts are also important!

o It might help to put information on post-it notes to help organize final reports. It is also helpful to use a different color for each topic for example, blue for shelter, pink for food, etc.

Be sure to identify the site where you got your information. This is made easier for you since I have numbered the sites like Beef 1 or Pigs 3. When you get information from a site you just need to be sure you write down the number of the site. This will help you go back and check information or find where you can get more information. It will also help you keep track of your sources

o This webquest can be used at various levels with different expectations for the final product. First Graders could quest with a partner. I have marked sites where you might need a reader. Even middle school and high school students could do this quest by including more difficult materials. They could also make a presentation to younger students!

o This would also be a good webquest to do with an older student on each team.

o You can extend the thinking for this project by comparing and contrasting the needs and products of each animal.

o You can also compare the farms of today which tend to be more specialized to the general family farms of yesteryear.

o Go to the other pages of this webquest for information about the different animals, historical farms and teacher resources.

Cattle

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Cattle:

Your committee will be studying either dairy animals (Milk Cows) or beef animals but not both.

1. What are the names of the different members of the cattle family? Mom? Dad? Daughter? Baby? Any other groups?

2. What do cattle eat and how does this fits into the food cycle?

3. Where do cattle live? Do they need shelter? How does the weather affect them? Do they live in different places during different stages of their lives?

4. Are some of them being raised to provide food for others or do they provide a service or a renewable product like milk?

5. Tell us about their past. How has life changed for them in the last 50 years?

6. What other products that are provided by that animal group? Why are they important?

• Beef 1 - Be sure to listen to all the videos. You can also find terms here.
• Beef Animals Beef 2 - Very nice pictures. Easy to read information
• Beef Production 3 Beef 3 - Be sure to go to Beef Production in Virginia. Go to each stage. Click on the cow and then use the arrows.
• Cows and Us by 4-Her's in Colorado Beef 4 - Be sure to read the cow facts! Very interesting!
• Hamburgers From Cows Beef 5 - How many hamburgers can you get from one cow?
• Interesting Beef facts Beef 6 - Can you imagine 40,000 jaw movements per day? 3rd and above for history but facts arre easier to read
• More Byproducts Beef 7 - Good information. Easy to read.
• Beef Cattle Beef 8 - Those under 3rd grade may need someone to read this with them. Very good information
• How are cows special Beef 9 - Good information. Easy to read.
• Beef Links Beef 10 - Links to several different universities. The first one, Oklahoma State University, is very good and of medium difficulty to read.
• Unusual Cows Beef 11 - Kansas producers of unusual animals
• Milk Cows 1 - Look for products on this page. What animal produces most of the milk in the USA?
• Crops on a Dairy Farm Milk Cows 2 - Crops grown on a dairy farm video. Look at the terms
• Grass Eating Cows Milk Cows 3 - Very interesting and well done site. 2nd grade and below may need some help reading. A good site for factual information to build your case How is a cow able to take grass, digest it and produce milk and meat?
• Milking Parlors Milk Cows 4 - Lots of information How often are cows milked? How much water is needed per day? Do you know why? Why do they mark a cow that has just given birth? How does the first milk after birth compare to later milk? Why?
• Good Milk Information Milk Cows 5 - Be sure to take the virtual tour of milk. Also look at the questions and answers. This is a good place to practice note taking skills because you have the questions to help guide you in what is important. Interesting facts about your animal make the animal more interesting!
• Glasses of milk per day! Milk Cows 6 - How many glasses of milk does a cow produce in a day? Easy to read site
• Milk Info Milk Cows 7 - Most is easy to read. How much water do they have to drink a day to make milk? Here is where you can find out what pasteurized and homogenized means.
• Milk Tour Milk Cows 8 - Direct link to milk tour
• Life on a Dairy Farm Milk Cows 9 - Good short story with pictures of a 12 year old girl on a dairy farm
• History of Milk Cows Milk Cows 10 - When did they start using milk in history? Where did most of the American dairy breeds come from? Someone will need to read this to those below 3rd grade but it is very interesting. What 3 ways did they use cows in early history? How has that changed in America now? There are some places in the world where cows are still used in all three ways.
• Milk Cows and Kids Milk Cows 11 - Milk cows
• Milk Milk Cows 12 - Be sure to take Milk Tour
• Making Ice Cream Milk Cows 13 - Making ice cream
• Butter Milk Cows 14 - Very complete story of how butter is made. You will need to read this with someone.
• Milk is Good and good for you Milk Cows 15 - How is milk good for you?
• Beef hamburgers Beef 12 - making a hamburger

Sheep/Swine

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Sheep/Swine:

Your committee will be studying either sheep or swine but not both.

1. What are the names of the different members of the family? Mom? Dad? Daughter? Baby? Any other groups?

2. What do they eat and how does this fits into the food cycle?

3. Where do they live? Do they need shelter? How does the weather affect them? Do they live in different places during different stages of their lives?

4. Are some of them being raised to provide food for others or do they provide a service or a renewable product like milk or wool?

5. Tell us about their past. How has life changed for them in the last 50 years?

6. What other products that are provided by that animal group? Why are they important?

• Why Pigs Are Special Pigs 1 - A good site to get your information you need to tell about the importance of pigs. Outstanding on why pigs are special!
• Pigs 2 - Good definitions and pictures 3rd and above without help
• Pigs 3 - Good list of byproducts
• Pigs 4 - Easy read
• PigsThru the Year Pigs 5 - Thru a year on a pork farm
• Pig Planet Pigs 6 - Good information 2nd and above
• Pork Byproducts Pigs 7 - Byproducts
• Sheep 1 - Easy to read
• Sheep 2 - Easy to read
• Sheep 3 - Simple and clear
• Sheep 4 - 3rd and above Good information
• Sheep Byproducts Sheep 5 - Byproducts
• Sheep 6 - Go to For kids
• Sheep 7 - Easy to read
• Sheep 8 - Easy to read
• Sheep 9 - Simple and clear
• Sheep 10 - go to for kids easy to read
• Pigs 8 - good videos

Horses/Other Animals

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Horses and other animals:

1. What are the names of the different members of the family? Mom? Dad? Daughter? Baby? Any other groups?

2. What do they eat and how does this fits into the food cycle?

3. Where do they live? Do they need shelter? How does the weather affect them? Do they live in different places during different stages of their lives?

4. Are some of them being raised to provide food for others or do they provide a service or a renewable product like milk or pleasure for people?

5. Tell us about their past. How has life changed for them in the last 50 years?

6. What other products that are provided by that animal group? Why are they important?

• Horses 1 - Simple pictures
• Horses 2 - 4-H Horse page. Go to the different pages
• Horses 3 - Good site for younger readers
• Horse Stories Horses 4 - Some stories for 3rd grade and above
• Horses 5 - Video of horses
• Bunnies 1 - http://www.kidsfarm.com/parentsteacher.htm Can ask questions here!!! They also have a video which seems very good.
• Farm Dogs 1 - Interesting
• Goats 1 - Good site for beginners
• Goats 2 - Good site for beginners
• Goats 3 - Good information 3rd grade level

Poultry

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Poultry/others:

Your committee will be studying either chickens, turkeys or all other poultry.

1. What are the names of the different members of the family? Mom? Dad? Daughter? Baby? Any other groups?

2. What do they eat and how does this fits into the food cycle?

3. Where do they live? Do they need shelter? How does the weather affect them? Do they live in different places during different stages of their lives?

4. Are some of them being raised to provide food for others or do they provide a service or a renewable product like eggs or wool?

5. Tell us about their past. How has life changed for them in the last 50 years?

6. What other products that are provided by that animal group? Why are they important?

• Poultry 1 - Good site for beginners
• Chickens 1 - Good site for beginners
• Chickens 2 - Good site with videos
• Chickens 3 - Be sure to read Going Coo Coo for Chickens Good activities
• Chickens 4 - Good site for beginners
• Chickens 5 - Good site with videos
• Chickens 6 - Be sure to read Going Coo Coo for Chickens Good activities
• Chickens 7 - Good site for beginners
• Chickens 8 - Good site with videos
• Chickens 9 - Be sure to read Going Coo Coo for Chickens Good activities
• Chicken Byproducts Chickens 10 - Byproducts
• Chicken Diagram Chickens 11 - Diagram easy read
• Eggs Chickens 12 - Egg unit for teachers Good activities and links
• Turkeys 1 - Good site for beginners
• Life on a Turkey farm Turkeys 2 - Very good story from a boy on a turkey farm
• Turkeys 3 - Good for 3rd Also good activities for teachers to use
• Ducks 1 - Good site for beginners
• Ducks 2 - 2nd grade very good
• Hatchery Poultry 2 - Hatchery website

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

After you have gathered the information for your animal, you need to work together as a team to build your case.

Tell us all about your animal, being sure to make an interesting and complete case to include that animal on the farm.

You can present your case with a chart, talks, a skit, or other creative ideas. You could also make a booklet or big book. Remember to keep it interesting! You may have all the correct information but if we fall asleep during your presentation, it won't help your animal to stay on the farm!
You also need to work as a team!

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: Vickie Schwemmer

Conclusion

After you have decided what animals Old MacDonald can keep on his farm, I hope you discovered we need all of them, just like we need all of you to make a rich colorful world where everyone and every animal can have a place where they can grow and contribute!
Remember to thank the farmers for their contributions to your life, just be sure you don’t have your mouth full when you do! :)