Rationale: Agriculture is a vital part of society. In fact, just one farmer can feed 155 people! It is important for students to learn about farming and ranching in order to understand where their food comes from and the hard work that goes into food production, from tilling soil, to planting seeds, harvesting, and caring for animals. Kids need to learn about farming and ranching to know that the food they are eating is safe and that farmers and ranchers treat their livestock with care and respect. This text set will serve 2nd graders, and is intended for teachers and parents. Students in 2nd grade like to be read to, have a rapidly growing vocabulary, and are able to reflect on their learning. According to the Yardsticks book, a couple favorite themes for children this age are animals and how we get our milk, which is a question that can be answered with a book included this text set! It is my intentions that through these books and resources, children develop a better understanding of farming and ranching, and increase their skills in Language Arts.
Wood, C. (2007). Yardsticks: children in the classroom, ages 4-14 (3rd ed.). Turners Falls, MA: Center for Responsive Schools, Inc.
Who Grew My Soup
ISBN: 978-1-4508-6645-3
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: RL.2.5 – Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
Objective: Students will be able to explain how Phin's perspective about vegetables changes.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Reading plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: The link below includes lessons and activities to go along with the book, Who Grew My Soup?http://www.agintheclassroom.org/TeacherResources/Lesson%20Booklets/Who%20Grew%20My%20Soup.pdf
Charlie the Ranch Dog
ISBN: 978-0-06-199655-9
5 Reading First Components: Reading fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: RL.2.7 – Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
Objective: Students will be able to compare Charlie and Suzie's characteristics using clues from illustrations.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Reading plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: This website provides reading and writing activities for students to do that correspond with Charlie the Ranch Dog. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Charlie-The-Ranch-Dog-Listening-Center-520819?gclid=CjwKEAjw2qzHBRChloWxgoXDpyASJAB01Io0TDGJ4ACO0fteXgbT7FhUX7ISO5Q5f7MFzJtoIDrYkhoCC43w_wcB
The Beeman
ISBN: 978-1-84-686-146-8
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: RL.2.4 – Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.
Objective: Students will be able to identify rhyming words.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Reading plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: This website includes a video that explains fascinating facts and information to further students' knowledge about bees! http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/animals/bees.html
Levi's Lost Calf
ISBN: 978-1463514426
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: L.2.4e – Use glossaries and beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases.
Objective: Students will be able to interpret the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Language plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: This website discusses author Amanda Radke's inspiration for writing Levi's Lost Calf and how it can be used in the classroom! http://www.wylr.net/marketing/5681-western-beef-producer-engages-kids-in-ranch-life-by-publishing-a-children-s-book
Celebrate Wheat
ISBN: 978-0-9797653-3-9
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: RI.2.6 – Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.
Objective: Students will be able to distinguish the topic of the book and what the author is trying to convey to readers.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Reading plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: This website includes a recipe for students to make bread in a bag. This would be great for students to make connections between farmers, wheat, and themselves! https://www.kfb.org/page/file?path=Files%2Fpage-161%2Fwheat%2FBreadinaBag814.pdf
Farmers and Ranchers Care about their Animals!
ISBN: 978-0-9797653-2-2
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: W.2.2 – Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
Objective: Students will be able to describe a role of farmers and ranchers.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Writing plus critical thinking
Additional resources: This website includes facts and answers questions regarding farm animal care. https://www.kfb.org/page/file?path=Files%2Fpage-161%2Ffarmers-ranchers%2FFarmAnimalCareFunFactSheet.pdf
The Soil Neighborhood
ISBN: 978-0-9797653-1-5
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: W.2.2 – Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
Objective: Students will be able to explain what they know about soil.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Writing plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: This is a link to a website that explains the book The Soil Neighborhood to parents. It also provides tips for parents and a crossword activity for students! https://www.kfb.org/page/file?path=Files%2Fpage-161%2Fsoil-neighborhood%2FTheSoilNeighborhoodPP.pdf
Mini Milk Maids on the Moove
ISBN: 978-0-9818468-1-1
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: L.2.4e – Use glossaries and beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases.
Objective: Students will be able to interpret the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Language plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: This website provides a virtual tour of how milk goes from the cow to your table, games, quizzes, recipes, and more! http://www.moomilk.com/
It's All About That Beef!
ISBN: 978-0-9818468-6-6
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: RI.2.7 – Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text.
Objective: Students will be able to describe the process of beef production using evidence from pictures in the story.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Reading plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: This website includes lesson plans and activities relating to all of the books in "The Chaney Twins" series! http://www.pabeef.org/educators.aspx
10 Things Kids Want to Know About Farming
This is a 22 minute YouTube video from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The video visits different farms and ranches throughout the United States in order to show how the food and clothing that we use everyday is produced. Students in the video ask questions about agriculture, farming, and ranching, which are answered by farmers and ranchers themselves.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSI1WudgtiQ
5 Reading First Components: Phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading comprehension strategies
KCCRS: SL.2.2 – Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
Objective: Students will be able to recall specific information addressed in the video.
Area of Language Arts addressed: Listening plus critical thinking
Additional Resources: The website below provides tons of lessons and fun and engaging activities for students to do relating to the video "10 Things Kids Want to Know About Farming!" https://www.dmsfulfillment.com/Images/AFBF/AE-TENTHINGS-001-001.pdf