Pre visit preparation
What is farming?
Farming can be defined in a variety of ways. At its most basic level farming can be seen as the interaction between man and his physical environment for the production of food. A system of inputs, processes and outputs, dependant on environmental and climatic factors such as; rainfall, temperature, soil type, gradient, Ph and many other ‘natural’ features. A more complex analysis reveals farming to be a far more intricate relationship between man and his environment. Farming is more than simply man and the land. Complex environmental, ethical, social and economic issues affect farming at every stage and at every level. Farming moves far beyond the simple confines of production for sale and consumption. Today our modern farmers must consider a myriad of issues and a variety of choices with everything they do. Balancing environmental sustainability with yields that are economically viable, satisfying government standards whilst maintaining a healthy business. In short modern farmers are defined by more than just their produce.
Across millennia farming has been arguably the most crucial of all human activities. A feature of humanity that has always been a constant necessity, thus farming has a unique place in history as something forced to move with the times in order to enable human survival. Due to this historical resilience, farming gives us a privileged window into the past, reflecting complex social, technological and political changes via changes in the countryside. From Serf to landowner, war to peace, government pawn to multinational business, the history of farming is an enlightening view onto our past. Farming has not just been a fly on the wall to change, it has shaped the very landscape we live in today. Either by gradual processes, such as deforestation by livestock, like on the South Downs. Or radical engineering projects, such as the draining of Fen land or diverting of Rivers.
Modern agriculture is a highly competitive global enterprise. The UK produces 70% of the food we eat, the rest comes from all corners of the globe, giving consumers an unparalleled level of choice and variety. But all this choice comes at a cost. As the world becomes increasingly aware of the possible perils of mans impact upon the environment farming has had to adjust to reflect not only environmental pressures but also consumer demands. As a result, the modern farmer should see himself as a guardian of the environment as well as a production enterprise. Such changes are not without costs however, but diversification and government schemes are two of a variety of ways in which farmers can achieve this equilibrium between viable business and sustainable environment.
Learning Opportunities
There are many ways in which farming and the rural environment can enrich the curriculum. And the visual and hands on nature of the topic can be highly stimulating.
The Growing Schools Initiative has a wide variety of suggestions for farming oriented learning activities. This can be found online at
Other sites along similar lines include:
Suggestions for curricular usage
Science
- Seasonal changes
- Life processes
- Habitats
- Care of living things
Geography
- Human influences on the environment
- The water cycle
- Farming around the world
History
- History of farming
- Dig for victory
- Historical farm and garden implements
- National history and battle sites
PSHE & Citizenship
- Where are food comes from
- Sustainable development
PE
- Animal movements
- Healthy eating
Art & DT
- Animal and plant designs
- Photography
- Natural dyes
English
- Debate of topical issues
Maths
- Measuring wind speeds, soil depths
- Collecting data
- Processing data
Drama
- Animal masks, puppets
- Role play
- Life cycles
Key Stage 1
At Key Stage 1 a farm visit can widen the pupils’ first hand experience of a whole range of new visual, tactile and sensory information. Topic areas of interest could include lifecycles and seasons. There are also strong opportunities for language and literary development with the discovery of new words, terms, phrases and ideas.
Key Stage 2
At Key Stage 2 a farm visit can be a useful tool to stimulate curiosity outside of the classroom and outside a student’s comfort zone. There is the opportunity for the application of knowledge of ideas to actual situations. The chance for increased understanding of human activities on the land. Attitudes to farming and possible conflicts can also be looked at and discussed.
Key Stage 3
As ideas of interconnectedness grow, a farm visit can prove the ideal situation to develop notions of complex interactions within society. Looking at factors such as historical changes, social factors and technological advances, a farm vista can provide stimulus for a topical debate of complex issues. And can also provide a basis for an understanding of a broad range of social, environmental and economic factors.
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 a farm visit can be used to deliver examination subjects both academic and vocational. There is the opportunity to look at the real life application of skills and to discuss topics with the farmers. Visits can provide the stimulus for debates around the environment, consumption, pollution, government and ethics.