Farm Safety YSI Dig resources safety

18

Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside

Farm and Countryside Safety

IntroductionThe countryside can be a fun and exciting place for children to visit and enjoy. However, it should be enjoyed safely and insert and while being supervised by an adult. In this lesson we will examine being safe around fences, roads and water.

Lesson ObjectivesTo highlight the importance of staying safe in the countryside. To explore the dangers around fences, roads and water. Teacher Guidelines:It is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and the concept of the countryside before starting the lesson.

Curriculum Links:• Science Living Things Environmental Awareness and Care • Geography Human Environments• SPHE Myself and the Wider World

Key Words for this Lesson:

animalsfencesgatespensroadssafecrosscode

Safety around FencesMany farm animals live in fields. Bulls, cows and calves like to eat grass in the fields. The farmer puts up fences to keep animals in the field. We should not climb over fences or gates as they may contain sharp materials like barbed wire. Sometimes farmers put up electric fences which will give you a shock if you touch them. If you have permission to enter a field make sure you close any gates after opening.

StayingSafearoundLivestockinPensDo not wander around the farm on your own or enter sheds/barns without the farmer’s permission. Animals may be housed inside in pens. Do not try to enter the pen as you may become trapped with an animal. Do not open gates to these pens as the animal could escape.

Remember: Thefarmisnotaplayground.

KEEP GATE

CLOSED

19


Suggested Activities• Photocopy Activity sheet page 42• Go through the safe cross code with the children• Discuss why you should never enter a field without permission • In art class design a ‘Stay Safe in the Countryside’ poster• Talk about what we should do if a stranger tries to give you a lift• Discuss how to stay safe on the farm or in the countryside• In PE class play Traffic Lights. (The teacher acts as traffic controller. When the teacher shouts

red the children must freeze, green they must run and amber/orange they must walk slowly.)

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know the importance of staying safe in the countryside. They should be aware of the ‘Safe Cross Code’.

Staying Safe on the RoadThe countryside is a great place to go for a walk or a cycle but we must be careful when we are walking or cycling on the roads. We should walk on the right hand side of the road. We should always wear a helmet if we are cycling and we should cycle on the left hand side of the road. We should never take a lift from strangers. Always look both ways when you cross the road. If you are crossing the road follow the ‘Safe Cross Code’.

SAFECROSSCODE:1. Look for a safe place to cross2. Don’t hurry! Always STOP and WAIT3. LOOK all around before you cross the road4. LISTEN for any traffic5. If traffic is coming, let it pass.

Then look around again6. When there is no traffic, walk

straight across the road

Look and listen for traffic while you cross

20


Machinery Safety

IntroductionFarms have a lot of machinery on them. These machines help farmers to do important jobs on the farm. All farm machinery can be dangerous and you should not go near, climb onto or touch any of these machines. Lesson ObjectivesTo introduce some of the machinery used on farms. To highlight the importance of staying safe around farm machinery.

Teacher Guidelines:It is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and the basic concept of machinery before starting the lesson.

Curriculum Links:•Science: Energy and Forces Environmental Awareness and Care •Geography: Human Environments•SPHE: Myself Myself and the Wider World•History: Stories

Key Words:

machineryfarmtractortrailerploughcombineharvester

DifferentTypesofFarmMachineryThe farmer uses many different types of machinery when working on the farm. You should not climb on or play near any farm machinery. Even when machinery is not moving it can still be dangerous. These are some of the machines the farmer may use on the farm:

tractor and trailer

tractor and plough Combine harvester

21


TheSpecificPurposesofDifferentFarm MachineryThe farmer uses a tractor and trailer for many jobs on the farm. They may be transporting animals from one place to another or collecting feed for the animals. A tractor may have a plough attached to it to get the fields ready for planting crops. A combine harvester harvests the crops when they are ready. These machines should only be watched from afar.

HowtoStaySafefrom Machinery on the FarmIf you live on or are visiting a farm always watch out for tractors or other farm machinery approaching. Keep out of the way of moving machinery. Farm machinery is noisy when it is working and the farmer operating the machinery may not hear you.

Suggested Activities• Photocopy Activity sheet page 43

• Get the pupils to name different types of farm machinery.

• Get the pupils to ask a farmer how machinery helps them on the farm.

• Ask a local farmer how machinery has changed over the years.

• Discuss and revise the importance of staying away from farm machinery.

• Explore, through informal activity with toy tractors and trailers, forces such as pushing and pulling.

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know different types of farm machinery and what they are used for and how to stay safe around them.

22


ElectricalSafety

IntroductionWe use electricity everyday in our homes and at school. Computers, televisions and toasters all use electricity. It is only over a hundred years ago that most homes did not have electricity. Life would be very different without electricity, from washing clothes, to cooking our dinner or surfing the internet. Farmers use electricity in many ways on their farm. They are careful when they are using electrical appliances. Electricity can be dangerous.

Lesson ObjectivesTo learn about the uses and potential dangers of electricity.

Teacher Guidelines:It is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and basic concepts of electricity before starting the lesson.

Curriculum Links:•Science: Living Things

•Geography: Human Environments

•SPHE: Myself and the Wider World

Key Words:

electricityhomeappliancessocketdangerousshearing

ElectricityinthehomeWe use electricity everyday at home to cook, watch television, listen to the radio or switch on the lights. There are many different appliances in our home which use electricity. These appliances have a plug which you put into a socket for it to work. Fridges, kettles, irons and hairdryers are all appliances.

23


DangersofelectricityElectricity is not something that we play with. It can be very dangerous. We should never try to put our fingers or anything else into the sockets in our house. We should always switch off appliances when we are finished with them.

HowthefarmeruseselectricityThe farmer uses electricity in many ways. Farmers are very careful when they use electricity. Some examples of using electricity on the farm include; shearing sheep, milking cows, cutting hedges or placing a red light over a newborn animal.


• Talk about the different appliances that use electricity in the home

• Draw some of these appliances

• Name three things that you would miss if there was no electricity

• Show the children how to make static electricity using a balloon. Rub the balloon 10 times on your jumper and use it to pick up shreds of paper.

• Find out about other ways the farmer might use electricity

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know what use electricity has and that it is potentially dangerous. Log onto www.esb.ie/ampville.ie (or use DVD) to learn fun facts about electricity

Additional Resources: • Use Ampville DVD or www.esb.ie/ampville

Developed with:

24


Farm Animal Safety

IntroductionIrish farmers have many different types of animals on the farm. Some of the animals you might find on an Irish farm include: cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. To revise these animals please see Module 1 of Dig In! Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside. Farmers care for their animals and provide them with the food and shelter they need. The farmer looks after and cares for his animals every day of the year. The farmer also makes sure that people and children are safe around his farm and animals.

Lesson ObjectivesTo make pupils aware of the dangers they could encounter around farm animals and the ways in which they can stay safe around these animals.

Teacher Guidelines:It is suggested that the teacher revises the different types of farm animals examined in Module 1 as well as introducing pupils to the vocabulary and basic concepts of safety before starting the lesson.

Curriculum Links:•Science: Living Things

•Geography: Human Environments

•SPHE: Myself and the Wider World

Key Words:

tamedangerouspettouchchutenewborn

Farm Animals Farms are exciting places with lots of animals. All farm animals can be dangerous and it is important that we are very careful around all of these animals from hens and roosters to cows and bulls.

HowShouldweApproachFarmAnimals?You should ask permission from the farmer before approaching any of the farm animals. Animals may be housed in sheds or in fields. We should never enter a field where there might be animals or play around in sheds where animals are housed. They may look friendly and tame but you never know when they might snap, bite, stamp or kick. Some male animals like bulls, rams or boars can be very violent and could be dangerous. Stay calm, speak quietly and move slowly around these animals. You should avoid making sudden movements, shouting, screaming or running around the animals. Always wash your hands after handling farm animals or after a visit to the farm. Under the farmer’s supervision he may allow you to pet,touch or even handle some of the farm animals. Listen to the farmers instructions on how to approach and hold the animals (e.g. baby chicks or newborn lambs).

25


IntroductiontotheDangersofApproachingandHandlingofCowsandSheepCows and sheep can be housed in fields or in sheds. During the summer, they are usually outdoors. When it is cold in the winter they are housed in sheds. We should not enter a field or a shed where these animals are being kept without the farmer’s permission. If a cow or a sheep is in a chute stay a safe distance away from the animal as they could kick you.

SheepMost lambs are born in spring. Ewes, the female sheep, usually give birth to either one or two lambs at a time. The lambs will stay with its mother until it is about five months old. If you are allowed to touch a newborn lamb be gentle with it and make sure not to hold it too tightly. You should always wash your hands after being on the farm.

IntroductiontotheDangersofApproachingandHandlingPigsandPoultryPigs can be kept indoors in sheds or outdoors in fields. If you are allowed to pet, hold or touch a piglet, be gentle and do not squeeze it. Piglets usually squeal if you try and catch them so be careful not to frighten them. Make sure not to chase chickens as this can frighten them. If you are allowed to hold newborn chicks, use both hands, be gentle and do not drop them. Place them back gently.


• Discuss the different types of farm animals that the children have seen

• Sing the song ‘Old McDonald Had a Farm’ and see how many farm animals the children can come up with

• Revise the ways in which we can stay safe around farm animals

• Invite a local farmer into the classroom to talk about his animals

• Have the children draw and colour the different types of farm animals discussed in this lesson

• Discuss the children’s favourite farm animal and why

Learning Outcomes:At the end of this lesson children should know that farm animals can be potentially dangerous and how to stay safe around these animals.

Education

Farm Safety YSI Dig resources safety