Activities : Teacher Info

Third & Fourth Grade

Cotton Jeans & Woolen Mittens

Students will learn about natural fibers, the small parts of plants and animals. The experiences with cotton and wool are hands-on beside a cotton field.

Ketchup From Tomatoes & French Fries from Potatos

Students will experience the food chain through a fun team relay called TAKE IT BACK. Teams will return grocery products back to farm areas where they were produced.

Optional hands-on activity:

Dyeing cotton handkerchief Hands-on and Interactive Follow-up Lesson Plans provided

Science Lab:

COTTON - harvest, gin, card, and spin
SHEEP- animal focus

TN Objectives:

3.1.1 3.1.7 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.5.3 3.3.3 3.8.4 3.2.3 3.2.4 3.4.1 3.8.1 3.2.1 3.10.1 3.41 3,81 3.2.1 3.10.1 3.4.1 3.4.1 3.4.2 3.5.1
4.1.1 4.9.2 4.3.1 4.3.2 4.8.1 4.4.3 4.4.1 4.8.1 4.4.3 4.4.1 4.5.1 4.11.2

Examine cotton grown on farm & identify specific parts and the parts functions
Recognize needs of cotton plants
Identify value of soil samples
Realize that plants and animals must obtain and use food for energy.
Recognize function of specific structures in organisms that allow them to obtain and use energy
Recognize livestock obtain energy from cottonseed hulls and people obtain energy from cottonseed oil
Identify characteristics of cotton that allow it to survive in the cotton belt
Recognize the importance of temperature, rain, and sunshine for growth & photosynthesis of cotton plant
Recognize the importance of forecast & rain gauge in amounts of precipitation
Realize importance of weather forecasts predicting rain when planting & harvesting
Learn the life cycle of cotton plant
Identify senses used to scout cotton
Examine boll weevil traps & discover their value
Realize cotton plant characteristics are passed from parents to offspring thru genetics
Realize cotton plant characteristics are passed from parents to offspring
Select appropriate clothing for a fall day on a farm
Distinguish between fibers made from living plants and not living manmade fibers
Identify natural fibers, cotton & wool and manmade fibers
Observe animal with its offspring
Recognize animals are grouped according to characteristics such as wool producing sheep and hair sheep
Recognize the differences in baby chick & how it changes as it becomes an adult
Observe groups of similar breeds of goats
Learn how to wash hands properly
Recognize consequences of improper handwashing.
Operate a pulley

Social Studies Lab:

Cotton field, 500 lb. bale, 1920's Mule Barn, old cotton wagon
Donnell Century Farm established in 1835, is a real working farm.

TN Objectives:

3.1.01 3.1.2 3.2.5 3.5.1 3.2.1
4.5.1 4.3.04 4.3.02 4.5.12 4.5.08 4.1.04 4.2.1 4.2.2

Identify Native American groups in West Tennessee before it was sold to settlers (i.e., Cherokee, Creek, and Chickasaw)
Realize the economic motivation of settlers to move to West TN for the cotton land
Recognize that changes in culture occur through the spread of people,
Recognize location of streams on property influenced location of log home on farm.
Understand that John Donnell located on land on the waters of Forked Deer. The stream on our farm is the Donnell Branch.
Recognize the impact invention of cotton gin by Eli Whitney, cotton picker equipment, no-till farming, computers have had on farming
Determine similarities and differences in the ways farm families of past met basic human needs (i.e., food, water, clothing, and shelter)
Recognize the change from a barter economy to a money economy.
Learn about differences & similarities in farming past, present, & future
Understand the past & present contributions of farm families in Tennessee
Learn about past barn raising, school 'letting out for cotton picking,' Cotton Carnival
Distinguish the difference in raw food product and end product3.2.4 Experience the difference between a producer and a consumer.
Recognize how concept of supply and demand was effected by shift from agrarian society to the manufacturing society and now to age of high technology
Look at agricultural products in Tennessee (cotton, soybeans, corn, hay, wheat & cattle)
Recognize difference in past farming practices and skills and those today as a result of technology
Compare family farm life in different generations.
Realize the Donnell family tree and family history is the story of our past and family heritage.

1. Students visit - Cotton Field Learning Station

Optional hands-on activity: Dyeing cotton handkerchief

Hands-On Activity
- Compare farm plants
- Plant cotton
- Soil sample
- Rain Gauge
- Pick cotton
- Examine plant parts
- Gin Cotton
- Card cotton
- Spin cotton
- Examine Cotton & wool
- Feel oil in wool
- Grind cotton seed
Concept Taught
- Similar plant parts
- Basic requirements for life
- Plants need soil nutrients
- Importance of precipitation
- Cotton boll is fruit
- Plant parts & function
- Cotton lint contains seeds
- Manufacturing process
- How fibers are made
- Natural fibers come from farm
- Lanolin comes from wool
- Cotton seeds contain cotton oil

2. Students will visit Animal Barnyard and Goat Ramp

Learning Station
- Animal Barnyard
- Goat Ramp
Hands-On Activity
- Interact with animals
- Feed Goats
Concept Taught
- Animal feature & function
- How a pulley operates

3. Students will participate in farm product relay

"Catchup From Tomatoes & French Fries from Potatoes"

Hands-On Activity
Teams return grocery products back to farm areas where they were produced Relay game: Take It Back

Raw Product
- Corn
- Milk Cow
- Chicken House
- Apple Orchard
- Tomato
- Potato
Processed Foods
- Cereal, corn chips, corn on cob, corn meal, cornbread, hominy
- Milk, ice cream, cheese, butter, sour cream, yogurt
- Eggs, omelette, cookies
- Apple juice, canned apples, apple pie, apple rings
- Catchup. pizza sauce, tomato soup
- French fries, potato chips, scalloped potatoes, instant potatoes

4. Students will learn how to wash hands properly

Learning Station
- Germ City
- Handwashing Fountain
Hands-On Activity
- View imaginary germs
- Wash hands carefully
Concept Taught
- Hands have many germs
- Proper handwashing result

5. Students will view award winning video: Farm Questions?

Do brown cows give chocolate milk?
Does a sheep hurt when it is sheared?
How many eggs does a hen lay a day?

Lunch in hayloft will include video directed and produced by by a farmer who is a science teacher. Video footage and dialogue is a result of her farm field trips in her discovery barn.