November News from New York Agriculture in the Classroom

New York Agriculture in the Classroom | November 2022

Applications Now Open for the

Grow with Us Grant

To connect students with growing food in schools, New York Agriculture in the Classroom is again awarding grow systems through the Grow With Us Grant.

The Grow with Us Grant allows schools to apply for two types of grow systems. Schools should apply for the grow system that would best meet their educational goals, classroom space needs, and consider their experience level in school gardening and curriculum integration.

NYAITC aspires to provide teachers the vehicle and tools to facilitate experiential-learning using agriculture as the context for learning. To achieve this goal, schools are eligible to earn either a bundle of three Tower Gardens or 3 Tier 2445 Organics SuperGrow System.

Apply for a Grow System

Applications are open now on our website and due Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

NOV 17

White Corn Project Virtual Field Trip

OCT 20

Top Cut Virtual Field Trip with Chef Alex

DEC 07

Mac & Cheese Challenge Submissions Due

JAN 17

Grow with Us Applications Due

Teacher of the Year Award Nominations Now Open

Do you know an amazing educator or team of educators who integrate agriculture in their curriculum? The New York Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year nomination period is now open. This top honor is awarded annually to a teacher, or a team of teachers, who are committed to teaching through the lens of agriculture.

The the top nominee(s) will earn an expense-paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Nominations or self nominations are due by 5pm on Monday, November 21, 2022.

Nominate a Teacher

Mac & Cheese Challenge

We are excited to share that we are offering a Mac & Cheese Challenge for students in grades Pre-K through 12! We invite you to participate, and encourage you to share this with teachers in your school community.

Competing against other schools in your grade bands, your student’s challenge is to develop a creative and delicious macaroni and cheese recipe along with one tool to market your recipe. Additionally, your classroom will be reimbursed $50 for ingredients and supplies, plus another $25 reimbursed for each subsequent classroom you register.

Win up to $250, plus a cheesemaking kit valued at over $150! Classrooms pre-registered by November 17, 2022 will receive a special mailing of tools, classroom resources, and macaroni and cheese inspiration.

Learn More and Register

Entries are due by December 7, 2022.

Ganondagan's White Corn Virtual Field Trip

Ganondagan's White Corn Project engages with Indigenous and non-Native communities sharing Haudenosaunee culture through hands-on educational programming and events focusing on Indigenous food.

The project's original founder, John Mohawk (Seneca) whose goal it was to encourage Native farmers to stay on their land and continue growing Iroquois White Corn, believed bringing this important Indigenous food back into Haudenosaunee people's daily diets would greatly improve their health and cultural well-being.

In this 40-minute virtual field trip, students taught by members of the Seneca Nation of Indians, will learn about the cultural significance of White Corn and how it is planted, harvested, and processed and used for a variety of dishes.

Featured Lessons

Grades 3-5

From Wool to Wheel

Students will investigate how the need for wool impacted the American colonists by examining the Wool Act of 1699, determining the importance of wool in colonial America, and comparing and contrasting the differences between processing wool then and now.

Teach this Lesson

Grades 6-8

The Geography of Thanksgiving Dinner

In this lesson students will identify common Thanksgiving foods and their farm source, determine if those foods can be produced locally, and locate the common origins of their Thanksgiving day dinner.

Teach this Lesson

Grades 9-12

Methods of Crop Modification

In this lesson, students will explore six scientific processes that can be used in plant breeding to modify the genotype of a plant in the pursuit of desired characteristics.

Teach this Lesson

November Book Nook

How Groundhog's Garden Grew

Little Groundhog, in trouble for stealing from his friends' gardens, is taught by Squirrel to grow his very own. From seed-gathering to planting, harvesting, and eating home-grown fruits and vegetables, children join Little Groundhog in learning about the gardening process. At the end, Little Groundhog invites his animal friends to a Thanksgiving harvest feast.

Read this Book

Time for Cranberries

From the cranberry bog to the Thanksgiving table, join Sam and his family as they harvest a classic American fruit. When the vines hang heavy with berries that the autumn winds have turned deep red, it's time for cranberries, and Sam is finally old enough to help with the harvest! This charming, lyrical picture book follows Sam and his family as they raise the water in the bog, pick the cranberries, and gather the fruit for processing. It's a story of modern family farming in action, showing readers where their food comes from but mostly delighting them along the way.

Read this Book

Stay Up To Date!

Want to stay up to date with NYAITC? Follow us on social media and never miss out on exciting news and opportunities!