Farm animal sorting activity

So, we’re studying the farm for two weeks.  In My Father’s World, you study goats, cows, and horses as three separate weeks, but I’m squishing it all into two weeks.  This may end up as three weeks still because of Princess’ surgery this Tuesday, but we’ll see how I’m feeling.  I may be ready to move on anyway. This farm animal toy sort was a great science lesson as part of our Farm Unit, a unique combination of kindergarten and homeschool preschool unit.

So, I have two different activities to report on.  Here’s the first one:

Farm animal sorting activity supplies

(affiliate links, I bought most of my supplies using 40% coupons at Hobby Lobby and Michaels): Farm Babies TOOB and Farm TOOB, Mini Barn (I found mine at the Target dollar spot which has lots of farm stuff when I originally wrote this, I eventually bought the linked barn for Princess), Felt Sheet Pack blue and green colors (I used a piece of felt I had leftover from another project)

How we did our farm animal toy sort

First, we dumped all of the toys out on a piece of foam board for our farm animal sorting activity.  I used the foam board mainly to keep it all localized. Later it was used for crafts, and it makes a great background for crafts like this cute goat craft.

Next, we took turns sorting animals into the different areas where they might live.  This got complicated because some of the animals could live in several areas.  Also, I realized as we were doing our sorting activity I really should have included some kind of pen for animals like pigs that go in there, but oh well.  We sorted it into 4 categories: house, barn, pasture, and water.

As you might guess this was wildly popular.  Further extensions I meant to do, and might still do this upcoming week: sort them by the number of legs, type of animal, type of covering (feathers, fur, etc…), and what they eat.  All in all the kids had a blast with it.

Now on to the next activity.

After the farm animal sorting activity: What comes from the farm picnic

We went to our local Sprouts and tracked down goat milk, goat cheese, and sheep cheese.  The goat cheese I bought was actually cheddar, and the sheep cheese was feta.  My kids are usually big fans of feta……

They also insisted we needed to get carrots with “green stuff on them.”  Maybe we’ll share these carrots for our field trip that we’re going on tomorrow (tomorrow for me being Saturday as I write this on Friday).

Then we took it all home and had a lovely tea party the next day trying our different cheeses and using goat milk for cream for the tea.

Okay, I just added that because I was immensely amused that Superman insisted on having ketchup to add to everything.  I thought the idea of ketchup and cheese sounded decidedly gross.

Their verdict:

Sheep cheese was not really eaten.  Everyone took a bit, but no one asked for more.  Only Superman finished his.  I thought it was a little too salty.

The goat cheese was devoured by Batman and Princess.  Superman wouldn’t finish his slice.  I’m somewhat wondering if his dislike was due more to it being white than because of a difference in taste, because he ate the orange cow cheddar just fine, and there wasn’t a noticeable difference to me.  I think we went through half of the block we bought off this one.

Goat milk, I honestly don’t know if they noticed the difference since we put it in the tea.  I might have them try it again later when it’s just by itself.

Oh, and I found the coolest new show on Food Network: How’d That Get on My Plate?  If you follow the link you can click on a clip of how they make cheese (2020 Ticia says the link was removed because it broke).  I’m totally addicted to the show.  So far we’ve found out how apples become apple sauce and all sorts of other products, and how to make ice cream and cheese.  If you’ve got a kid who likes Reading Rainbow episodes or likes informational shows your kid will love this.  My kids will happily sit and watch it with me.  Now, I have to sit and watch it with them because otherwise they go and play.  But…….  Still, it’s very cool.

And for my link to share this week a fun activity from Almost Unschoolers.  If anyone is doing snow or snowman activities this could be a fun one to add in for a science experiment.  Someday soon I will do this.  I’m going to have to figure out a more organized way to feature links because I’m sure I’ll just end up featuring the same one or two eventually because I’m that forgetful.

More animal learning fun

• What parts are in an insect?
• How does the food web work?
• Creation Story sensory bin
• How fast do bacteria reproduce?
• Why do whales sing?