Smart Farming Virtual Classroom
Australian Good Meat is excited to return in Term 2 with the popular Smart Farming virtual classroom, tailored for lower (F-2) and upper (3-6) primary school students to learn about Australian farming directly from the farmer.
Hosted on Zoom, these free 30-minute curriculum-linked sessions, provide a perfect introduction to key topics of food production, sustainable farming practices and the types of farming technology.
Students will have the opportunity to talk directly with a farmer, complete quizzes and importantly learn more about where their food comes from, all from the classroom or at home.
We’ll see you there - If you’re a primary school teacher, it’d be a mis-STEAK to miss these!
Term 2 Sessions
The Sustainable Farm (Yr 3 - 6)
Sustainable farming is important to farmers and the community. This session explores how farmers care for their environment and their animals along with the benefits that come with using sustainable practices and regenerative farming methods to manage a modern farm.
Technology on the Farm (Yr 3 - 6)
Technology has come a long way. In this session we take a look at how farming technology has changed in Australia, the types of technology farmers use and how this technology improves their farming business.
Life on the Farm (F - Yr 2)
This session introduces students to life on a cattle, sheep or goat farm. It explorers the work farmers do, how they care for their animals and the environment.
Resources
Extend student learning! Check out the latest resources at Australian Good Meat . Or download the Red Meat Fact Finder for students to complete before or after your virtual classroom session.
For more educational information about the Australian red meat industry visit
Australian Good Meat
Farmer Profiles
Farmer Robert Mackenzie
Robert runs a family owned beef operation on the Central Coast of NSW called ‘Mackas Australian Black Angus Beef’, a large focus of the Mackas business is also genetics and breeding high quality Black Angus cattle. Robert also holds the record for purchasing the most expensive bull in Australia!
Farmer Jack Mackenzie
Jack Mackenzie is the youngest son of Robert Mackenzie and a valuable member of Macka's Black Angus team. With his background in diesel mechanics, Jack brings essential technical expertise to the farming operation. His dual qualifications as a licensed helicopter pilot offer a unique perspective on the properties. Jack's passion for genetics and breeding is evident, as he takes a keen interest in the genetic operations at Macka's. Outside of work, Jack is a devoted family man. He recently welcomed his son, who will turn one year old in June.
Farmer Sandra Ireson
Sandra Ireson (nee Rolfe) owns and operates a beef cattle breeding and sheep property near Booligal on the lower Lachlan River region of NSW with her husband and three adult children. In 2014, she co-developed the Hay Inc. Rural Education Program to address the challenge of markedly reduced numbers of young people entering or staying in agriculturally dependent communities. Sandra was awarded 2017 NSW/ACT Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award, building on the success of the Hay Inc. She is also passionate about education and creating leadership and networking opportunities for women, especially in rural, regional and remote Australia.
Curriculum Links
Lower Primary (F-2)
Science
Year 1
AC9S1U01
identify the basic needs of plants and animals, including air, water, food or shelter, and describe how the places they live meet those needs
Year 1
AC9S1U02
describe daily and seasonal changes in the environment and explore how these changes affect everyday life
Year 2
AC9S2H01
describe how people use science in their daily lives, including using patterns to make scientific predictions
Year 3
AC9S3H02
consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem
Upper Primary (Yr 3-6)
Science
Year 4
AC9S4H01
examine how people use data to develop scientific explanations
Year 5 & 6
AC9S5H02
/
AC9S6H02
investigate how scientific knowledge is used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions
Year 6
AC9S6U01
investigate the physical conditions of a habitat and analyze how the growth and survival of living things is affected by changing physical conditions
HASS (Geography)
Year 4
AC9HS4K05
the importance of environments, including natural vegetation and water sources, to people and animals in Australia and on another continent
Year 4
AC9HS4K06
sustainable use and management of renewable and non renewable resources, including the custodial responsibility First Nations Australians have for Country/Place
Year 5 & 6
AC9HS6S01
/
AC9HS5S01
develop questions to investigate people, events, developments, places and systems
Design and Technologies
Year 3 & 4
AC9TDE4K01
examine design and technologies occupations and factors including sustainability that impact on the design of products, services and environments to meet community needs
Year 3 & 4
AC9TDE4K03
describe the ways of producing food and fibre
Year 5 & 6
AC9TDE6K01
explain how people in design and technologies occupations consider competing factors including sustainability in the design of products, services and environments
Year 5 & 6
AC9TDE6K03
explain how and why food and fibre are produced in managed environments
Digital Technologies
Year 3 & 4
AC9TDI4K01
explore and describe a range of digital systems and their peripherals for a variety of purposes
Year 5 & 6
AC9TDI6K02
examine how digital systems form networks to transmit data
