Year 4 Guided Reading Level N - Farms and Food with Lesson Plan

Book Snapshot
• Title: Farms and Food
• Genre: Nonfiction (informational)
• Subject: Life Science / Agriculture
• Primary Topic: How food is grown and gets to consumers
• Estimated Guided Reading Level (A–Z): N

What This Book Teaches Best
• Explains how healthy soil supports plant growth and why the earth is tested before planting begins.
• Describes how farms use sunlight, water, and irrigation systems to give crops the moisture they need.
• Shows how machinery (like tractors and plows) helps farmers prepare land and work large areas efficiently.
• Introduces major farm products (grains, root vegetables, fruit from orchards, milk, eggs, chicken) and how they are produced or collected.
• Traces the farm-to-table pathway through harvest (including a combine harvester for grains) and transport, including keeping food at the correct temperature to stay fresh and safe.

Learning Goals
• Students can describe how the book says soil helps plants grow and why soil is tested before planting.
• Students can explain how irrigation helps crops get the correct amount of moisture.
• Students can identify ways farm machinery is used during the growing season, including pulling a plow to prepare ground for seeds.
• Students can describe at least three kinds of foods the book names and how each comes from farms.
• Students can explain what a combine harvester does during harvest, based on the text.
• Students can describe why the text says food is kept at the correct temperature during travel.

Key Vocabulary From the Text
• consumed — eaten by people.
• irrigation — bringing water to crops using systems.
• machinery — large machines used to do farm work.
• orchards — places where fruit trees are grown.
• distribution — delivering goods to different places.

Discussion Prompts
• Pre-reading question: What steps do you think food goes through before it reaches your dinner table?
• Comprehension questions: Why does the book say the earth is tested before planting begins?
• Comprehension questions: What does the text say a combine harvester does during harvest?
• Comprehension questions: According to the text, why is food kept at the correct temperature during travel?

Printing Tips

1. Best Printing Method (Recommended)
   “Booklet” Printing (Best if Available)
   If your printer or PDF viewer supports Booklet Printing, use this.
   Settings to use:
   • Print mode: Booklet
   • Paper size: Letter or A4 (either works)
   • Orientation: Landscape
   • Print on both sides: Yes
   • Flip on: Short edge
   • Scaling: Fit to printable area
   • Booklet subset:
   o First test: Front sides only
   o Then: Back sides only
   This will automatically:
   • Pair pages correctly
   • Put the cover on the outside
   • Align everything for folding
   After printing, fold in half and staple along the spine.