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. 

Kentucky Agricultural Development Board Approves Grant for New Mobile Science Activity Center

Today the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, chaired by Gov. Steve Beshear, approved $71,384 toward the cost of a new Mobile Science Activity Center (MSAC) and curriculum enhancements during its March board meeting. The MSAC program is provided to schools across the Commonwealth through a partnership between the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom (KyAEC) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA). 

In 2013, KyAEC and its member organizations provided more than $250,000 to replace two aging MSAC units operated by KDA. As the current units continue to keep full schedules, KyAEC and KDA agreed to work toward purchasing a third center that is better suited to serve eastern Kentucky schools; the trailer will be shorter to more easily maneuver mountain roads. 

"We are very thankful for the Agricultural Development Board's support of this project," said Jennifer Elwell, KyAEC executive director. "The Mobile Science Activity Centers are educating about 25,000 students each year with hands-on, agriculture and science-based activities, and a new unit will allow us to reach an additional 10,000 students annually."

Working Together to Teach Kentucky Ag

By Jennifer Elwell
Executive Director

An exciting challenge has been presented to me and, ultimately, Kentucky’s farming community. I have been dedicating my professional life almost exclusively to agriculture education efforts the past several months with the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom, and I realize that there are so many more students and teachers we could be reaching. We just need to work together, find new partners, and get creative.

The first task is to expand our current successful programs. The Mobile Science Activity Centers, administered and staffed by the KentuckyDepartment of Agriculture, are teaching the science of agriculture to about 24,000 students annually.

These trailers have been a group effort of our Kentucky agriculture and commodity organizations for many years, and the only limiting factor for reaching more students is time; the trailers continue to stay completely booked throughout the school year. The KAEC is now working to pull resources together to purchase a third Mobile Science Activity Center, which would allow the program to reach another 8,000 to 10,000 students each year. We are thrilled that the KDA has committed to providing staff and support for an additional unit. This is a program teachers request time and time again.

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.

March is National Nutrition Month

Since farmers are in the business of producing nutritious foods, we want to make sure that students are equipped with the know-how of fueling their bodies in the proper way for optimal health.

Team Nutrition with the United States Department of Agriculture is helping teachers and parents celebrate National Nutrition Month by providing a number of MyPlate lessons, resources, games, and tools to teach healthy eating and physical activity.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/NNM.html

MyPlate Classroom Materials for PreK-Grade 8

MyPlate Kid's Place: Activities, Games, Videos & More

Super Tracker Nutrition Lesson Plans for High School Students

We have also provided a number of other nutrition resources on our #teachkyag web site from our partners, such as Eat to Win Kentucky. 

Kentucky Farm Life: Winter and Caring for Livestock

The winter has been extreme and provided many challenges for farmers whom raise livestock. 

We asked a few farmers, whom are CommonGround: Kentucky volunteers, to respond to the following question: How are you caring for your animals to ensure their comfort?

This winter's weather has definitely made caring for our livestock a challenge, to say the least. Although cattle are less susceptible to the cold than humans, we still take every precaution to keep safe & comfortable. We unroll round bales every morning to keep from having large amounts of mud gather in one particular area. If there is snow on the ground, this gives the cattle a warmer place to lay. It also keeps them from all laying around one round bale and potentially smothering a calf. Our calving season has just begun, so we carefully check each herd at least three times a day. If a cow is close to calving & the weather conditions are getting worse, we'll get her into a barn where she'll have more shelter. We have also brought calves into our home and put them in our bathtub to try & get their body temperatures back up. Both were taken back to their mothers after they were warmed up and are doing fine now. Farmers care for their livestock, no matter the weather, and will do just about anything to assure their safety!​ - Amanda Gajdzik, Shelbyville

Kentucky Agriculture and Environmental Scholarships Available

A number of Kentucky organizations and agencies still have agricultural and environmental scholarships available for the 2015/2016 school year: