Year 2 had an exciting start to our new Geography topic as we launched Farm Detectives: From Farm to Fork! The classroom was transformed into an investigation space, and the children took on the role of detectives to explore where our food really comes from.
We began by discussing our big question: Where does our food come from? The children shared their ideas and were surprised to learn that food doesn’t start in supermarkets, but on farms!
The children then rotated around a range of investigation stations. They explored food items and sorted them into those that come from animals and plants, examined farm objects, listened carefully to farm sounds, and studied aerial photographs of farms. One of the stations involved a matching activity, where children matched animals to what they give us and how we use it – for example, sheep give us wool, which we use to make jumpers. This helped deepen their understanding of how farms provide the food and materials we use every day.
Each station included information cards, and children took turns to read and discuss the key facts. Prompt questions were also provided to encourage the children to think carefully, talk to one another, and share what they noticed and wondered, helping to develop their speaking and reasoning skills.
At each station, one child acted as a scribe using a whiteboard to note down key ideas. When groups rotated, they shared one interesting thing they had learned with the class, helping to build knowledge collaboratively.
To bring all of our learning together, each child created a piece of a giant collaborative farm display. From animals and crops to tractors, buildings and farmers, every child contributed an important part.
This fantastic launch has sparked lots of interest, and we are looking forward to continuing our learning as we explore farms in more detail and discover how food travels from farm to fork!
Following on from our exciting topic launch, I’d love for you to answer these questions:
- Have you ever been to a farm? What did you see?
- What animals might be raised on a farm?
- What crops or plants do you think farmers grow?
- What else would you like to know?
