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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Read about the experience of three teens who moved from the suburbs to a farm; identify the challenges and benefits of living on a farm; distinguish facts from myths about farm life.
HEALTH ED STANDARDS
NHES 2: Analyze the influence of family, peers, and culture on health behaviors.
CASEL COMPETENCY: Social awareness
KEY VOCAB
compost
body language
accountable
Lesson Plan: Our Life On a Farm
Three years ago, Lorenzo, 16, Francesca, 14, and Sofia, 12, traded their typical suburban routine for life on a farm. Want to know what life is like waking up with the chickens and cuddling cows after school? Read on.
PREPARING TO READ
Before you read the article “Our Life On a Farm,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:
What are the benefits and drawbacks of life on a farm?
READING AND DISCUSSION
BUILDING COMPREHENSION AND VOCAB
Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:
EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES
Continue the learning journey with the following writing prompt:
In MY LIFE ON A FARM, have students write two or three journal entries, totaling one to two pages, from the perspective of Lorenzo, Francesca, or Sofia. In each entry, they should choose different parts of the Cardarellis’ experience to focus on. For example, they could imagine the thoughts and feelings of one of the teens when they first found out they’d be moving to a farm, then consider the same teen’s thoughts and feelings after living on the farm for a few months. Remind students to use a mix of their own thoughts as well as ideas from the article as they write.
