Farm Animals Lesson Plan for Kindergarten and Grade 1

This free farm animals lesson plan helps Kindergarten and Grade 1 students build vocabulary and early science understanding by observing, sorting, counting, and describing common farm animals and their babies. Students practice matching animal sounds, classifying animals, and creating simple graphs while learning how farms provide goods and services.

Overview

Students explore domestic farm animals through read-alouds, picture sorting, sound matching, and hands-on math routines. Across multiple sessions, the class builds shared knowledge about farm animals, their babies, the products animals provide, and the jobs a farmer does. Students create a simple class farm display and publish a short class book using drawings and dictated or written sentences.

Subject Connections

This lesson connects science (animal needs and traits) with English Language Arts (listening, speaking, vocabulary, and sentence writing) and mathematics (counting, sorting, comparing sets, and pictographs). It also includes social studies concepts through the idea that farms provide goods and services people use.

Learning Goals

• Identify common farm animals and name at least two baby animals
• Classify animals as farm or non-farm using simple reasons
• Match animal sounds to the correct animal
• Count objects with one-to-one correspondence and represent data in a pictograph
• Name at least three products that come from farms, including at least one dairy product
• Create a drawing and oral or written description of a farm animal

Materials

• Farm animal picture cards (adult animals and babies)
• Animal sound cards or simple sound prompts (teacher voice is fine)
• Chart paper and markers
• Sticky notes or small picture cards for graphing
• Small counters (buttons, cubes, or paper “spots”)
• Plastic farm animals or printed cutouts (optional)
• Paper, crayons, scissors, glue/tape
• Sentence strips or writing paper
• Optional: device to play short animal sound clips

Preparation

• Choose one farm read-aloud (fiction or nonfiction) that names multiple animals
• Prepare a simple K-W-L chart labeled “Farms”
• Print or gather farm animal and baby animal cards
• Set up a wall space or board for a class pictograph
• Set aside an area for a “class farm” display (tabletop or bulletin board)

Teaching Procedure

Each session fits a standard class period of 45–50 minutes. The class book and display build across 5 sessions.

Session 1 – Farms and Farm Animals

1. The teacher reads a farm story or informational text and pauses to name animals and prompt quick “turn and talk” observations. Students share one animal they noticed and one detail they learned.
2. The teacher leads the class in starting a K-W-L chart about farms. Students contribute ideas for what they already know and what they want to learn.
3. Activity: The teacher tells students they will build a “Farm Word Wall.” Using farm animal picture cards and a blank wall space, the teacher holds up one card at a time and models the word clearly. Students repeat the word, then choose a matching card from a small set at their seats and hold it up to demonstrate recognition. Students help place cards on the wall and demonstrate learning by correctly naming at least one animal when prompted.

Session 2 – Animal Sounds and Beginning Sounds

1. The teacher reviews 6–8 animals from the word wall and models the sound each animal makes. Students practice echoing sounds and naming the animal.
2. Activity: The teacher tells students they will play “Sound Match.” Using animal picture cards and simple sound prompts (teacher voice or short audio clips), the teacher makes a sound and students point to or hold up the matching animal card. Students then take turns making a sound while the class identifies the animal. Students demonstrate learning by matching sounds to pictures accurately during multiple rounds.
3. Activity: The teacher tells students they will practice beginning sounds. Using letter cards and farm picture cards, the teacher models how to say the animal name slowly and listen for the first sound. Students sort a small set of pictures under the correct starting letter and demonstrate learning by correctly placing at least two pictures and saying the starting sound aloud.

Session 3 – Farm or Not Farm, Then Graph It

1. The teacher introduces the idea that farm animals are domestic animals that live on farms and often provide a product or help people. Students practice explaining a reason using a sentence frame such as “I think it is a farm animal because…”
2. Activity: The teacher tells students they will do a “Farm or Not Farm” sort. Using a mixed set of animal picture cards and two labeled areas on the floor (Farm and Not Farm), students place cards into the correct group and explain one reason. Students demonstrate learning by sorting accurately and giving a simple reason for one card.
3. Activity: The teacher tells students they will create a class pictograph of favorite farm animals. Using sticky notes or small picture cards, each student chooses one farm animal and places it in the correct column on a class graph. Students count each column with one-to-one pointing and demonstrate learning by answering questions such as “Which has more?” and “How many chose the pig?”

Session 4 – Babies and Farm Products

1. The teacher introduces common baby animal names (such as calf, piglet, lamb, chick, foal) using picture pairs. Students practice matching adult and baby animals.
2. Activity: The teacher tells students they will play “Baby Match.” Using adult and baby picture cards, students work in pairs to match each animal to its baby name. Students demonstrate learning by correctly matching at least three pairs and saying the baby name aloud or repeating it after the teacher.
3. Activity: The teacher tells students they will sort farm foods into dairy and non-dairy. Using picture cards of common foods (milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, apples, bread, corn), students place each card into the correct group and explain their choice. Students demonstrate learning by correctly sorting most items and identifying at least one dairy product made from milk.

Session 5 – Build the Class Farm and Publish a Class Book

1. The teacher models a simple page for a class book: a clear drawing of one animal and one sentence that describes it using thematic vocabulary (animal name, baby name, sound, or product).
2. Activity: The teacher tells students they will create a class farm display. Using paper, crayons, scissors, and a shared display space, students make one farm animal (and optionally a baby animal) to add to the class farm. Students place their work into the display and demonstrate learning by naming their animal and sharing one fact about it.
3. Activity: The teacher tells students they will publish a class book page. Using drawing paper and sentence strips, students create a page with an illustration and a dictated or written sentence. Students demonstrate learning by reading their sentence to the teacher or class, then the pages are compiled into a class book for sharing.

Assessment

• Observation checklist during sorting, sound matching, and baby matching activities
• Student contribution to the class pictograph and ability to answer a simple data question
• Completed class book page with an accurate drawing and an oral or written description
• Student ability to name at least one farm product and one baby animal

Differentiation

• Provide picture-supported vocabulary cards and sentence frames for emerging speakers and writers
• Allow students to dictate sentences while the teacher scribes
• Offer challenge prompts such as “Compare two animals” or “Tell what product comes from this animal”

Grade Adaptation

Kindergarten students can focus on drawing, oral responses, and matching activities with fewer cards at a time, while Grade 1 students can write simple sentences using a model and add details such as the baby animal name, the animal sound, or a product the animal provides, then read their page aloud during sharing.

Extension Ideas

• Create a “Farmer Jobs” class chart and add one new job each day for a week
• Set up a dramatic play “farm stand” where students sort foods into dairy and non-dairy
• Compare two farm animals using a simple Venn diagram and share findings with the class