Summer Reading and Family Fun from the Foundation for Agriculture

By Julia Recko

Schoolkids across the country may be set to dash out of their classrooms into summer, but it’s also the perfect time for them to jump into learning more about where their food comes from. The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture creates educational resources for teachers and families to help kids understand agriculture, including our summer reading list.

Check out the Foundation’s list of books and activities geared to help kids of all ages learn more about what happens on the farm and how food gets to your table, picnic or summer cookout.

PreK- K

• "PB&J Hooray!"— Get ready for lunch time! This story walks readers through the process of creating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich—from seed to factory to store to plate.
• "Tyler Makes Pancakes"—This fun read explores the agricultural origins of the ingredients needed to make pancakes.
• “The Beeman” — Written in fun rhymes, this is a story of a little boy and his grandfather taking care of honeybees.

K-2nd

• “Diary of a Farmer” — Enjoy a tall glass of milk and let this story walk you and your child through a day in the life of a dairy farmer.
• “How Did that Get in my Lunchbox?” — From chocolate milk to the slices of apple to sandwich bread, this book explores where common lunchbox foods come from. (For a fun follow-up activity, play Load the Lunchbox!)
• “A Year on the Farm”— Modern farming is an explosion of innovation. Explore several different machines used on a farm throughout the year with this read.

3rd-5th

• “Sleep Tight Farm ” — The Foundation’s 2017 book of the year shows how a farm family cares for their land and animals as they prepare for winter.
• “First Peas to the Table” — Did you know that Thomas Jefferson loved peas? Read this fun story to learn more.
• “Apple Orchard Riddle” — Can you guess the answer to the riddle as students learn clues and find out how apples grow?

Family Summer Activities

Farm to Cart is a fun game for the whole family! Young learners discover how farmers use land to grow crops as they harvest food and place it in their grocery carts.

If your family is hitting the highway for a road trip this summer, Car Trip Bingo, a My American Farm activity, is a perfect addition. What better way to learn about the farms and ranches you pass as you explore our diverse countryside?

My American Farm Apps: Download the My American Farm App and the All About Beef App for more fun games on the go!

Can you tell we’re excited about ag literacy? If you share our passion for education, you can help support the creation of ag literacy resources by donating today. For more educational resources visit www.agfoundation.org.