Unit 7 — March: Agricultural Mechanics and Chicken Coop Design
Description
Students are introduced to agricultural mechanics through safety training and study of basic carpentry, electricity, and machinery. Using knowledge of carpentry and measurement, students design a chicken coop and run, calculating square footage and determining the number of nesting boxes and roost space needed. They use online tools to select materials and calculate lumber requirements. Students examine the school's on-campus chicken coop, analyzing its construction materials and suggesting improvements. Using popsicle sticks, they build a scale model of their own chicken coop design, applying principles of structural design and material selection. Reflection and redesign activities help students refine their designs based on observations of real structures.
Essential Questions
- How do we use carpentry and engineering principles to design functional agricultural structures?
- What materials and design features make chicken coops safe and practical?
- How can we improve existing structures based on observation and evaluation?
Learning Objectives
- Apply safety protocols in agricultural mechanics contexts.
- Use carpentry concepts to design chicken coops with appropriate dimensions and features.
- Calculate material quantities and costs for construction projects.
- Analyze existing structures for functionality, durability, and animal welfare.
- Design and construct scale models of agricultural structures.
- Evaluate designs against real-world examples and refine accordingly.
Supplemental Resources
- Graph paper and rulers for design sketches and square footage calculations
- Popsicle sticks and glue for constructing scale models
- Markers and crayons for labeling design drawings
- Poster paper for presenting final chicken coop designs
Crosscutting Concepts
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Earth and Space Sciences
Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science
Life Sciences
Science and Engineering Practices
Students read informational texts about agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and animal science, and produce written work including research reports, blog posts, portfolio updates, and writing assignments. Students engage in collaborative discussions, present findings to peers, and cite evidence from multiple sources to support claims across all units.
Students apply mathematical reasoning across units including calculating food costs, feed amounts, percent loss, square footage for coop design, lumber quantities, soil nutrient amounts, population graphs for carrying capacity, and data collection and graphing in macroinvertebrate and plant biodiversity studies.
Students conduct hands-on investigations aligned to life science, earth science, and engineering design standards. Topics include plant cell structure, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, genetics and heredity, animal systems, water chemistry, ecosystems, food webs, population dynamics, natural resource management, DNA extraction, and aquaponics and hydroponics system design.
Career readiness, financial literacy, and 21st century skills are embedded in every unit. Students explore agricultural careers, practice agribusiness skills including budgeting and record keeping, develop personal and professional skills through FFA activities, and investigate how education and training affect earning potential in agriculture and related fields.
Formative Assessments
- Observations of students using online shopping tools and calculating material requirements
- Pair-and-share discussions analyzing the school's chicken coop design
- Group work examining structural features and discussing improvements
- Self-evaluations of scale model construction and design choices
Summative Assessment
Chicken coop design projects with calculations and material lists, scale model construction, and design reflection portfolios
Benchmark Assessment
— not configured —
Alternative Assessment
Students may demonstrate understanding through a teacher-guided design interview where they explain their chicken coop dimensions and material choices verbally, with the teacher recording responses. Visual aids such as labeled diagrams, measurement reference sheets, or partially completed material calculation templates may be provided to support problem-solving and planning.
IEP (Individualized Education Program)
During safety training and hands-on mechanics activities, provide visual step-by-step reference cards and verbal reinforcement of key protocols to support processing and retention. For design and calculation tasks, break multi-step problems—such as determining square footage or material quantities—into sequenced, numbered steps with graphic organizers to scaffold completion. Allow students to demonstrate understanding of structural analysis through oral explanation or labeled diagrams rather than written responses alone. Frequent check-ins during model construction will help ensure students stay on track and receive timely feedback on design decisions.
Section 504
Provide extended time for design planning tasks and material calculation work, as these require sustained attention and multi-step processing. Preferential seating near demonstration areas during safety and carpentry instruction will support focus and access. Ensure printed copies of any directions or measurement guides displayed digitally are available so students can reference them independently throughout the unit.
ELL / MLL
Pre-teach key agricultural mechanics and construction vocabulary—such as terms related to carpentry, structural components, and chicken coop features—using visual word walls, labeled diagrams, and real or pictured examples from the school coop. Provide simplified written directions alongside visual models when students are completing measurement and design tasks, and allow students to discuss their design rationale with a partner before producing written explanations. Where possible, connect construction concepts to familiar structures or building practices from students' home cultures to build meaningful background knowledge.
At Risk (RTI)
Begin design and calculation tasks by connecting to familiar, concrete experiences—such as measuring spaces at home or estimating materials for everyday projects—to activate prior knowledge and build confidence. Offer partially completed design templates or scaffolded calculation guides that reduce cognitive load while still requiring students to engage with the key concepts of measurement, material selection, and structural reasoning. Encourage participation in pair-and-share and group observation activities as entry points, allowing students to contribute observations verbally before moving to written or calculated responses.
Gifted & Talented
Challenge students to extend their chicken coop design work by investigating real-world constraints such as local zoning regulations, climate considerations, or cost-optimization strategies that reflect authentic agricultural decision-making. Students may explore advanced structural or electrical concepts introduced in the unit—such as ventilation design or lighting systems—and incorporate these into a more complex version of their coop proposal. Encourage critical comparison of multiple design approaches, including commercially available coop models, and support independent research that pushes beyond the unit's core design parameters toward a presentation-ready professional proposal.