Canadian Agriculture at a Glance Teacher's Kit > Lesson plans

Lesson: What's for dinner, Daisy?

View the article (PDF)
Introduction
Curriculum connections
Notes to teacher
Teaching and learning strategies
Assessment/evaluation strategies
Accommodation and enrichment strategies
Links to other activities
Suggestions for further research
Worksheet

Introduction

This activity looks at the amount and types of food consumed by different farm animals.

Curriculum connections

Geography

• demonstrates an understanding of the diversity of agricultural endeavours in Canada.

Notes to teacher

This entire unit, which corresponds to the chapter "The Business of Farming" in the book, can be done as a group work project on change in agriculture, with each group completing one activity and presenting it to the rest of the class. (PDF)

Teaching and learning strategies

1. Students read the article "What's for dinner, Daisy?" on pages 201 to 204 in Canadian Agriculture at a Glance. (PDF)
2. Students discuss the factors to consider when providing feed for livestock.
3. Students complete the chart in the worksheet indicating what animals eat.
4. Students add terminology to their glossaries.

Assessment/evaluation strategies

1. Assess worksheet for accuracy and completion.
2. Assess glossaries for accuracy and completion.

Accommodation and enrichment strategies

1. Some students may require assistance in order to complete written work.
2. Students with special needs may work with a partner to complete a task.
3. Templates for note-taking should be provided to students with special needs.
4. Main ideas and/or new information should be mapped out and organized to meet the needs of all students.
5. Wherever possible, vocabulary lists should be provided with a discussion of context clues and related vocabulary.
6. For enrichment, students will research the nutritional requirements of one of the animals discussed in the article.
7. For enrichment, students can talk to a feed specialist to better understand the nutrition principles involved in feeding animals.

Links to other activities

This activity is linked to:

• Dairy and beef - contrasting industries
• A tag in every ear
• Pig production is getting bigger and more specialized
• There's a pig in your closet
• Growing dominance of a few large poultry farms - a continuing legacy
• How supply management works
• The pumpkin patch - a venture in agri-tourism
• Prairie farmers have always found a way to adapt
• Grain elevators getting bigger but fewer
• The rise and fall of fall rye
• Dairy farming goes high tech

Suggestions for further research

• Students may visit one of the university websites listed in the teacher's kit introduction to investigate research into animal nutrition.
• Students can use 2001 Census of Agriculture data in E-STAT for data analysis, graphing and mapping activities for specific geographic areas of local interest.

Please send comments or examples of how you used this lesson in your class to Learning Resources.

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