HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Agriculture 2000, 2000-03-15, Page 26Education prog, brings animal lives to class
Understanding animals
Trevor Wood and Brittany Thyssen of Brussels Public School are just two of the thousands of
school children who will benefit from the Animals and Me program put together by the Ontario
Farm Animal Council and Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Though Huron is a largely rural
county, it’s possible many children
here do not have regular contact with
farm animals.
In an effort to bring animals and
children together, the Ontario Farm
Animal Council (OFAC) has devel
oped a program called Animals and
Me.
Geared to Grade 1 and 2 students,
Animals and Me is designed to meet
* the standards of the new Ontario cur
riculum for science and math.
Free to Ontario teachers through
OFAC or Ontario Agri-Food
Education Inc. (OAFE), the program
includes a teacher's guide as well as
several activity cards which can be
copied for the children's use.
The guide begins by telling what
the curriculum connections are, such
as explaining characteristics and
needs of living things for the Grade 1
science section.
For Grade 2 science, the program
looks at growth and changes in ani
mals. Math skills are dealt with
through number sense and numera
tion, measurement, data manage
ment and probability.
The 11 activities outlined give the
focus, teaching strategy, assignment
suggestions and extension ideas.
Each activity also differentiates
between the requirements of the
Grade 1 and 2 class.
Throughout the program, the five
creatures discussed are beef cattle,
hogs, chicken, fish and sheep.
There are identification quizzes,
matching games, life cycles, physi
cal statistics, animal care and a dis
cussion of needs and wants.
Not only do the lessons look at the
characteristics of the animals but
how people must meet their needs
and how they meet ours, from food
and clothing to medicines and music.
Lois Lee, the Grade 2 teacher at
Brussels Public School, says that
although she only received the kit a
couple of months ago, it looks excel
lent.
"It is laid out very well and ties in
great with the curriculum," she says.
"The kids love it. It is very hands on
and offers lots of ideas."
While she has only begun to look
at the possibilities of the course, Lee
suggests there may be connections to
the Grade 3 health curriculum as
well when the program deals with
growth and change.
"Jt is a very worthwhile resource,"
she says.
Launched last September, OFAC
has distributed 300 copies while
u
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While Lee attended a workshop
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OFAC program co-ordinator
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ers can order Animals and Me by
calling 905-821-3880 or OAFE at
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Baseline Water Well Testing Program
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