Agriculture in the Classroom

What's for Lunch?

1.	Introduce new vocabulary: Grades 1-3; Grades 4-6
2.	Introduce lesson by asking students, "Where does our food come from?" Have older students read "Farm to Table." Guide students in discussing how our food goes through several steps, beginning on the farm or ranch, before it reaches our table.
3.	Activity, Grades 1-3: Have students make a hamburger using colored construction paper for the different ingredients. On the back of each ingredient, have the student write the name of the raw product that ingredient is made from. Example: Bun - Wheat; Cheese - Milk - Dairy Cow, etc.
4.	Assemble hamburgers
5.	Have students complete "Farm Products/Store Products" matching activity
6.	Activity, Grades 4-6: Using the chart "What's For Lunch?" have students begin brainstorming all the jobs that are involved in getting each ingredient from the farm to the table. Some of these might include the farmer or rancher, farm workers, seed, fertilizer and chemical salesmen, equipment manufacturers, mechanics, truck drivers, warehouse workers, grocery store employees, and many others. See the list of "Agricultural Occupations."
7.	Assessment: Teacher observation and assessment

Extension
Invite someone who works in the food industry to speak to your class about the role they play in supplying us with the food we eat. This could be a grocery store manager, farmer or rancher.