A Farmer's Life for Me (Barefoot Singalongs)
Barefoot Singalongs Series
What’s inside...
A busy family and their friends spend a day working and playing on the farm. From milking the cows in the morning to closing the gate at night, learn about a day in the life of a farming family. Enhanced CD includes video animation and audio singalong. Follows a farmer's day in the fields as he attends to his crops and cares for his animals. Originally published in English in Cambridge, MA, by Barefoot Books, 2013.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think makes a farm successful?
How do the different animals and people work together on the farm?
If you had a farm, what animals would you like to have and why?
What jobs do you think are the most fun on the farm? The most challenging?
How do you feel when you help others, similar to how the characters help each other in the book?
Tip: Role play these questions
As you read the book together, pause at each new task or animal introduced and ask your child how they think it contributes to farm life.
Encourage your child to imagine their own farm, discussing what animals they would choose and the responsibilities they would have.
After reading, spend some time with your child drawing or crafting some of the farm animals from the book to deepen their connection to the story.
Utilize the rhyming and rhythmic aspects of the book to create a fun and interactive reading experience, perhaps inventing a farm-themed song together based on the book.
Discuss the teamwork shown in the book and relate it to everyday tasks at home, emphasizing how working together helps achieve great things.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of hard work and teamwork
Explanation: The book illustrates the daily activities on a farm, highlighting how various tasks are accomplished through collaboration between both the farmers and the animals.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of cooperating and contributing to group efforts whether in family chores, school projects, or playing sports.
Example Lesson: Understanding where food comes from
Explanation: Through engaging rhymes and colorful illustrations, the book educates children about farming processes that lead to the food on their tables, from planting seeds to harvesting crops.
Real-World Application: This knowledge fosters appreciation for farmers and can inspire healthier eating habits when children understand the origin of their meals.
Example Lesson: Connection to nature
Explanation: The book encapsulates the essence of rural life and the natural cycles of farming, encouraging an understanding and respect for nature.
Real-World Application: It can encourage outdoor activities and exploration, deepening a child’s relationship with the environment.
Example Lesson: Learning about different animals and their roles
Explanation: Children are introduced to various farm animals and their specific roles, which helps in understanding animal behavior and responsibilities.
Real-World Application: This can enhance a child’s sense of responsibility as they learn that every creature has an important role to play, paralleling the need for responsibility in their own tasks.