The document discusses soil and its importance on farms. It defines soil as a thick brown carpet that covers the ground and provides habitat for many insects and small animals. Healthy soil is dark brown, crumbles easily, and is full of small holes and earthworms. It absorbs water like a sponge. The farmer ensures the soil is healthy so that grass, wheat, barley and other crops will grow well. Healthy soil leads to healthy plants, animals, and food for humans.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
The Hedgerow
Curriculum Links:
• Science Living Things
Environmental Awareness and Care
• Geography Human Environments
• SPHE Myself and the Wider World
Introduction
Irish farmers live and work on farms. As well as caring for the animals and crops, the farmer also
takes care of the environment. The environment is all the world around us and the farmer looks after
the hedges, water, trees and soil.
Lesson Objectives:
To make pupils aware that hedgerows exist on Irish farms and to be able to identify them.
To be aware that hedgerows have a purpose on the farm.
Teacher Guidelines
It is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and basic concept of hedgerows
before starting the lesson.
Key Words:
hedgerow fields flowers season overgrown birds
What are hedgerows?
Hedgerows surround and
divide up many of the farmer’s
fields. They are like little walls
on the farm that make sure all
the farm animals such as the
cows and sheep are living in
the right fields.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
What does the hedgerow look like?
Hedgerows are big, green bushes with lots of wild flowers growing down low and tall trees up
high. When you look closer, you can even spot birds and animals that live inside. Some hedgerows
change with the season. During the summer, these hedgerows are big and colourful but in the
winter, they can lose their leaves and look very bare.
Suggested Activities
• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 46
• Encourage the pupils to look at the wild flowers hiding in the hedgerow
• Bring in a selection of flowers to class so the pupils can touch and smell them
• Set up your own class hedgerow with real plants, toy animals and birds
• Create a 3-D collage of the hedgerow in an Art lesson
• Read stories and poems about animals and plants that live in the hedgerow
Why does the farmer mind the hedgerow?
The farmer makes sure to trim his hedges often because it keeps the countryside looking clean and
tidy. It also stops hedgerows becoming overgrown. The farmer is very careful when he trims his
hedge so he does not interrupt the birds, their nests or eggs.
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson children should know what the hedgerow is and be able to identify one.

3. 28
Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
Air and Trees
Curriculum Links:
• Science Living Things
Environmental Awareness and Care
• Geography Human Environments
• SPHE Myself and the Wider World
Lesson Objectives:
To introduce trees and their different parts. To encourage pupils to appreciate the link between
trees and clean air.
Teacher Guidelines
It is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and basic concept of air and
trees before starting the lesson.
Key Words:
trees trunk roots tunnels branches air
Irish trees
Trees are all around us. The farmer takes
good care of the trees because they make
Irish farms and the countryside look beautiful.
Did you know that you can tell different trees
apart simply by looking at their leaves? You
can also tell the age of a tree by counting the
rings in its trunk.
Leaves
Branches
Trunk
Roots
Hazel Alder
Oak Ash

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
Suggested Activities:
• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 47
• Get the pupils to name different plants and animals that live in or near the tree
• Get the pupils to draw a picture of their favourite tree
• Go on a nature walk. Spot and name the different trees you come across
• Encourage the pupils to bring different leaves from their garden into class.
Create a collage with all the different leaves for the wall
• Plant a tree in the school garden
• Do leaf rubbings. Get the pupils to place a leaf under a blank piece of paper.
When they press hard on the paper and shade over the leaf, the shape will appear
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson children should know what a tree is. They should also know that trees
provide us with clean air.
The different parts of a tree
Every part of the tree has a different but very important job.
Down at the bottom of the tree, you’ll find the roots which keep
the tree safely in place. They are like tunnels. Water travels through
these tunnels to every part of the tree, even the tip of the highest
leaf! The trunk is the hard bit of the tree and it makes sure the tree
is standing up straight. Branches come out from the trunk and this is
where the leaves grow from.
Trees on the Irish farm
The next time you are out in
the countryside, take a deep
breath. You’ll notice the air all
around you is clean and fresh.
Trees help keep this air healthy.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
Water
Curriculum Links:
• Science Living Things
Environmental Awareness and Care
• Geography Human Environments
• SPHE Myself and the Wider World
Lesson Objectives:
To be aware that water moves in a cycle and to explain what this means. To appreciate the need
for clean water on the farm and to be able to distinguish clean water from dirty water.
Teacher Guidelines
It is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and the basic concept of water
before starting the lesson.
Key Words:
water clouds raindrops water cycle live smell
The way water moves
Water goes up and down and up, and back down again. Water on the ground (in puddles, rivers and
oceans) is heated by the sun and rises up to the sky to form clouds. When it gets cold, water gathers
and forms raindrops. These raindrops then fall to the ground and return to the rivers and oceans
where the sun can heat the water back up again. This is called the Water Cycle.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
Suggested Activities:
• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 48
• Get pupils to draw a simple diagram of the water cycle, including clouds and rain
• Get the pupils to identify a glass of clean water from a glass of dirty water and discuss the
differences between both
• Cows drink 100 litres of water a day! Explain to the class just how much that is (by bringing
in a 2 litre bottle of water). Ask them how much water they would drink a day. Learn more
about cows on the farm on page 6 and 7 of Dig In! Learning about Life on the Farm and
Countryside– Module 1
• Invite a local farmer into the classroom and get him to discuss the importance of clean water
Why does the farm need water?
All people, plants and animals need water to
live. So the farmer has a very important job. He
must make sure all the animals can get clean,
fresh water whenever they want it. Cows need
it to produce healthy milk for us to drink and
sheep need it to grow. Even the crops in the
field need it so we have fresh and tasty fruit and
vegetables to eat.
How clean is your water?
The farmer always checks that the water on his
farm is clean. Clean water is usually very clear
and has no smell or foam. Dirty water can often
be dull with a bad smell.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson children should know about the water cycle and how important clean
water is on the farm.

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
Soil
Lesson Objectives:
To identify healthy soil and to understand its importance in sustaining life. To be aware of the link
between healthy soil, healthy crops and animals.
Teacher Guidelines
It is suggested that the teacher introduces pupils to the vocabulary and basic concept of soil before starting
the lesson.
Curriculum Links:
• Science Living Things
Environmental Awareness and Care
• Geography Human Environments
• SPHE Myself and the Wider World
Key Words:
soil insects animals healthy wheat barley
What is soil?
Soil is like a thick brown carpet that covers the ground. It could even be called the ‘carpet of life’ as
many insects, worms and even some animals live inside it. Many plants, trees and vegetables also need
healthy soil to grow.
What keeps the soil healthy?
The soil needs lots of water to stay healthy so when the rain falls, it holds onto as much water as it can.
Like a sponge in a bath, it has lots of tiny little air holes so it can store it all when the weather is dry.
Healthy soil means a healthy farm
The farmer makes sure that the soil on his farm is healthy so his grass, wheat, barley, onions,
potatoes and other crops will grow. And remember healthy grass is important food for cows, sheep
and goats.
Good soil Healthy grass Healthy cow Tasty milk, cheese and meat
Good soil Tasty onions, potatoes and carrots

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Module 1Learning about Life on the Farm and Countryside
Suggested Activities:
• Photocopy Activity Sheet page 49
• Bring a sample of dry soil and moist, healthy soil into class. Get the pupils to feel both and
compare the two
• Get the pupils to examine the moist, healthy soil looking for air holes and insects that live within
• In Art class, make a collage of all the different insects that live in the soil
• Discuss in class the different animals big and small that make their homes in the soil
• Get the class to create an acrostic poem about soil
• Bring a flower pot with holes at the bottom into class. While it is still empty, place it over a sink
and fill it with water. The class will clearly see the water pour out the bottom. Then place soil
into the pot and fill it with water again. This time, the water does not pour out the bottom as it is
being absorbed by the soil
How do you know if soil is healthy?
Get some soil and look closely. Healthy soil is a dark brown colour and
crumbles easily in your fingers. It’s full of small little holes with lots of
earthworms and creepy crawlies living inside. If it’s not too wet or not too
dry, then it’s the perfect type of soil for healthy crops, onions, potatoes,
carrots, cauliflower and brocolli to grow in. (Learn more about Fruit and
Vegetables that grow on the farm on page 16 and 17 of Dig In! Learning
about Life on the Farm and Countryside – Module 1)
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson children should know what soil is and how important healthy soil is for
the farmer.