Free Printables Archives - Meagan Gets Real

Soybean lesson ideas can be a big help if you have a child who wants to learn more about where their food comes from. In fact, soybeans are an incredible crop that a lot of farmers do a great job growing. Understanding soybeans is understanding an important part of the food chain. Soybeans are used in a variety of foods we eat as well as products you might not even expect! I have put together a list of resources and tips for teaching about soybeans. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a free soybean printable pack.

**This post was sponsored by: Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Soybean Commission as part of the Farm Food Tour. All opinions shared are my own.

Soybean Resource List

Once Upon A Soybean – This video is a good at a glance view of where soybeans are from, how they found their way to the U.S., and what items you can find soybeans in. This would be a great place to start when researching soybeans as part of the printables I have at the bottom of this post.

Pod to Plate Soybean Video – This video is a book read aloud of the Pod to Plate book. You can also find the ebook here. This is a good overview of soybeans for kids.

Pod to Plate Lesson Plans and Printables – The Pod to Plate book has a variety of lesson plans found on their website to help your children better learn about soybeans. Even better, the lessons are broken down by grade level to help you put together a unit study that works for each child.

Growing Soybeans – Let your children try to grow soybeans with these simple steps. Great activity for kids to get a hands-on understanding of how soybeans grow.

Soybean Savvy – This video is for earlier elementary and focuses on the history and usage of soybeans. This would make a great partner to a variety of the printables listed in this post as well as the ones I have at the bottom of this post.

The Simple Soybean – This has lessons and information for children of different levels to learn more about soybeans.

Soybean Lesson Printables from other Sites

Life Cycle of a Soybean – This printable from the Kansas Soybean Commission gives students a chance to label each part of the life cycle of a soybean and includes a few bonus questions. Find the answer key here.

Soyfoods word search – This soyfoods word search is a great add-on to any unit focused on what foods contain soybeans.

Soybean Word Scramble – This word scramble focuses on the different soy foods you can find. Unscramble the words as part of a fun unit study.

Soybeans and Livestock – This fill in the blank soybean worksheet from the Kansas Soybean Commission gives students the chance to use what they’ve learned about soybeans and fill in the blanks. Find the answer key here.

Soybeans, Food, Feed, and Fuel Worksheet – This worksheet will share some great true/false questions for child who are working to get a better understanding of soybeans.

Meet the Bean Printable Packs – Meet the Bean has a variety of printables and resources to aid in your soybean unit study.

Soybean Science Challenge Lesson Plans – This soybean science challenge site has a variety of lesson plans to be used in a classroom setting. These can be adjusted to better fit homeschooling.

Soy Sensation Lesson Plan – This printable pack includes a variety of science experiments that can be used for teaching about soybeans.

The Science of Soy – This resource guide is packed with experiments, information, and so much more! This pack is full of resources and information that will definitely help with any soybean lessons you have planned.

Soybean Science – Living Necklace, Printables, slideshows and so much more focused on soybeans and the science behind them.

Soybean Images and Explanations to Use for unit studies.

Kansas-Soybean-Farm-Image-Presentation Download

Why are soybeans important

Soybeans are used for animal feed, human food products, oil, and a variety of non-food items. Soybeans are an important crop in the life cycle of a farmer as they will help to keep animals fed and the profits from the field can help pay for other parts of the farm.

Can I teach about soy in the classroom or as a homeschooler?

Learning about soy and soybeans is important for those who want a better understanding of where their food comes from and why. You can use the resources found in this post to help you better teach about soy production in the U.S.

Looking for more?

What can I learn about farming?

Don’t miss the free printables included with the farming unit for early elementary students.

Farm unit study on your wish list for homeschooling or the classroom? I had the opportunity to spend a week in Kansas visiting a variety of farms to learn more about where food comes from. I took some time to ask the farmers what they would like kids to know about where their food comes from. Here are a few of the highlights from the experience. hope you enjoy this early elementary farm unit study. (Free printable farm unit study at the bottom of this post.)

What can you learn about farms?

**This post was sponsored by: Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Soybean Commission as part of the Farm Food Tour. All opinions shared are my own.

Who can be a farmer?

When most people picture farmers, they picture a man on a tractor or a man with a variety of animals. Anyone can be a farmer and we had the opportunity to see that when we went on our tours. We had the honor of spending time with a woman who is running a very successful farm. When teaching your children about farms and where their food comes from, let them have fun by designing the kind of farmer they would be. You will find a coloring page in this printable to design your own farmer as well as an “if I were a farmer” page to write about what kind of farmer they might be.

It can also help to point out that farmers aren’t only men. For many farms, it is a family business. Women run farms, children help with tasks, and older men help teach a new generation about farming. Spending some time teaching your children that farmers can come in all shapes and sizes can help them to understand who is preparing their food and also see themselves as a farmer one day.

Things I didn’t know about farmers:

Farmers have to know a variety of skills in order to run a successful farm! A farmer may need to know a variety of tasks including equipment repair, crop moisture, safe fertilizing, pest prevention, and so much more!
Many farmers will be born into the trade and follow generations before them working a farm.
Some farmers will farm only one crop while others will rotate multiple crops.
Not all farmers have cows or pigs. On many farms the farmer will focus only on the crop they are interested in and not add in animals.

What is a dairy farm?

A dairy farm is a farm that is focused on producing dairy products for the public. They will keep only cows (Female cattle who can reproduce) on the farm for most dairy farms. Food products such as butter, milk, and cheese find their start on this farm. Dairy farmers follow extensive regulations to make sure they are caring for their animals and providing you with a quality product. Here are a few things you can teach your children about dairy farms.

How does a dairy farm work?

Farmers will raise a dairy cow from a calf. When she is old enough the farmer will breed the cow. (Some use traditional breeding practices while others will use artificial insemination.) When the cow gives birth it will spend the first 48 hours with the mom. After that, she will be separated from her calf and will be milked by the farmers 2-3 times a day. (Don’t worry about the mom or the calf though. Dairy cows are not terribly interested in being moms.) A dairy cow will live her life on the farm until she has gotten old enough to no longer breed and produce milk at which point she will most likely be sent to a feedlot.

How would you describe a dairy farm?

The dairy farm we visited was clean and filled with open spaces for cows to move around and graze. They had the ability to rotate through a covered barn area or move out into the fields to graze at their will. There were fences surrounding the cow pasture but those were there to protect the cows from escaping and from predators. There were a few buildings that were clean and used for milking. The average cow spends only 8-10 minutes in the milking building each time and spends the rest of its time in the pasture.

What are some common dairy farm terms?

A calf is a baby produced by a dairy cow. A cow is a female dairy cow that has given birth. A heifer is a female cow that has not given birth. The udder is the area where the milk is stored. Teats are what are milked to produce milk.

What is a Pig Farm?

Pig farming is the care and feeding of pigs that will be used for food products. Pig farmers follow a long list of safety protocols to make sure that pigs are well cared for. The quality of care a pig receives will have a direct relationship to the product they create. These farmers will work hard to make sure that their pigs are doing well. Here are a few questions your kids might ask about pig farming.

What does a pig farmer do?

On any given day a pig farmer may have a variety of tasks they are in charge of. Pig farmers are constantly working with nutritionists to make sure the pigs are receiving the right balance of food. They will use this information to make sure all pigs in their care are well-fed with the proper nutritional balance. Pig farmers will also track the breeding, pregnancy stages, and weight of pigs in their care. These pigs will eventually be moved to trucks to head to a processing plant when they are ready to be finished.

What do pigs eat?

Pigs will eat a custom blend of soybeans, corn, and other nutritional options. Pig farmers will consult with nutritionists to make sure the feed is proper for the age and health of the pig. Some farmers will add in natural food options such as oregano to help fight infection and keep pigs healthier.

What are some common pig terms?

Gilts and Sows are female pigs. Boars and barrows are male pigs. A litter is a group of newly born pigs. Farrowing is the process of a pig giving birth.

What is a feedlot?

A feedlot is a place cattle are sent to put on weight before being processed for meat. Cattle will be sent to a feedlot at roughly 400 pounds and will spend time on a feedlot putting on weight. They will get time both in a field and in large spacious pens being fed nutritious diets with the goal of putting on weight. One thing that amazed me when visiting a feedlot is how quiet it was. They say happy cattle are quiet cattle and the birds were honestly louder than the cattle were. The man running the feedlot said he wants his cattle to have one bad day in their entire lives and that is the day they are processed for meat production.

How long are cattle on a feedlot?

Cattle are on a feedlot until they reach a desired weight for processing. The time they spend on a lot can depend on the weight they arrive at. Cattle can stay on feedlots for as little as ninety days or up to 300 days depending on weight gain and the season.

What are cattle fed?

Cattle on a feedlot are fed a mix of hay and a variety of other items that are meant to keep them healthy and put on weight.

Why are there cowboys on horses at a feedlot?

While we were on the feedlot we saw men on horses in the feedlot with the cattle. When I asked their purpose, I was impressed by them. They ride through the feedlots checking cattle for any sign of injury or sickness. If there is any sign of sickness or injury the cowboys will remove only the cattle that is unwell and take them to be treated. It’s really quite an impressive process!

Why do farmers grow soybeans? .

Soybeans are a very popular crop in Kansas. They have a variety of purposes and help meet a series of needs. Soybeans can be used in a variety of ways and sold to other farmers as well. Soybeans can be used in feed for animals, a variety of foods, and even in non-food items. They also add needed nitrogen back to the soil for future crops! Talk about a powerful crop to grow!

What do farmers grow soybeans for?

Soybeans are grown for use in feed for cows and pigs. Their oil can be harvested as well. Soybeans can also be used for soy milk, tofu, and a variety of other food items. Because of its high protein count, farmers love this crop for their animals. Roughly 70% of soybeans are grown for animal feed.

Why do farmers rotate corn and soybean crops?

Because of the nitrogen in soybeans, farmers can use less nitrogen to treat their soil. Rotating crops is a natural way to cut down on added nitrogen.

Get your free printable preschool farm unit study!

Farming FAQS

These faqs will be updated consistently with questions from my readers. (Have a question? Email meagangetsreal@gmail.com)

What is the difference between organic and non-organic crops?

Non-organic crops will avoid the use of chemicals, pesticides, and GMO’s. Crops that are grown using organic methods will use alternative growing methods such as crop rotation and ongoing planting to avoid the use of chemical intervention.

What are the challenges farmers face?

Farmers work to overcome a variety of challenges including the weather, supply chain issues, sickness, public perception, and time constraints. Farms are constantly working to overcome things that will keep them from getting their crops to harvest and into the hands of consumers.

Why is farming important?

Farmers produce food for the general population. Farmers will work tirelessly to make sure that consumers receive the food items they need whether from crops or animal farming.

Why are farmers poor?

Farmers will often tell you they are asset-rich and cash-poor. This is because they invest their profit back into their fields, animals, and equipment to prepare for the next season.

How can we help farmers?

Farmers are currently facing issues with the supply chain because of a lack of workers in a variety of trades that benefit farmers. Encourage your children to pursue STEM careers. Engineers, Scientists, and Animal Dieticians are all needed to help farmers continue to be effective. You can also purchase directly from farmers when possible instead of via traditional stores.

How do farmers help the community?

Farmers create jobs, produce products the community needs, and help boost the value of the overall economy in the areas they serve.

Farm Resources and Printables for Early Elementary

Are you looking for even more? I have put together some great resources for you that will help you have more fun learning about the farm.

Montessori Farm Activities – This blog post is packed with tips for a Montessori approach to learning about farms with kids.
Farm Animal Coloring Pages – Have fun coloring with these farm animal coloring pages.
Farm Activities Bundle – This bundle is packed with fun ideas for adding on to your next farm unit.
Make a Farm Diorama – This post is definitely a fun addition to any Farm unit.

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Soybean Lesson Ideas