This document printed from the University of Illinois Extension Rock Island County at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland/
Educator Resources from Illinois & Rock Island County Agriculture in the Classroom
Educator Resources from Illinois & Rock Island County Agriculture in the Classroom
Booklets
AG = E5: Inquiry Based Lessons from IAITC - This booklet combines the basic principles of Inquiry Based Learning with Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom's Ag Mags available from your county's Agricultural Literacy Coordinator. The Ag Mags provide the entry point to further explore a topic or idea through an inquiry approach. The lessons in this booklet feature the following Ag Mags: Apple, Soil, Pork, Dairy, Pumpkin, Corn, Beef, and Pizza.Grades 1-8.
Ag in a Plain Brown Wrapper- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!!! Create these ag-themed art projects using a plain brown wrapper or brown paper bag. These projects are a great way to either kick off or wrap up studying an Ag topic. Many of them involve reading different Illinois Ag Mags. Grades 1-6.
Super Soybean Booklet - Welcome to the world of the Super Soybean!! This IAITC booklet was created to compliment the book "The Super Soybean" by Raymond Bial. The soybean has many important roles in our lives, from the food we eat to even some of the products we clean with. This booklet is designed with the student audience in mind. These activities can be used as supplemental learning in the areas of science, social studies, and math and are correlated to the Illinois Learning Standards. Grades 1-8.
Exploring Corn – Did you know that there are six different types of corn throughout the world? This IATIC booklet offers cross-curricular activities for students to explore dent corn, sweet corn, and popcorn. Also included is information about broom corn, a type of sorghum, which is in the same family as corn. The booklet contains a brief overview of each and highlights their importance as an Illinois commodity. Grades 1-8.
Beef and Nutrition Booklet - This IAITC packet provides activities focused on the healthy benefits that beef provides and nutrition. Other activities examine the difference between beef and dairy cattle as well as one famous cow's role in Illinois history. Plus, there are great nutrition activities for students about meal planning. Use this packet along with other beef and nutrition information as a useful tool for your classroom. Grades 1-8.
Green Eggs and Agriculture – An engaging collection of ideas to celebrate agriculture through Dr. Seuss' Books and Read Across America Day. This packet explores ideas for The Cat in the Hat, Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, Green Eggs and Ham, Oh Say Can You Seed, and more! Grades K-5.
100 Days of School, 100 Days of Agriculture - This booklet celebrates the 100th day of school with 100 cross-curricular, agriculturally-related activities. Grades K-4.
Change for a Dollar - How does our money have an impact on agriculture? This AITC booklet explores the individuals featured on U.S. currency and their contributions to ag. Grades 3-8.
AITC Through the Seasons - The AITC through the Seasons booklet is designed to help ag literacy professionals organize and plan teacher workshops and classroom presentations. This concept began as a workshop series helping teachers bring agricultural lessons into their classrooms during the appropriate seasons of the year. The booklet provides brief background information, activity suggestions which can be found at www.agintheclassroom.org, books, and videos to help teachers educate their students about the topics provided. Grades K-6
Almanac Activity Booklet - The IAITC Farmers' Almanac booklet provides activities focused on how farmers use the Farmers' Almanac as a resource to make decisions related to planting and harvesting crops. Other activities capture the almanac's Ag-themed fun and folklore. Grades 3-8.
Ag, Paper Plates, & You - This packet was created by the Illinois Farm Bureau® Agriculture in the Classroom Program. It contains 25 agricultural activities using paper plates. The corresponding packet, "Ag, Ziplocs®, & You" may also be printed at the Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom website
Ag, Ziplocs - A packet with ten lessons using Ziploc® bags and Agriculture. Grades K-4.
Enviro Ag Lesson Packet - This IAITC booklet is designed to provide lessons focused on environmentally- and agriculturally-friendly, science-based activities using household materials and a healthy dose of experiential learning. Grades 2-6.
Blooming with Bloom's and Gardening with Gardener's – This booklet that explains how to use Bloom's Taxonomy and Gardner's Multiple Intelligences specifically to teach agriculture in the classroom. Grades K-8.
Candy, Culture, & Creativity - A teaching unit created by the Illinois Ag in the Classroom Program of the Illinois Farm Bureau®, the Candy College® Library, and the Illinois Center for Food Safety and Technology. Build your own "Candy, Culture, and Creativity" kit using this lesson plan booklet, the "Agriculture: Where Candy Comes From" reference booklet, materials for the lessons, and selected books, videos, and brochures. Grades 2-6.
Ag Mags
The Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Ag Mags are 4-page, colorful agricultural magazines for kids. They contain information about agriculture, bright pictures, classroom activities, and agricultural careers. Ag Mags are correlated to Illinois State Learning Standards. Ag Mags are $7.50 per package of 30 for out-of-state buyers. Call (309) 557-3334 to order.
Ag Mags available for Download or from your Agriculture Literacy Coordinator
Apples: Explore apple production, history, growth and varieties. Strong focus on Social Sciences standards.
Beef: A look at nutritional value, cuts of beef, products, breeds, and the stomachs of ruminant animals. Focus on Physical Development and Health standards.
Biotechnology: Basic concepts and agricultural benefits of biotechnology with a strong emphasis on History, Geography, Science, Technology and Society.
Corn: A look at corn, diversity of products, and a strong emphasis on corn as a renewable resource for use in ethanol and corn plastic.
Dairy: Follow the route of dairy from the farm to the store to your home to your body. Emphasis on Nutrition.
Earth Week: Explore how agriculture is a vital part of the environment. Social Science and Science standards are emphasized.
Horse: Explore horses in the past and the present day. Strong History emphasis, as well as Math activities.
Horticulture: Read all about the horticulture industry and what careers students can take in the industry. This Ag Mag is written at a sixth to eighth grade level and involves high vocabulary, facts, and figures, but with real-life pictures and a great background, elementary students can understand and learn a lot from this Ag Mag as well.
Illinois: Take a trip back to a 50s-style diner to learn about Illinois commodities. Learn about diner slang, food prices then and now, and towns important to the food industry.
Nutrition: Focuses on consumption agriculture and uses the food guide pyramid and exercise to optimize nutrition and fitness. Emphasis on Physical Development and Health.
Pizza: From crust to ingredients to the final product – learn how agriculture is involved. Emphasis on Social Science and Math standards.
Pork: Care of livestock as well as a strong emphasis on the environmental aspect of pork production.
Poultry: Science, Social Science, and Math standards are addressed through studies of embryology, chickens and turkeys.
Pumpkin: Language, Science, and Social Science standards are address through genetics, blossom dissection, Thanksgiving, and Halloween.
Sheep: Fiber production from farm to garment provides an opportunity to address Science, Economic and History standards.
Soils and Fertilizer: Erosion, soil profiles, and usable land for food production are examined through Science-based standards.
Soybeans: The versatile soybean is examined with an emphasis on Nutrition, Economics and Geography. Math and Science standards are also addressed in this issue.
Technology: Technology, from simple machines to global positioning satellites, is examined through Math and Science standards.
Water: The water cycle, water transportation, water pollution, and water conservation are addressed through Math and Science standards.
*Ag Career & Illinois History Ag Mags are in development
mAGic Kits
Open the doors...of active discovery and watch your students explore the depths of the Agriculture industry. The lessons in the mAGic kits are multidisciplinary, all inclusive, and designed to bring math, science, social studies and English to life through agriculture in every classroom.
Sim Sala Bim! Engage he, her or him...with learning English, math, science and social studies through agriculture. The mAGic kits address the Illinois Learning Standards.
mAGic kits include all of the necessary components to allow students to develop skills in Math, Science, Social Studies and English Language Arts, grades 4th-8th. The kit lessons include exercises in:
mapping
graphing
sequencing
reading
writing
experimentation
research and much more.
These kits are available on a free-loan basis. Kits may be reserved in advance. Available Kits include:
Careers in Horticulture–Make students aware of the wide variety and available opportunities that await in the horticulture industry.
Dairy–Students demonstrate the processes of using milk and acids, enzymes, bacteria, heat, and cold to make cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
Horticulture Science–Make students aware of the science connections that exist to common applications in the horticulture industry.
Illinois–See the 7 wonders of Illinois, and tour Illinois Indian cultures. Experience the Lincoln-Douglas debates, meet famous Illinoisans, and discover all the great things that come from Illinois.
Insect–Study the parts of a grasshopper, compare honey bee queens, drones, and workers, and study the role of the honeybee in plant pollination.
Machinery–Learn about the history of farm machinery and the impact of modern farming techniques on families and communities.
Plant–Conduct experiments in plant differences and plant ecosystems.
Poultry–Graph incubation periods, explore osmosis, and discover poultry dishes.
Soil–Conduct experiments in soil pH, and create soil profiles.
AgriScience Kits
Science and Agriculture are linked together in the study of animals, energy, insects, plants, and soils. Such areas of study are crucial for today's students and their knowledge of the world they live in and will help to shape in the future. Agri-science kits are available for teachers who teach science to students K through 8. These kits are available on a free-loan basis. Kits may be reserved in advance. Available Kits include:
Agriculture Renews our Planet - Growing Energy for the Future (K-8)
Students compare soyink with petroleum-based ink, make biodegradable plastics from corn, and compare renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.
Animals in Agriculture - Their Growth and Development (4-8)
Students compare common food products with a complete livestock feed, checking for protein, sugar, starch, fat, and vitamin C. Scale animal models are used to help learn about livestock weight estimates and weight gain.
Growing Better Every Day - Using Genetics to Improve Agriculture (6-8)
Colored paper clips are used to illustrate genes and chromosome chains as students learn how traits are inherited by offspring from parents. Students learn about probabilities of transmission of two genes from parent to offspring.
Agriculture Measures Up - Using Mathematics in Agriculture (3-8)
Students compute the areas and calculate the perimeters of enclosures as they study the most economical use of fencing. A small jar of shelled corn is used to simulate a grain bin as students learn to estimate weights, numbers, and volumes.
Rain or Shine - Weather's Effect on Agriculture (K-8)
Students build a terrarium to observe the water cycle and compare the growth rates of three types of plants. They use varying fertilizer rates in an attempt to grow larger, healthier plants.
Ag Bags
Ag Bags include a book, Ag Mags, and an activity for use within your classroom. Available Ag Bags include:
AG CAREERS
APPLES
CORN
DAIRY
EGGS/CHICKENS
FARM SAFETY
HORSES
PIZZA
PORK
PUMPKINS
SHEEP
SOIL/FERTILIZER
SOYBEANS/GARDENS
SPORTS NUTRITION
TECHNOLOGY
To request any of the above items, please contact:
