New York Agriculture in the Classroom | August 2020
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Important Dates:

Aug. 13- Journey 2050 Webinar

Aug. 18- Accurate Agricultural Book Panel

Aug.- Sept.- Agricultural Literacy Grant Recipient Interviews on Facebook Live

Sept. 15- CHS Foundation Classroom Grant Application Due

Oct. 16- NAITC 2021 National Conference Workshop Proposals Due

March 15-19- Agricultural Literacy Week 2021
News
Classroom Chats- Agricultural Literacy Grant Facebook Live Series
The Agricultural Literacy Grant  was created three years ago to help support teachers as they teach through the lens of agriculture literacy. 

Over the next few months, we will be catching up live via Facebook with our current and past Agricultural Literacy Grant recipients to celebrate their work, discuss how they started, get an update on their programs, and hear their strategies for facing the uncertainty of this upcoming year.  

If you are curious about how to incorporate agriculture into your classroom or get insight into what others might be doing, join us for the live events and Q&A sessions. You wouldn't want to miss adding these amazing teachers to your teacher network! For more details on the scheduled interviews or to watch recorded interviews, you can visit Facebook page.  
CHS Foundation Classroom Grants
Each year the CHS Foundation and National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization partner to offer the CHS Foundation Classroom Grant. This exciting grant opportunity is open to teachers from PeK-12th grade who are looking for funding for their agriculture-related projects. On-site as well as virtual projects will be considered for funding. 

Past projects have included school gardens, embryology projects, and other initiatives that help teachers use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, science, social studies and more. 

Fifteen $500 grants will be awarded. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15Apply for a CHS Foundation Classroom Grant today! 
Seeking Workshop Proposals for National AITC Conference in Iowa
National Agriculture in the Classroom (NAITC) is seeking workshop proposals for its 2021 National Conference "Fields of Dreams" scheduled for June 28-July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa. Workshop topics should demonstrate how agricultural concepts can be used to teach language arts, math, nutrition, science, social studies, STEM and more in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. 
 
Proposals are due on or before Friday, October 16Learn more and submit a workshop proposal today! If your workshop proposal is accepted, you will receive $50 off your conference registration per one full workshop or one mini workshop selected. NAITC seeking proposals for hour-long workshops and 20-minute mini workshops that will be repeated two or three times. 
Journey 2050: Free Program on World Food Sustainability
Journey 2050 is a free, online program on world food sustainability that includes a virtual simulation game. Designed for grades 7-12, this virtual experience gives students an opportunity to consider the question: "How will we sustainably feed nearly 10 billion people by the year 2050?"

Interested in learning more? Join us for a National Agriculture in the Classroom for a webinar on August 13 at 1:00pm- 2:00pm to learn more about this resource. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link to participate in the webinar. Sign up for the webinar here
Accuracy in Agriculturally-Themed Books Webinar
Books are a great resource to use for teaching about agriculture in your classroom, but it is important that the information in those books is accurate and an up-to-date depiction of modern agriculture. In this webinar on August 18 at 12pm, you will hear from accurate agriculturally-themed book authors as they address questions such as: Why are accurate books about agriculture are important? Why should librarians encourage young readers to seek out modern books about agriculture? and more! Featured authors include Lisl H. Detlefsen, Peggy Thomas, Nancy Castaldo, Lisa Amstutz, Lindsey Metcalf. Find more information and register for this panel here
Teacher Resources
Elementary Resources
Sunflower Life Cycles
In this lesson for grades K-2, students will learn about the growth and development of sunflowers, identify how sunflower seeds are used, and make a paper plate sunflower illustrating the life cycle of the sunflower.
Agriculture and Me
Students will categorize sources of basic agricultural products alphabetically. This lesson is best for students in grades K-2. 
Energy's Journey from Farm to You
Students discover how plants use energy from the sun to change air and water into matter needed for growth in this lesson. Using dairy cows as an example, students investigate how animals obtain energy from the plants they eat to produce milk for human consumption. Further exploration is facilitated by a live virtual visit to a dairy farm or the option of viewing a pre-recorded virtual dairy farm tour.  

Working Worms
In this lesson, students observe how earthworms speed the decomposition of organic matter and learn how this adds nutrients to the soil that are important for plant growth. Activities include constructing worm habitats from milk jugs and completing Ride the Wild Leaf Cycle activity sheets. 
Middle School/ High School Resources
What's the Difference? A Look at Organic vs Conventional Food
Using the claim, evidence and reasoning model, students will compare and contrast organic vs conventionally produced foods to discover the differences and similarities of each farm production style. This lesson is meant for students in grades 6-8. 
Water Ops for Growing
Through project-based learning, students design and create a smart watering system for a small herb garden in this lesson
In this lesson, students will explore various ways that have been used to preserve food over the ages. They will also learn about techniques used to process food today and hypothesize about other methods scientists might use to process food safely in the future. Finally, students will conduct a simulation of high pressure treatment and discover how it destroys bacteria without crushing the food.
Surrounded by Plants
Students identify the importance of plants to human life by surveying their home and neighborhood for plant products used for medicine, aesthetics, fuel products, fiber, and food in this lesson for grades 9-12. 
August Book Nook
'Til the Cows Come Home
Using a traditional Jewish folktale ('The Button Story') and setting it in the American West, the author uses cowboy language to create an engaging tale. A young cowboy, talented in making saddles and bridles, receives a sturdy piece of leather from a grateful cowpuncher. Although many of the items made from this leather eventually wear out, he is able to resurrect pieces to create various needed items throughout life.
This is the Sunflower
First there is a sunflower. Seasons pass...and soon there is a patch of sunflowers. Budding young gardeners will discover that what makes this happen is not magic-but is most definitely magical in this book
A Young Shepherd
A young boy raises orphaned lambs. The text showcases that raising sheep is hard work. He makes sure the sheep get the attention they need to grow healthy and strong. It is a solid depiction of raising orphaned lambs and integrating them into a sheep herd. It also showcases how Cass keeps good records of his animals and shows them at the county fair. 
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