CHS Grants for K-12 Teachers Available - $1,500 Awarded for Use of Ag-Based Lessons

CHS is providing five Classroom Grants through the National Agriculture in the Classroom. The $1,500 grants will be awarded to kindergarten through 12th grade core education teachers whose innovative classroom projects use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, nutrition, science and/or social studies. The deadline for grant proposals is September 15, 2015. Recipients will be notified by email on or before October 1, 2015.   

The CHS Classroom Grant Program is designed to fund projects that will educate K-12 students about the importance of agriculture and allow teachers to use agricultural concepts to teach core subject areas. Those who receive one of the five grants will be required to use at least two lesson plans from the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix or two lesson plans from a state Agriculture in the Classroom program.

In addition, grant proposals must demonstrate how local farmers, ranchers or agriculture industry representatives will be involved in the project. 

Grant reviewers will use this CHS Grant Rubric. 

CHS will highlight the winning classroom grants at its annual meeting in December 2016.

Timeline:
Grant proposals must be submitted online by midnight (PST) September 15, 2015.
Awards will be announced via email October 1, 2015
A final report due to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization by June 1, 2016.

For more information, visit http://www.agclassroom.org/get/chs_grant.cfm. 

Owensboro Farmer Provides Home-Grown Education for Community Kids

Suzanne Cecil White, a produce farmer in Owensboro, knows the value of education and learning by doing. She is also a strong advocate of healthy eating and providing her community a personal connection to her farm. By adding these passions together, this former high school math teacher has a formula for success.

Two years ago, Suzanne wanted to create a program that allowed kids to get their hands dirty and understand how fruits and vegetables are produced locally. Once a week for six weeks, she hosted a "Farm Camp" for kids ages 7-10. The kids were able to plant and harvest their own vegetables while learning about farming along the way. They also visited other farms in the area to learn about livestock and different farm enterprises. The camp was a huge success, and several parents asked if it would be offered again.

The produce season of 2014 came with a new addition to her family, but she knew she wanted to continue providing educational programs through her farm.

Earlier this year, she connected with a local Boys and Girls Club (Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club) through her involvement in area leadership organizations. The club was offering a locally-funded program called "Positive Sprouts" and Suzanne wanted to offer her expertise and her farm for their curriculum.

Suzanne provided the club a small plot on her family's produce farm (Cecil Farms Produce). They planted on March 31st and have been tending it at least once weekly ever since. The kids are now enjoying harvesting the vegetables, and they sell it at the local farmer's market, use it for meals at the club, or provide it for their families. The money the kids make at the farmer's market goes back to the program.

"This has been a very successful program," Suzanne said. "The kids love it. The community members love it. The farmer's market customers love it. I had a customer start crying because she saw the joy on the kids' faces when they shared their experience with her. This has had such a positive impact on everyone involved.

Ag in the Classroom Launches National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix

The National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix is an online, searchable, and standards-based curriculum map for K-12 teachers. The Matrix contextualizes national education standards in science, social studies, and nutrition education with relevant instructional resources linked to Common Core Standards.

Search the instructional, classroom-ready resources >>

Derby Week is a Great Time to Celebrate our Horse Heritage

The running of the Kentucky Derby and our rich equine heritage definitely make life unique in our great Commonwealth of Kentucky. We have put a few quick lessons and resources together to help introduce your students to the equine industry and "the greatest two minutes in sports."

Lessons on Horses & The Kentucky Derby - http://www.teachkyag.org/equine.html

http://www.teachkyag.org/equine.html 

Many thanks are provided to the Kentucky Horse Council and the Kentucky Equine Education Project for their support of our programs. 

2015 is the International Year of Soils

2015 has been named the International Year of Soils. Several organizations around the world are joining the celebration to raise awareness and promote the sustainability of our limited soil resources. We all have a valuable role in communicating vital information on soils, a life sustaining natural resource. Here you will find a number of resources to help your students learn about soils.

Grades K-2:
I Heart Soil Coloring and Activity Pages
Read "Diary of a Worm" (Video Version) -
& Lesson Plan
Make Soil Crayons
Classifying Soils by Feel and Texture

Read "A Handful of Dirt" 

Edible Soil Layer Activity

Grades 3-5:

A Soil Profile

Soil Erosion Demonstration

Particle Size Demonstration

Caring for the Land - Soil Management

Soil Air Demonstration

Keeping Soil in its Place - Erosion

Perking Through the Pores - Water Holding Capacity

The Farmer Cares for the Land - Environmental Impact

The Soil Chain - Relationships between soil and common objects

Have older students check out the NRCS Soil Health Awareness web site. The resources on this site are designed to help visitors understand the basics and benefits of soil health-and to learn about Soil Health Management Systems from farmers who are using those systems.

To celebrate the International Year of Soils, the Soil Science Society also produced several 2-3 minute educational videos:

January: Soils Sustain Life

February: Soils Support Urban Life

March: Soils Support Agriculture

April: Soils Clean and Capture Water

Writing prompts could be given to students on each resource and video.

For additional resources on soil science for all grade levels, check out our International Year of Soils resource page. 

Celebrate Agriculture in the Classroom on National Ag Day - March 18

With our recent weather, it is hard to imagine that we will be welcoming spring in about two weeks. Farmers are itching to get out in their fields to start preparing the land for this year's crops, and we want to celebrate their efforts in providing food for our tables.

Wednesday, March 18, is National Ag Day, and we want to encourage you to plan a classroom activity that helps students understand how food and fiber products are produced and appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products.

Here are a few suggestions:

K-3: Read a book that accurately portrays agriculture 

Each year, the American Farm Bureau Foundation selects an agriculture book for volunteers to read in classrooms across the country on Ag Day. Teaching plans and additional resources are available.

This year's book is The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamara. In this playful and humorous story, the students learn a lot about apples and apple orchards-including how apples are harvested, how cider is made, and what the different varieties of apples are-while trying to solve a riddle. Purchase the book from AFBF if it is not available in your library. An educator's guide aligned to Common Core Standards is also available for purchase.

Kentucky Connection - After reading the book, teachers may then show their students this Kentucky Farms Feed Me video about an apple orchard in Kentucky. A teacher's guide and student worksheets are available for printing free of charge.

We have additional book suggestions on our Pinterest page for various ages and reading levels.