Is a farmer a man?

Year level: Lower primary / middle primary Learning outcome Students will examine their concepts of farmers and how men and women contribute to food production Describe or draw a picture of a farmer. Reflect Is the farmer male or female? Are farmers women and men? Why might you have pictured the farmer this way? Examine the following photos (and others you can find) to find out how men and women are involved in farming: Le Van Cu, moves his buffalo to a new grazing area Son Hai Commune, Vietnam Source: AusAID/Will Salter   Winnowing rice after harvesting in East Timor Source: AusAID/David Haigh Farming seaweed to earn an income and protect the coral reef Flores, Indonesia Source: AusAID/Jack Picone   A traditional herb spiral using recycled car tyres Tagbiliran Urban Agriculture Project, Philippines Source: AusAID/David Haigh Discuss: (Take it in turns for a girl then a boy to contribute) Are men or women doing the work? Who is doing the hardest work? Why do you think this? Who is doing the most interesting work? Why do you think this? Whose work produces the most food for families to eat? Is there a difference in the type of work done by men and the type of work done by women? Draw a picture or create a table contrasting the types of work men and women do in growing food. Assessment task Make a statement about the importance of the work done by women and men in providing food for their families.