Kids AgQuest Video Resources - Swine




Activities/Resources

  1. The Life Cycle of a Pig:
    • Visual Aid: Use a chart or a series of pictures to explain the life cycle of a pig, gestation, farrowing, nursey, growing and finishing.
    • Interactive Worksheet: Provide worksheets with the stages of swine growth. Have students color and cut out the stages, then paste them in the correct order on a separate sheet of paper.
  2. Growth Observation:
    • Daily Routine: Assign groups of students a section of the life cycle of a pig. Have students write down their observations in a journal.
    • Observation Journal: Students can draw and write about the changes they observe in pigs throughout their assigned section.
  3. Reading Ear Notches:
    • Visual Aid: Use a chart or series of pictures to explain the process of ear notching pigs, why farmers do it, and how to read ear notches.
    • Hands-On Activity: Allow each student to make their own ear notches on pig ears made from paper plates and see if the other students can correctly identify each pig.
  4. Research Project:
    • Group Research: Assign students to small groups to research different aspects of the swine industry, such as their history, breeds, uses (meat, by-products, leather) and significance in agriculture.
    • Presentation: Have each group create a poster or digital presentation to share their findings with the class.
  5. Exploring Pork Uses:
    • Lesson on Uses: Teach students about the various uses of hogs including pork, leather, glue crayons, chalk, paint, and other by-products.
    • Hands-On Activity: Provide samples of pork and pork by-products (e.g., leather, crayons) for students to observe and taste. Discuss how these products are made.
  6. Math Integration:
    • Measurement and Data: Have students measure out the amount of space needed for pigs throughout different parts of their cycle either. Compare and contrast the different size areas.
    • Graphing Activity: Use the collected data to create bar graphs showing the growth of the pigs over time.
  7. Art Integration:
    • Creative Drawing: Ask students to draw a pig at different stages of its life cycle.
    • Craft Project: Have students create pig crafts using construction paper, paint, or other materials.
  8. Field Trip or Virtual Tour:
    • Field Trip: If possible, arrange a visit to a local farm or garden. Discuss the farming process and the importance of swine in agriculture.
    • Virtual Tour: Alternatively, find a virtual tour or online resources about swine farming. 


Snack Ideas

Pork Rinds

Pork Jerky


Bacon-Wrapped Little Smokies

Ingredients

  • 16 oz package of little smokies (or small cooked sausages)
  • 15 slices of bacon, each cut into 3 smaller sections
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • Pinch of black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  1. Prepare a jelly roll pan (or large baking sheet with a rim), with a layer of aluminum foil, lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Pat sausages dry with a paper towel and wrap each individual sausage with a piece of the cut bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
  3. Add brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and black pepper to a large resealable plastic bag. Use a spoon to combine the sugar with seasonings. Add several bacon wrapped sausages, seal bag and shake gently to coat. Repeat with all remaining sausages.
  4. Line sugar rubbed sausages on prepared baking sheet and bake 30-35 minutes, until bacon is browned. For some extra crispness, broil for a couple of minutes after baking.