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What are farms? Facts for kids - posted from Elkton, VA
BrainPOP - posted from Colchester, VT
There's a 3-minute video clearly explaining the science behind how tornadoes are formed, where they most often occur, the rating system, and how people respond. There is a vocabulary list, worksheets, related reading links, and quizzes available (both review versions and graded versions). A subscription is required.
Videos: What's a Tornado? - posted from Bexley, OH
SciShow Kids: What's a tornado?
Dr. Binocs: What's a Tornado?
Why the US has so many tornadoes - posted from PERRIS, CA
Talks about how tornadoes are formed and Tornado Alley
Julia Rothmans Farm Anatomy Book & The Biggest Little Farm - posted from Clearwater, FL
The documentary of The Biggest Little Farm (warning tearjerker) is so incredibly well done, conveys the joys and the hardships of working a farm. Summary from internet:A testament to the immense complexity of nature, The Biggest Little Farm follows two dreamers and a dog on an odyssey to bring harmony to both their lives and the land. When the barking of their beloved dog Todd leads to an eviction notice from their tiny LA apartment, John and Molly Chester make a choice that takes them out of the city and onto 200 acres in the foothills of Ventura County, naively endeavoring to build one of the most diverse farms of its kind in complete coexistence with nature. The land they've chosen, however, is utterly depleted of nutrients and suffering from a brutal drought. The film chronicles eight years of daunting work and outsize idealism as they attempt to create the utopia they seek, planting 10,000 orchard trees and over 200 different crops, and bringing in animals of every kind- including an unforgettable pig named Emma and her best friend, Greasy the rooster. When the farm's ecosystem finally begins to reawaken, so does the Chesters' hope - but as their plan to create perfect harmony takes a series of wild turns, they realize that to survive they will have to reach a far greater understanding of the intricacies and wisdom of nature, and of life itself.
My 8 year old son loved and really appreciated farm life after watching this.
Also the beautifully illustrated book by Julia Rothman - Farm Anatomy- The curious parts & pieces of country life - is an amazing resource to all the facts and tid-bits you would want to research. You will not regret purchasing this book - and also look into the other 3 books she has done - ocean anatomy, food anatomy and nature anatomy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfDTM4JxHl8
National Geographic Kids - Short Video on Tornados - posted from WOODLAND HILLS, CA
This was a great little short video that showed how tornados are formed (ties directly to the map of Tornado Alley that starts the lesson off). It also showed the different strengths tornados are categorized in so when Pete told the story about the roof was blown off his childhood home we were able to talk about what type of tornado it must have been (at least EF3)
Tornado Alley - posted from Oakwood, OH
Tornadoes are much more common in other parts of the US than just Tornado Alley. This article is mostly written at a level 7-9 can understand and has some interesting graphics showing how it has changed and the south is commonly hit badly (and some of the why).
Supplemental Book About Farm History - posted from Durham, NC
We found "A Farm Through Time: The History of a Farm from Medieval Times to the Present Day" Illustrated by Eric Thomas and written by Angela Wilkes (Doring Kindersely Limited, 2001) from our local library -- I don't know if it is still in print. It's similar to the Street Through Time book that appears later in the 7-9 unit and was an interesting book to explore as we were talking about farms.
Farm books - posted from Eight Mile Plains, QLD
Farm by Elisha Cooper. ISBN 978 0 545 07075 1
A picture book filled with US detail about life on a corn farm. It includes reference to weather and farm life which ties in well with the weather unit. Includes reference to months of the year and the seasons.
A Year on Our Farm by Penny Matthews and Andrew McLean. ISBN 1 86291 4419
A picture book about life on an Australian sheep farm. Also includes wether details and months and the seasons.
Comparing the two books was an excellent way to bring up northern and southern hemisphere seasons and allowed us to compare and contrasts seasons and months and life on a crop farm and an animal farm.
When the Rooster Crowed by Patricia Lillie - posted from Bloomfield Hills, MI
We read this fun little story about the life of a farmer. My son (7) enjoyed the story and it tied in well to the lesson and added some humor to our day.
Make/design your own farm - posted from poquoson, VA
My son loved this free download for designing his own farm.
Farm Life - posted from Lakeville, MN
Website that has videos of episodes from a series called "America's Heartland". The link takes you to an episode (#317) which walks you through a Day in the Life of a North Dakota farm family. It is divided in short, easy to watch clips.
http://www.americasheartland.org/episodes/episode_317/index.htm