Are you looking for some Farm themed children’s books to use in your classroom that include literacy extension activities? This list may be just what you are looking for!
Farms can be a great theme to engage your students. It is filled with some exciting literacy experiences to explore. You may have had the opportunity to read some of these Farm books already, but hopefully some will be a new adventure for you and your kids. Explore with your children the theme of Farms by trying these engaging books and some of the extension activities suggested
1. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. Filled with truck sounds and animals’ noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.
A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up! That is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they’re willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.
Literacy Extensions:
- Our Favorite Farm Animals Classroom Book
- “Farm Counting” Student Counting & Color Booklet
- Farm Art Project: Paper Plate Pigs
- Farm Letter & Beginning Sound Match Game
2. Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
A classic barnyard story that reads like a lullaby. A rhyming text and beautiful illustrations follow the animals’ day on the farm. The pictures become progressively darker as night falls on the barn.
The farm animals go about their activities throughout the day. They make their noises, play in the grass, and return to the big red barn to fall sound asleep. The text is interactive and soothing to all children.
Literacy Extensions:
- “Down on the Farm” Classroom Book
- “Farm Senses” Student Booklet
- Farm Animal Venn Diagram Worksheet
- Farm Counting Game
3. Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
Everybody sings along because it’s time to do-si-do in the barnyard with a high-spirited animal crew! Lyrical, rhythmic text with adorable pictures, the story swings along and is fun to read.
With twirling pigs, fiddle-playing cows, and other unforgettable animals. The books features are lively rhyming text and a die-cut cover that reveals the wacky characters inside. Guaranteed to get kids and adults stomping their feet.
Literacy Extensions:
- Farm Words Writing Station
- “Farm Senses” Student Booklet
- Farm Art Project
- Farm Sight Word Match Game
4. Night Night Farm by Roger Priddy
It’s night-time down on the farm. The animals are in the barn and it’s time to say a soft and cozy, “Night, night.” Perfect for settling your little one into bed and ending with your own, quiet, “Night, night.”
Say goodnight to the horse, the dog, and all their farm friends, as you turn the shaped pages and watch as the animals go to sleep, one by one. With irresistibly sweet illustrations is the perfect way to end the day.
Literacy Extensions:
- Classroom Book: “All About Farms”
- Farm Retelling Story Organizer
- Farm Roll It! Read It! Short Vowels
- Farm Letter & Sound Match
5. Sheep in a Jeep by Nance E. Shaw
Get ready for whimsical, woolly adventures in this collection of eight funny stories of everyone’s favorite sheep by bestselling author and illustrator. This crowd of mischievous, well-meaning sheep take a ride in a jeep, create chaos in a shop, and much more!
This story is for children learning how to rhyme. Each adventure can be read aloud in five minutes, making it a perfect book for story time, bedtime, or any time you’re just looking for shear fun!
Literacy Extensions:
- “Farm Counting” Student Booklet
- Farm Story Sequencing Student Worksheet
- Farm Sight Word Match Game
- Farm Number & Ten Frames
6. Mrs. Wishy Washy Farm by Joy Cowley
Uh-oh. Mrs. Wishy-Washy is at it again. Rubbing and scrubbing all the animals on the farm. But this time they aren’t standing for it. Duck, Cow, and Pig are leaving mean old Mrs. Wishy-Washy for good!
They run away to the big city. But they get lost, wander into a restaurant, and even stumble into a hardware store and get covered in paint! Where is Mrs. Wishy-Washy when they need her? Maybe her farm isn’t so bad after all.
Literacy Extensions:
- Farm Word Bank
- Farm Literature Retelling Organizer Student Page
- Farm Make a Short Vowel Word Game
- Farm Roll & Cover Math Games
7. Down By the Barn by Will Hillenbrand
Down by the barn, early in the morning, a farmer drives his tractor, stopping along the way to pick up a calf, then a chick, then a pig. The group of animals grows and grows until at last they reach their destination.
In the end they all find a surprise. Charming illustrations and rhythmic text filled with sound words make this the perfect read-aloud for young children.
Literacy Extensions:
- “Down on the Farm” Classroom Book
- Farm Student Story
- Farm Sight Word Match Game
- Farm Build 2 Addend Addition Number Sentences
8. Click, Clack Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Corin
Plucky barnyard animals unite to improve their working conditions in this hilarious picture book. Farmer Brown is dumbfounded when his cows discover an old typewriter in the barn and begin experimenting. All day long he hears, “Click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Clickety clack moo”!
Things really get out of hand when the cows began airing their grievances. Farmer Brown finally has to make concessions. But much to his dismay, the cows are not the only creatures that can type. Kids and underdogs everywhere will cheer for the clever critters that calmly and politely stand up for their rights, while their human caretaker becomes more and more upset!
Literacy Extensions:
- Farm Writing Station Words
- Farm Letter & Sound Match Game
- Farm Art Project
- Farm Roll & Cover Math Game
Finally, there are so many Farm children’s books you can choose from. From Farm fiction to nonfiction, the list of books is endless. Remember to pick the books that best fit the needs of your students or children and support your learning activities. Happy Reading!
Find some more literacy and extension activities in my store, The Teaching Scene by Maureen.
To read more blog topics check out my blog, “A Guide to Using Literature-Based Units of Study.”
