Barns can be used for sheltering animals, their feed and other supplies, farm machinery and farm products.

Barns are named according to their purpose, as hog barns, dairy barns, and tractor barns. The principal type in the United States is the general-purpose barn, used for housing horses and mules, cows, calves, and sheep and for storing hay and grain.

Although the need for the general barn declined with the advent of tractors and electrical service, one or more barns are still found on the majority of North American and European farms.

Many have been adapted to other uses. For this activity, we created our own animal farms out of hay, blocks and toy animals! Students participated in collaborative play with their friends, engaging in small world play!