Module One: Farmer, Farmyard and Field Safety

Farm Warning Signs

To start off this module the teacher and the children in Third and Fourth Class spoke about what we would see if we were to visit a farm, what we would wear on a farm visit and the kind of warning signs we would see.

We examined the colour and the symbols used on the safety signs and what they mean using the interactive panel in the classroom. The children learned that the circle with the diagonal bar means prohibited, the blue circle means something is mandatory, the triangle means caution or warning and the square or rectangle means safe area.

We then looked at the safety signs associated with the different farmyard zones; chemical shed, slurry pit, the sheds and the animal pens.

The children in Third and Fourth Class completed the “Circle the Meaning” activity sheet where they looked at the sign and had to choose from three options what the sign means. They did very well at this activity.

Finally, under the warning signs topic the children in Third and Fourth Class then created their own farm safety sign that could be used on a farm. They created their sign, showed their group the sign to see if the group could identify it’s meaning and then the children explained the meaning of their sign to their group and where you might find this sign on the farm.

**Here is photographs of some children from Third and Fourth Class with their complete Farm Safety Designs**

**Here is photographs of some children from Third and Fourth Class worksheets identify the meaning of the warning signs on a farm**

Farm Yard Zones

Next we examined the different Farm Yard Zones. We wrote the four farm yard zones (The Chemical Shed, The Slurry Pit, The Sheds and The Animal Pens) up on the whiteboard and the children identified some of the dangers associated with each area. We then examined these farm yard zones (The Chemical Shed, The Slurry Pit, The Sheds and The Animal Pens) in more detail staying safe in these areas, the dangers associated with each area and the warning signs you would see in each area.

When we were looking at the chemical shed zone we examined what things that you would find in the chemical shed.

In looking at the slurry pit zone we looked at what slurry is. The children also learned that “Agitation” is the process of the mixing of the slurry.

When we were looking at the sheds zone the children identified all the sheds that you could find on a farm and how to stay safe in these farm buildings.

Finally, when we were talking about the animal pens the children identified what animals you could find on a farm. We also learned reasons why animals are kept indoors at certain times of the year, animals and their young (We looked at the poster for Module Two called “Watch out for Mama!”), medicines and bulls. The children also learned that “zoonoses” is the spreading of diseases from animal to human and how it is so important that when we visit a farm we must wash our hands.

When we were finished talking about the Farm Yard Zones the children then designed their own “My Farm Safety Map” where they had to draw a farm and then use a traffic light system to mark the unsafe places (red), must be accompanied by an adult places (yellow) and safe places (green).

**Here is photographs of some children from Third and Fourth Class with their complete Farm Yard Design using the Traffic Light System**

Field Safety

The next topic Third and Fourth Class looked at under module one was “Field Safety”. We discussed in class what fields on farms can be used for; feeding animals, growing food for people to eat, growing animal feed, growing animal bedding and orchards.

We looked at how to be safe around hay and straw bales. We also learned that on farms there may be lots of electric fences and it is important to be very careful around these electric fences as you could get an electric shock from one that could injure you.

We learned that in fields you could find ditches, drains, water troughs for animals to drink from, ponds, river and streams. We discussed and identified the dangers associated with any body of water and how we can stay safe around these. We also discussed what we should and should not do if we see somebody in difficulty in a body of water (we do not enter the water, we go and get an adult and we ring 999). Finally, regarding water we discussed why it is important to keep our bodies of water free from litter.

We looked at the uses of water containers on farms and the possible dangers associated with water containers.

Finally, regarding field safety we looked at how to be safe around slurry pits.

As a whole class using the active panel in the classroom, we discussed Module One Worksheets page one. The children identified why we need to be careful around water in the countryside. We looked at two pictures and the children worked in pairs to say what is unsafe about the pictures. Finally, we looked at different ways that we could help someone if they get into difficulty in the water. We learned that if someone was drowning, don’t jump in, help them. Stay calm and raise the alarm by calling out for help, find a telephone and dial 999. Try to reach them with a stick or throw them something that will float. We then looked at Module One Worksheets page two (top) where the children had to look at the pictures and we had a whole class discussion around how the countryside is becoming polluted and dangerous. module-one-worksheets

Electricity Safety

This year in Third and Fourth Class, as part of SESE, the children have already talked about electricity and how they use electricity at home and at school.

As a whole class we talked about how to stay safe around electricity, pylons and substations. We looked at warning signs that involve electricity warnings.

We examined and discussed what we should so if we notice fallen electrical wires. We looked at activities that involve us having to look out for overhead wires and the dangers associated with overhead electrical wires.

We looked at the dangers of electricity and water and how on farms it is important that the heat lamps for new born animals should be kept a safe distance away from water, hay or straw.

Finally, under the topic of electricity the children learned what minipillars are and how they should stay away from them as they could get seriously injured and even killed.

As a whole class, on our classroom active panel, we then looked at Module One Worksheets page three. The children had to look at the picture of the girl flying the kite and name the things that she is doing in the picture that is dangerous and explain why what she is doing is dangerous. In their pairs they then had to identify one thing each that uses electricity on the farm and say if it is potentially dangerous. module-one-worksheets

Working at Heights

We looked at the main causes of falls on a farm; bales of hay, bad use of ladders, roof repairs and an untidy yard. We looked at some of the warning signs associated with this topic.

We looked at bales to start with and how farmers can make sure that stacks of bales are safe. We examined some pictures associated with bale safety.

We then discussed how to safely use ladders on a farm. Again we looked at some pictures showing the dos and don’ts when it comes to using ladders on a farm!

We talked about how roof repairs can cause injury and examined some rood damage photographs.

Finally, under this topic we learned why it is important to keep a tidy yard in order to prevent or reduce trips, falls and falling objects.

We used the following lesson plan for information and photographs when discussing the above topics and these were displayed on the active panel in the classroom. heights-and-falls

To finish off this discussion the children then worked in pairs where they had to look at one picture assigned to them by their class teacher. In their pairs they had to identify the falling or trip hazards and predict what might happen next and what should be done to prevent an accident. As a whole class we then looked at the photograph of the tractor parked on the farm. We had a whole class discussion and the children had to identify the key trip and fall hazards. heights-and-falls

Countryside Code

When we were looking at this topic we looked at how it is important not to trespass. When we visit the countryside we should respect it, the people working there and the animals that live there. We learned how to be safe in the countryside and how we should always be accompanied by an adult.

In other areas of the curriculum this year we have been learning about litter, recycling and waste. Under this topic we revised what we learned this year on the topic and we discussed how and why it is important to protect our countryside from litter.

Farmer Health and Wellness

We know from doing this module that being a farmer is a very busy job! Some of the children who live on farms described some of the work that their fathers / grandfathers / uncles do.

We looked at why the weather is so important to farmers. We also examined how they can protect themselves in the sun, wind and rain.

We have already looked at the food pyramid this year in SPHE. We examined it again in this module and we discussed why diet and exercise is so important along with plenty of rest for the farmer.

Finally, we looked at what the busy times of the year are on the farm; harvest time, calving time, lambing time, silage and hay time. We looked at the tasks that the farmer may have to carry out during this time on the farm.

“Once Upon a Farm” – Video by Agri Awareness

After completing all the discussions and topics in this module the children in Third and Fourth Class then looked at the youtube video “Once Upon a Farm” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKzbnKPCPqI

We watched the video and at different points Mrs Crosby paused the video and the children had to identify the dangers on the farm. The children were very good at identifying the dangers in the video.

Spot the Farm Dangers

The children had to examine a picture on the active panel in the classroom. We had a whole class discussion where the children had to spot all the dangers that they could see in this poster. spot-the-farm-dangers

Module One Web Games

When we had finished all the discussions and the activity sheets in relation to module one we then had more fun by playing some web games based on the topics of welding, tractor driving and quad driving. We played the games on the following link; https://kidzone.agrikids.ie/gamezone/off-to-work/index.html

The children really enjoyed going up to the whiteboard to pick what the farmer should wear in each game!

Completion of Module One – Farmer, Farm and Field Safety

To complete this module the children completed the bottom part of Module One Worksheets page two. They stuck this activity into their SESE copies, read the statements and chose if the answer should be “True or False”. We then had a whole class discussion around the statements.

On Wednesday, 9th March 2022 we completed the Module One – Farmer, Farm and Field Safety Webinar at 11:15am. After Third and Fourth Class attend this webinar the children completed the webinar pop quiz to assess how much they have learned during this module! module-one-webinar-pop-quiz

The Farm Safe Promise

Here are the children in Third and Fourth Class taking the Farm Safe Promise. They promised to never visit a farm alone, never approach an animal I don’t know and always keep back from moving farm machinery.