The Best Farming Games for Children Over 12

Snail Farm

• One game can be accomplished in the classroom. You can host a farm of your own with snails as your "livestock." After you have gathered the snails, have the children feed them fresh leafy weeds or lettuce. Secure the farm with clear tape after each use to prevent the snails for getting out. While the children write their observations in a journal, you can opt to teach them more by asking trivia questions about snails. For instance, ask questions about how many teeth snails have (25,000) or what the belly is called (a foot). After a few days, let the snails go back into the "wild."

Garden

• A garden helps teach children about how things grow. It can also teach them how to be responsible. The garden could contain either flowers or vegetables. To help chart the students' efforts, have a contest to see who can grow the largest crop or flower or who has the most green beans harvested. Children will take pride in the things they grow, and they will also learn the value of taking care of something until achieving the desired results.

Preschool Games

• For the younger set, select games that highlight what kinds of animals are typically found on a farm. Many preschoolers enjoy learning about animals. You can make animal hand puppets with paper bags or construct a cardboard farm with leftover shoe boxes and oatmeal containers. Another idea is to utilize the web. Printable coloring pages and interactive online games can help the preschooler learn about life on the farm and farms' impacts on our lives.

Field Trip Scavemger Hunt

• Taking children on a field trip allows them to get hands-on experience when learning about the material. Presenting the material in the form of a scavenger hunt game can make it a more enjoyable learning lesson. Some idea answers for your scavenger hunt could include types of leaves found on the farm, different kinds of animals, what the animals feed on and what crops are farmed on location. Once students have completed the list, award the winner with a prize, such as a homework pass or blue ribbon or certificate.