These are definitely surreal times we are living in. Families have had to establish new routines in the home in response to school shutdowns, business restrictions and physical distancing measures. One of the toughest challenges for parents is to frequently come up with stimulating educational activities for their kids.
Experts have put an emphasis on home education during this time to reduce the learning gap that can develop while kids are out of a structured classroom environment. Luckily, a wide variety of free home education tools, exercises and curriculums have hit the internet in recent weeks with the goal of helping parents and caregivers enrich children’s out-of-school experience. We have compiled a list of easy-to-follow agriculture and food information resources that are sure to keep your kids entertained, engaged and off the walls.
Agriculture in the Classroom Resources
Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) now offers several engaging, hands-on resources for At Home Learning that meet curriculum outcomes and teach kids where food comes from. Filter the search criteria by At Home and find instructional resources, lesson plans and student guides for your child’s grade level. Check back regularly as AITC is continually adding new content.
AITC also offers a number of Curriculum Linked Resources that include: informational resources, lesson plans, online resources, storybooks, instructional resources, learning kits, fun activities and videos for students in all grade levels. Have your kids work through the Cooking Up Chicken information guide and treat you to a healthy dinner or learn about the honeybee’s role in pollinating our food with the Blossom’s Big Job resources.
The snapAG Fact Sheets from AITC cover a variety of important topics, including: What are GMOs and are they okay to eat? What does organic farming look like? How are animals like chickens or cattle raised? snapAG provides a series of resources that invite students to explore the hot topics affecting the agriculture industry today. Topics range from organics, biotechnology, GMOs, livestock, and more.
FarmFood360 Virtual Farm Tours by Farm & Food Care
Harnessing the power of virtual reality, this collection of 3D videos and exploratory maps take viewers through the innermost workings of eleven different types of Canadian agriculture. Ever wonder what the inside of a pig barn looks like? How do eggs and apples get to the grocery store? Travel down the conveyor in a milk bottling plant or appreciate the view from the cab of a combine harvester in August, all from the comfort of your home. These videos are YouTube compatible and accessible from any desktop computer.
The Real Dirt on Farming
Do you have questions about how food is grown and raised? The Real Dirt on Farming resource and website is designed to help Canadians connect with their food and the farmers that produce it – who they are, what they do, and why they do it. Using both stories and science, the 60-page publication addresses common questions and misconceptions about Canadian food and farming, as well as other subjects that the general public has indicated are important to them.
Farmers 2050 Game App by Nutrien
This free farm game app allows future farmers a chance to test their entrepreneurial spirit by growing crops, selling goods both locally and globally, engaging with experts and managing economic, social and environmental sustainability all with the real life pressures of mortgage payments, weather events and endless chores.
Other in-home exercises include:
- We celebrate four distinct seasons in Canada. When we’re eating fruits and vegetables in season, it means we get to enjoy them at their peak freshness. Check out our What’s in Season guide to learn more.
- Would you like to improve your cooking skills? Or learn how to cook something different for supper. Maybe you simple would like to learn a new recipe. Cook Along with chefs, home economist and cookbook authors in our Learn to Cook section to create something tasty!
- Family Grain Activities by Grain Farmers of Ontario: From homemade slime to chocolate chip cookies, these hands-on activities are fun for the whole family.
- Science at Home by TELUS World of Science Edmonton: Follow @EdmontonScience on Facebook for their daily ‘Science at Home’ featuring kid-friendly experiments.
- Claire Tansey is a culinary teacher and author who is offering ‘teach your kids to cook’ live sessions on Facebook. Check out @ClairTanseysKitchen for videos and follow-along recipes.
- Andrea Buckett ‘s free E-book Cooking to Fill Minds & Bellies
New information and activities are emerging daily and we encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @CDNFoodFocus where we will continue to share educational content and information to help you to make confident food choices.
How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes