Grades K/1/2 Science: Plants, Animals and Life Cycles
Use your 5 senses to explore life cycles on the farm

Grades 3 Science: Biodiversity on the Farm

Explore the diversity of plant, animal and soil life

• Plants: local and non-native plants; learn plant parts; plants are producers, the foundation of food pyramids.
• Animals: farm animal characteristics; basic structures and functions of body systems; animals are consumers.
• Soil biology: healthy soil ecosystems; bacteria and fungi are decomposers; different soil particles; compost.
• Food chains and food webs on the farm and in nature.

Big Idea: Living things are diverse, can be grouped and interact in their ecosystems.

Grades 4/5/6 Science: Senses, Responses and Body Systems of Farm Animals

Learn about the basic structures and functions of body systems of farm animals

• Plants, farm animals and humans sense, respond and adapt to seasonal changes.
• Compare the basic structures and functions of body systems of different farm animals.
• Examine the internal body systems of a dead farm animal.

Big Ideas:
4: All living things sense and respond to their environment.  
The motions of Earth and the moon cause observable patterns that affect living and non-living systems.
5: Multicellular organisms have organ systems that enable them to survive and interact within their environment.  
Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources.
6: Multicellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment.

Grade 7 Science: Diversity of Plants and Animals in Agriculture

Explore the survival needs and diversity of plants and animals on the farm

• Survival needs of plants and animals and how wild vs domesticated individuals satisfy those needs.
• Diversity of farm animals and crops has changed over time; heritage breeds, heirloom crops and seed saving.
• Compare monoculture vs polyculture and natural vs artificial selection in farm animal and plant breeding.
• Impacts of climate change on food production; sustainable agricultural practices, e.g. water conservation, crop      rotation and composting. 

Big Idea: Evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things.

Grade 8 Science: Micro-organisms on the Farm

Explore the roles of "good" and "bad" microbes on the farm

• Decomposers: Micro-organisms in soil and compost are key to nutrient recycling.
• “Good” micro-organisms can help in making cheese, sauerkraut and salami, and are critical for digestion in cows, sheep and goats (ruminants).
• “Bad” micro-organisms can harm by causing infections or diseases, and making food spoil.

Big Idea: Life processes are performed at the cellular level.

Grade 9 Science: Nutrient Cycles on the Farm

Investigate nutrient, water and energy cycles on a local farm

• Nutrient cycles, soil health and compost.
• Solar radiation and the greenhouse effect.
• Water cycle and water conservation practices.
• Sustainable agriculture maintains a healthy ecosystem on the farm.

Big Idea: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.

Grade 10 Science: Sustainability of a Farm Ecosystem

Learn how the abiotic and biotic elemens of a farm interact

• Investigate the cycling of matter and nutrients, soil health and compost.
• Explore various relationships with respect to food chains, food webs and food pyramids.
• Consider the impacts on food sustainability from natural vs artificial selection, ecological vs industrial agriculture, and invasive species.

Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Explain the interaction of abiotic and biotic factors within an ecosystem.
Explain various ways in which natural populations are altered or kept in equilibrium.

Grade 10/11/12 Foods and Nutrition: Local Food Production

See where local food comes from and how it is produced

• Learn what factors influence the production and supply of food on a local farm.
• Compare environmental and health issues related to local vs global food production and consumption.
• Investigate food-related career opportunities and working conditions.

Prescribed Learning Outcomes
10: Identify factors that affect food production and supply, especially in Canada today.  Describe food-related occupations and careers.
11: Demonstrate an awareness of environmental and health issues related to the production and consumption of food.  
Investigate food-related occupations and careers.
12: Analyse global and environmental health issues related to the production and consumption of food.  
Analyse career opportunities and prerequisites related to food production, service and marketing.

Grade 11 Biology: Ecology on the Farm

Explore the interdependent roles of living things

• Microorganisms on the farm and their role in the cycling of nutrients.
• Producers, consumers and energy flow in a farm ecosystem.
• Soil organisms, plants, animals and humans are interdependent.

Prescribed Learning Outcome: Analyse the functional inter-relationships of organisms within an ecosystem.

Grades 12 Biology: Anatomy and Physiology of a Farm Animal

Examine the organ system of a farm animal

• Hands-on exploration of the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, urinary and/or reproductive systems of a farm animal.
• Identify the structures and functions of the major organ systems.
• Compare the structures/functions of organ systems of specific farm animals to humans.

Prescribed Learning Outcome: Analyse the functional inter-relationships of the structures of the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, urinary, and reproductive systems.

More Curriculum Connections

A Kids on the Farm tour can achieve curriculum connections for the following subject areas, from K-12:

• Physical and Health Education - Get physically active outdoors and learn about healthy food choices.
  
• Career Education - New experiences expand students’ career skill set and options.
  Arts Education - Learn about fibre-producing animals and felt with local wool at Wheaton River Gardens.
• Core French, Français langue première ou seconde - Farm tours are available in French.
  

Visites disponibles en français chez: 
Fox Ridge Farm, Lendrum Ross Farm et Wheaton River Gardens.