Farming Information
Activity & Teacher
Resources
Red Oak Farm
3040 Big Buck Road
Trezevant, TN 38258
owners@redoakfarm.com
Copyright © 1998 -2008
All Rights Reserved
Red Oak Farm
Revised: almost weekly
National Emu Week
May 6 - 14, 2006
The American Emu Association sponsors National Emu Week (NEW) each year to educate the public about emu agriculture and the products derived from this farm animal.. During this time many emu farms will be offering tours to school children, sponsoring contests or guest speaking at schools.
If you are an educator and would like your class or school to participate in National Emu Week there are many ways you can join in the fun and take advantage of this educational opportunity.
Visit http://www.aea-emu.org/states.asp for contact information in your state or email pr@aea-emu.org to find the nearest emu farm to your school. Contact the farmer for tour information or to find out how his farm is participating.
Online Essay Contest: Encourage your students to enter our on-line Win Emu Feathers essay contest. The Winning essays in each age group will win emu feathers.
Reading Circle: There are three children's books recommended for your reading circle:
Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowels
Edwina the Emu by Sheena Knowels
The Emu Who Wanted to Be A Horse by Michael Dugan
These can be purchased through the American
Emu Association Bookstore
If you do have a local emu farmer, but cannot visit the farm, ask if he has a
video showing the birds that you can borrow. If your school will allow it,
ask if he can bring a chick to class and talk
to the students about the birds.
Teach your younger students to draw an emu, consider gluing emu feathers to the artwork the way the West Carroll First Graders did here.
Depending on the age of your students, you can discuss the difference between emus and other birds. Points of interest to consider:
- The number of toes various birds have. Ostriches are the only bird with only two toes. Emus, like many others, have three. Some birds have four.
- Emu feathers are different from other bird feathers, read about them here.
- Emu eggs are dark green on the outside, but have three basic layers of color, white, teal and the dark green color. Read more here.
- Leather - most leather products are made with mammal leather. Why? Various aboriginal tribes, including some in the U. S., tanned the hides of birds with the feather still attached and used them in decorative headdresses, capes, etc. Because of their size, ratites provide a larger hide which can be tanned economically. Ostrich leather is used more extensively than emu and is a thicker leather, but emu is gaining use in clothing accents, purses and smaller leather items.
Eggs - Egg laying season will end in the U. S. in April, but you may be able to purchase a fresh emu egg from a local farmer. If you can, get one of your students to break the egg into a clear glass bowl. I promise you this is difficult for even an adult to do, so it will be a funny demonstration. Be ready to assist and also have towels ready "just in case". Have another student crack a dozen eggs into another glass bowl. Compare the two bowls. On the left over eggshell - here are some projects.