1. Slide 1
On the Farm
What are some foods that come from farms? Which are your favorites?
Bite into a crispy salad. Sip an ice-cold glass of milk. Enjoy a tasty omelet or a fresh ear of corn. Where do all these healthy and delicious foods come from? They come from farms!
People in this country have been farming for hundreds of years. At one time most people in the United States were farmers. But as our country changed, so did the way that people made a living. Today most farms don’t just feed one family. They grow food for people all across the land. How is this possible? Today’s farms have modern machines that make farming faster and easier. Workers on a farm use machines to harvest crops.

2. Slide 2
On the Farm (Cont.)
Long ago, farmers did much of their work by hand. They had animals to help them plow the fields, but they spent long hours planting seeds in the ground and picking crops in the hot sun. Today farmers and farm workers use machines to do much of this hard work.
The tractor is one of the most important machines on a farm. With its big wheels and powerful engine, a tractor can move easily through the fields. Tractors pull tools for turning over the ground, for breaking up dirt, and for planting seeds. When it is time to pick crops, a tool can sometimes be added to a tractor to do that, too. However, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat, such as apples, oranges, and avocados, must be picked by hand.
Just like the plants in your own garden, farm crops need water to grow. Most farmers still depend on rain to water their crops. But what happens when there isn’t enough rain? When this happens, farmers use watering systems to supply water to the fields. The water is brought in from rivers, streams, and lakes, or it is pumped up from wells in the ground.

3. Slide 3
On the Farm (Cont.)
When people think of farms, they often think of cows. Cows have been raised on farms for many years. Long ago, farmers milked their cows by hand. They used much of the milk in their own homes. When there was extra milk, farmers sold it to friends and neighbors.
Today milk cows are raised on modern dairy farms. Almost all dairy farms have milking machines that operate by pumping milk right from the cows into a special tank where the milk is cooled and stored. The milk travels through pipes so it is never out in the open. Today’s dairy farms are very clean. They have to be because germs can grow quickly in fresh milk.
After the milk leaves the farm, it goes to a factory where it is heated to kill any germs. Then the milk is packaged in cartons and bottles. At one time, farmers made their own butter and cheese. Today, most dairy foods such as butter, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt are made in special factories and not on the farm.

4. Slide 4
On the Farm (Cont.)
Another important change in farming is in the way that farmers sell their crops. At one time, farmers ate much of what they grew, or they sold it themselves. Today most of the produce grown on farms is sold in grocery stores.
When you walk into a grocery store, you can see why farms are important to us. The fresh broccoli and oranges, the cans of corns and beans, the eggs and milk in the coolers, and the loaves of hearty bread are all in the grocery store because of the hard work of farmers.
Even though most produce is sold in stores, some farmers still sell their own produce directly to customers. In many cities, farmers bring produce to open-air markets where people can enjoy picking out farm-fresh fruits and vegetables to take home. Some farmers also sell their produce from stands right at their farms.
The next time you enjoy a delicious meal, take time to think about where the food came from. You can thank farmers and farm workers for just about everything that you eat today!
Unit 3, Week 4
On the Farm
1. What do customers do at a bakery?
2. Who do you depend on to help you?
3. What vehicles have engines? What do engines do?
4. How do farmers harvest apples?
5. What hearty meal do you enjoy? When do you enjoy it most?
6. How is a modern phone different from an old-fashioned phone?
7. What are some machines that operate in your school? What do they do?
8. What do you buy that comes packaged in a box?
9. What produce do you most enjoy eating?
10. What are some of the things that schools supply to students?