Assignment:

To understand that the future of agriculture depends on the continued interest of successive generations.

Preparation:

Prior Knowledge and Skills:             How to Conduct an Interview

                                                                    How to Give an Oral Presentation

                                                                    How to Do a Role Play

Materials and Resources:                     Crane, M., Fullerton, B., & Joseph, A..   Sightlines 10.     

Language Arts Anthology.   Prentice Hall Ginn Canada: Scarborough,                                          Ontario, p. 5.

Suggested Activities:

In the agriculture field, the "family farm" brings with it many underwritten implications on how family members interact with each other. This may be as simple as the hidden responsibilities that unfold as a result of growing up on a farm which contributes to "the farm way of life". It is interesting to observe and get a feel for this interaction whether the student has grown up on a farm or not since all experiences of farm life are slightly different. Eventually, the issue arises whether to pursue a life on the farm or abandon the farm for other interests. On the farm, other interests would even include simply pursuing a career in agriculture off the farm because one quickly becomes removed.

1. Interview/Presentation (Individual or Group 2-3)

a) Read the poem "Warren Pryor".

b) Interview three local farms. Here are some suggestions for interview criteria:

Did the farmer grow up on a farm?

Did either of the farmer’s parents encourage or pressure the farmer to go into farming?

Has the land they are farming on been passed down over the generations?

Did more than one of the farmers brothers or sisters farm or wish to farm? How was the land divided among siblings? Did that affect whether you farmed or not?

Have you ever wished that you pursued a career other than farming or an agriculturally related job that would allow you to be off the farm?

Do you pressure your own children to keep up the farming tradition?

Do you encourage your children to go off the farm to pursue other career interests?

What do you hope will become of your farm and land when you are finished farming?

c) Make a presentation to the class in the form of a 10-15 minute oral report summarizing the findings in an organized fashion.

OR

2. Role Play (Group of 2-3)

a) Read the poem "Warren Pryor"

b) Role play one of the following scenarios:

i) a conversation between Warren Pryor and his parents as he tells his parents that he has resigned from his bank job to pursue an agriculture career - one that links him more closely to the land.

a conversation between a farm couple and their son or daughter when the son or daughter tells their parents that they do not want to carry on the family tradition and would like to pursue a career off the farm despite the parents wishes for the farm to be passed on. (Note: This could be an agriculture related career that finds them off the farm or a job that is not at all farm related.)

 

Suggested Teaching Strategies:

- Indirect Instruction ( Reading for Meaning)

- Interactive Instruction (Small Groups)

Assessment /Evaluation:

- Oral Presentation Rubric