It's no secret that kids love farm animals. From classic sing-alongs like "Old MacDonald" and books featuring cows jumping over the moon, they are ingrained in our childhoods. This list of 30 fun activities and lesson plans is designed to help kids learn through their love and interest in farm animals. It includes everything from farm-themed books to other sensory activities to help your child grow through play.
1. Handprint Chicks
A fun activity to get us started are handprint chicks! All you need is yellow paint, some orange/black for the beak and eyes, and little hands! Paint your kids' hands yellow, place them on the paper, then paint on the eyes and beaks. Try folding the paper in half to make it a chick handprint card!
Learn more: Mama to 6 Blessings
2. Farm Animal Printable
Another easy craft to do that's not as messy as the previous is a free farm printable coloring sheet. These can be found online, and Crayola has a bunch for free, such as this little pig coloring page. It's as easy as pressing "print"!
Learn more: Crayola
4. "On the Farm"
Next on our list of lessons is a favorite farm animal book, "On the Farm" by Roger Priddy. This is a fantastic preschool farm animal book for young children. A nursery bookshelf classic, "On the Farm" allows kids to practice their animal sounds and their association of letters and words with elements in their world.
Learn more: Barnes and Noble
4. "A Day on the Farm"
Another book you will want to stock your shelves with is "A Day on the Farm" by Eric Carle, author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book. In fact, that same caterpillar is in this story and this time he's exploring the farm and all of its farm animals. This farm book is sure to make you nostalgic as your little one learns about pigs, cows, and more!
5. Farm Animal Puppets Paper Bags
There are different ways you can make farm animal puppets with your kids, like using paper bags To make a chicken puppet, gather some paper bags, construction paper, scissors, and glue. Cut out the pieces and put it all together!
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
6. Pig Headbands
Did you know a group of pigs is called a drift or a drove? Make your own drove by creating pig headbands of construction paper, tape, glue, and markers, then wearing them around the house!
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
7. Paper Plate Masks
Another way you can transform your living room into a barn is by making paper plate animal faces, then punching holes in the sides and tying them around to become masks.
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
8. Hatching Eggs
If you're really committed and you've got room, you may want to hatch your own eggs as a part of a farm science experiment to learn about the life cycle of a chicken. All you need are some hatching eggs (check out your local farm supply store) and an incubator! Pair it with a lesson plan about egg development and watch your kid's wonder grow. Popular chicks are chenille chicks.
Learn more: Feed Greatness
9. Grow a Garden
There are many more ideas for farm science projects than just hatching chicks. For instance, you can grow a tomato plant. These can live in pots on your porch or a fire escape, so they're great no matter where you are. It's a great way to teach kids about photosynthesis, too.
Learn more: Iohud
10. Farm Math
Collect the eggs! Using plastic Easter eggs, have your kids count them, either by 1's, 2's, 3's, or even dozens and half-dozens. This farm animal math can be great math for preschoolers through early elementary. You can also use the eggs to practice colors and sorting.
Learn more: Turner Tots
11. Goat Farm Yoga
Need to get out of the house? Try a visit to an actual farm to do some goat yoga! Many farms will have specific classes for kids, complete with hilariously adorable baby goats. You may even be able to spend some time together with a family farm day out!
Learn more: Iowa PBS
12. Cute Pom Pom Sheep
This adorable sheep craft is made with paper, glue, and white cotton balls (and googly eyes if you want)! Cut out the sheep shape with white paper, glue on some cotton balls, then add your face and legs, and there you have it, a fun sheep activity!
Learn more: Artsy Craftsy Mom
13. Sheep Corner Bookmark
Do you have a little bookworm at home? Try making this cute sheep craft that doubles as a bookmark! All you need is paper, glue, and markers. Put it all together and never lose your place in your book again.
Learn more: Artsy Craftsy Mom
14. Cow Farm Unit
Cows are essential to many communities, but especially those in western cultures who rely on them for food and more. To learn about these animals you can try to take a day farm trip to a local dairy farm, or learn about them with videos, songs, and crafts.
Learn more: Kiddopedia
15. Cow Songs
To go with your cow farm unit you can try singing some fun cow songs and nursery rhymes! The rhymes in these songs can also help build learning skills such as fluency, turning them into fun farm literacy activities as well.
Learn more: Farmees - Nursery Rhymes And Kids Songs
16. Popsicle Stick Cow Puppet
This farm activity goes great with the cow unit! Using paper, popsicle sticks, and glue, create a herd of all the different cows you've learned about thus far.
Learn more: Artsy Craftsy Mom
17. Farm Alphabet Cards
Using notecards and hand-drawn or printed pictures, create alphabet cards with lowercase and uppercase letters and a picture of something on a farm that starts with that letter. For example, letter C is for cow.
Learn more: Etsy
18. Plastic Farm Animals
Sometimes the best way to practice farm animal names and sounds is by getting a bag of cheap farm animals for your child to play with.
Learn more: Five Below
19. Farm Animal Bingo Cards
For some more farm animal fun, try special bingo cards! These can be made yourself or templates can be purchased cheaply through a printable farm bingo board.
Learn more: Gift of Curiosity
20. Printable Farm Pages
A bit different from the animal-specific pages earlier, try having your child color busy farm scenes and identify different animals, plants, and buildings.
Learn more: Get Coloring Pages
21. Common Farm Vehicles
Got a big machine lover? Using small toys, pictures, or even books to help kids learn about common farm vehicles, such as tractors and plows.
Learn more: Organic Learning - Educational Videos for Kids
22. Duck, Duck, Goose
This easy, gross-motor game is a fantastic way to help kids get up and moving as they play this fun, pattern-based game.
Learn more: Empowered Parents
23. Farm Sorting
Using small, multi-color farm animals, have your child sort them according to color or type! This can help them kinesthetically learn about sorting, patterns, and more!
Learn more: Stay at Home Educator
24. Farm Animal Dominoes
Using free printable cards, have a little family fun on the farm together by playing dominoes themed on farm animals!
Learn more: Rainy Day Mum
25. Farm Animal Life Cycles
This farm animals activity goes great with chick hatching! Have your kids study the life cycle of different animals using YouTube videos and interactive worksheets.
Learn more: Kindergarten Worksheets and Games
26. Finger Painting
For some more farm fun try this farm painting activity! Using washable paints, have kids create a farm scene with corn, cows, and even a barn!
Learn more: Awesome Arts
27. More Farm Songs
Try singing the jingle "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" and see how many different animals you can come up with! This old favorite farm song is still a hit.
Learn more: The Countdown Kids
28. Farm Stories
For older kids, try using some farm writing prompts to encourage the literacy skill of written communication! This is a great way to wrap up your farm unit theme.
Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
29. Clothespin Farm Animals
There are a lot of crafts for preschoolers, and to help strengthen little fingers while providing entertainment, try making this one! Just use some clothespins, markers, and anything extra you'd like to add!
Learn more: Danya Banya
30. List of Farm Things
To wrap up your farm week or unit, try making a list of all the different elements of a farm that you have learned about, from the farm animals to the farm vehicles and more!
Learn more: Enchanted Learning
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