From Plants and Animals

From Plants and Animals

Target Grade Level / Age Range:

1 st grade


30 minutes


Students will understand that many products come from plants and animals on farms.


  • Farm Product Cards, printed front and back and cut in half
  • Farm by Elisha Cooper

Suggested Companion Resources:

  • My Family’s Beef Farm by Katie Oltoff


  • Crop: a plant that is grown and harvested on a farm for food, fiber or fuel
  • Livestock: an animal that is raised on a farm for the production of meat, milk or eggs

Background – Agricultural Connections:

Most products that we use every day come from farms. Farms are the source of many products we use for food, fuel and clothing.

Some farmers grow crops like corn and soybeans, which are used to feed livestock or make food and fuel for humans. These two top Iowa crops can be found in many everyday household items, from soap to candy!

Other farmers raise livestock like hogs, dairy and beef cattle, and chickens. These animals mainly provide us with meat, milk and eggs, although their by-products can be found in many common household products, like Jell-O and candles.

The meat that comes from beef cattle is called beef, and includes ground beef, steaks and roasts. Cattle hide is also used to make leather products like belts and shoes. Dairy cattle are milked to product milk, which is processed into products like ice cream, yogurt and cheese. Pork comes from pigs, and includes pork chops, bacon and ham. Chickens produce eggs and meat like chicken breasts. Turkey breasts are a product of turkeys.

Almost all products have a tie to agriculture. French fries come from potatoes grown in Idaho, orange juice from oranges grown in tropical states, and ketchup from tomatoes grown in California. 

Interest Approach or Motivator:

Ask students to share where their breakfasts came from. Did any of those items come from a farm? What food items might come from a farm?


  1. Read the book Farm by Elisha Cooper.
  2. Ask students if they can name the animals and crops grown on the farm in the story.
    1. The story includes cattle, chickens, cats, dogs, pigs, tomato, carrot, green bean, sweet corn, field corn, and alfalfa hay.
  3. Ask students why farmers grow crops and livestock.
    1. Farmers grow crops and livestock to feed people and animals.
  4. Prior to class, print the attached Farm Product Cards document two-sided (flip on long edge), and cut the pages in half such that the product and its source are on either side of the card.
    1. Present the printed and cut cards to students. Go through the deck, showing first the product side of the card.
  5. Ask students if the product being shown comes from a plant or an animal. If students answer correctly, ask them if they know what plant or animal it came from (corn, soybeans, pigs, cattle, etc.)
  6. Go through the whole deck of cards with students. Review cards that students struggled with.
  7. Review the information with students. Ask:
    1. What were some products you were surprised to see come from farms?
    2. What do farmers have to do to raise crops and livestock?
    3. What types of plants and animals can be found on farms?

Essential Files (maps, charts, pictures, or documents):

Extension Activities:

Have students draw pictures of their favorite foods. Ask them to draw the plant(s) or animal(s) that their favorite food came from. Have them write key words to support their drawing.


Cindy Hall

Kelsey Faivre

Organization Affiliation:

Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation

Agriculture Literacy Outcomes:

  • Plants and Animals for Food, Fiber and Energy Outcomes
  • Food, Health and Lifestyle Outcomes
  • Culture, Society, Economy and Geography Outcomes

Iowa Core Standards:

  • English Language Arts:

Creative Commons License
