farm

Kelly Rent and Jen Odle
IDTPT 364.003 Down Home on the Farm

Challenge:
Students will break into four groups. In these groups they will construct a tractor with the K'Nex toys. It is important that they construct the tractor for two reasons. The first reason is it will let the students get used to the toys and how they go together. The second is it will get them interested in the activity as well as help the develop some creativity that they will use in the project. After the groups have made their tractor they will then begin to design their own farms. They will need to consider what type of farm they want to run, what type of equipment the will need, and the basic layout of their farm. After the group completes the design details they will make a presentation of their farm to the class.

Objectives:
    1. Groups will construct a tractor from K'Nex toys.
     2. The group will work together to design a farm.
     3. The group will draw the layout of the farm they have designed.
     4. The group will design at least one piece of farm equipment out of K'Nex toys that will be of use on their farm
     5. The group will present their farm to the class orally.

Resources:
Student will have a library day in which they can gather information on farming, types of farming, and farm equipment. Student will be encouraged to look for information on the web as well as local resources to inhance their project.

Materials:

K'nex
Pens, Pencils
Paper
Markers
Crayons

Procedure:
Students will be broken down into four groups. Each group will then work together to build a tractor with the K'Nex toys. The students in each group will need to research and brain storm to come up with the type of farm that they want to design.
Things the group needs to consider:

What type of farm?
What type of animals will be on the farm?
What type of crops will be planted on the farm?
What time of year would you plant/harvest?
What type of equipment would be useful on this farm?
What type of equipment could make this farm better?

The group will select their type of farm and then design a layout. They can draw the layout on graph paper and label where everything would go( barn, storage, animals, and fields). Each group will then design at least one piece of equipment that would be useful on their farm with the K'Nex toys. After the groups have completed their farms they will present them to the class orally. They will talk about the type of farm they designed, show the layout of the farm, and show the equipment they designed explaining its use.

Evaluation:
The students will be graded as a group. The teacher will be looking for creativity, originality, organization, and craftsmanship. The student will be graded on the groups ability to work together to create the final project and a well designed farm with a new piece of equipment that can be put to good use.