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Recipes Based on Harvest of the Month |
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Maisie Campbell, FoodCorps Service Member at McMahon Elementary in Lewiston, helped build a school-wide cookbook based on Harvest of the Month.
The featured recipes were shared by McMahon Elementary School families and staff members in celebration of our community and the Maine Harvest of the Month fruits and veggies that grow so well in this place we call home. We hope you enjoy cooking your way through the seasons and learning more about our school community through food!!
You can access and download the cookbook here.
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The Maine School Garden Network kicked off this year's Maine School Garden DAYS on Saturday May 1st, if you were not able to make it, you can view a recording here. See below for the entire line-up of sessions for the rest of the summer and fall. Sessions will now be 8-9:30am the first Saturday of each month (except July). PLEASE pre-register now for the FREE June 5th virtual session by clicking the link below. We hope to see you there!
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National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference
"Field of Dreams"
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Have you registered yet for the 2021 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference "Fields of Dreams" scheduled for June 28-July 1 in Des Moines, Iowa?!
The conference will be held as a "hybrid" conference at the Iowa Events Center with an in-person option for people who can travel and a live streaming/virtual option for people who cannot travel.
Curious what is planned for pre- and post-tours, keynote speakers, workshops, and what it will look like to participate virtually? More information is available at Conference Website.
To register for the conference, please visit Conference Registration. In-person registration is $485. Virtual registation is $50.
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The “Back to School Garden” technique is designed to fit the school calendar. It features vegetables that students can help plant in the spring that require very minimal maintenance/ watering over the summer and will then produce a great harvest of winter squash, sunflowers and popping corn just in time for students to come back to school in the fall. It also prevents weeds and improves soil quality. After harvesting the garden in September, we are encouraging schools to then plant a fall garden of kale, chard, lettuce, peas and herb seedlings to grow for the cafeteria. Linked here is a 8 step spring prep guide. ReTreeUS has been working to promote this technique with the Maine School Garden Network. Check it out, feel free to contact us (info@retreeus.org) with questions and happy back to school gardening!
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Summer Teacher's Institute |
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In the place of our 2021 Summer Teachers Institute, MAITC is planning two or three in-person, 1-day events for August.
Topics being considered include Maine Grains, Aquaculture, Hydroponics, and dairy. We would love your input on teacher interest in this professional development opportunity and additional thoughts on topics, agenda, site, etc. There will be 7 contact hours or .7 CEU’s awarded for each 1-day event.
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Calling School Gardens! School Garden Grown Project |
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CALLING ALL SCHOOL GARDENS!
School Garden Grown Project
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Maine fairs are ramping up for in-person events this summer! School gardens can exhibit their produce, create excitement for students, and build awareness, with cash prizes to benefit the garden program! MSGN is in partnership with Maine Agriculture in the Classroom to provide information on this amazing project with your LOCAL fair!
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Teacher Grants from AFBFA |
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Applications are open! Christina Sue Lilja Resource Grants are made possible by the CSL Foundation.
These grants give teachers (home schoolers welcome) to receive $100 to use in the AFBFA resource store for books, educator guides, ag mags and more.
Applications close June 30. Learn More Here.
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Harvest of the Month - June is Maine Leafy Greens! |
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Check out the great HOM materials:
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Teacher Resources Section |
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The Amazing Honey Bee. Grades K-2. Students will investigate the three types of honey bees in a colony, identify their roles, and recognize honey bees as part of a community that works together.
What's Bugging You? Grades 3-5. Students will learn the definition of a pest, examine how pests affect other living organisms and the environment, and identify how pests are managed in agricultural settings.
Mix it Up! Food Scientist. Grades 6-8. In this lesson, students will model the responsibilities of a food scientist by working in product development teams to create a new food product. Tasks will involve market analysis, economics, food chemistry and safety, graphic design, and communication.
Populations. Grades 9-12. Students evaluate the growth of human populations across time, analyze graphic data to make predictions about future population growth, research country statistics to evaluate demographic transition, and participate in a simulation of a village reliant on subsistence farming. Students begin to develop a sense for the Earth's carrying capacity and how humans have impacted it.
Looking for more? Explore the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix HERE
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Don't forget that all SIX of our
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Pollination Simulation. Activity Kit. Simulate the role worker bees play in pollination by conducting a pollination simulation. Each kit includes pompoms, cups, jewel bags, yarn, and straws for 35 elementary students. Order this kit online from agclassroomstore.com.
A 'Bee-Friendly' Guide to Help Save the Honey Bees. This printable PDF includes a new Winnie-the-Pooh short story and ten simple activities to support honey bees. Fully illustrated, Winnie-the-Pooh and friends are featured on every page of this family-friendly guide to helping honey bees. Although written for a British audience, the story and activities are sure to captivate American audiences as well.
Beebuzz. This is a game in which students take turns rolling a die and drawing parts of a bee. Any number can play, and the only materials needed are a piece of paper, a pencil, a six-sided die, and the included printable activity sheet.
Insect Herbivores and Plants. Visit this website to take a deeper look at the connection between herbivorous insects and the plants they eat, explore a gallery of insect herbivores, and discover methods and tools to keep insect herbivores from eating our crops.
Research Article: Yum! Fruit and Vegetable Wraps. Food scientists have a career in developing foods that are appealing to the eye and taste bud as well as being nutritious. Use this research article about fruit and vegetable wraps to highlight what a career in food science would entail.
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Edible Schoolyard Project Webinar Series
The Edible Schoolyard Project (ESP) is hosting their second Summer Training at Home, June 14, 2021 – June 25, 2021. This year's virtual professional development sessions will be open to all, and completely free to attend. The ESP team has planned activities that invite participants to create, cook, taste, and share experiences. Participants will leave this event series feeling invigorated and prepared to do the work of supporting youth to learn about food in a way that allows them to live and build a healthier and more just future.
To view the full event calendar and registration information please visit the event website.
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New Alliance for a Healthier Generation Farm to School Webinars
The Farm to School Basics training provides an overview of the USDA Farm to School Program and covers the who, what, when, and how of farm to school when choosing to implement a first-time program. The second training, Exploring a School Garden focuses on how school gardens can function as an extension of the classroom to teach about the importance of local agriculture and to promote nutrition education. Be sure to register with the AHG Training Center to access these on-demand trainings!
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ReTreeUS plants orchards in schools and provides educational programs that empower people to be healthy environmental stewards.
Fuel Up to Play 60 offers educators a wide array of resources they can use to help students make sustainable changes in their school environment.
Agroworld is an agricultural science e-zine developed for the secondary educator.
KidsGardening has ideas about plants and gardens, teacher resources, and grant opportunities.
The Chop Chop magazine and website has easy and healthy recipes.
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Funding from this plate has impacted up to 200,000 students annually with lessons, materials, volunteers and teacher training. Annually up to $60K is distributed in grants to schools, FFA, 4-H and other Non-profit programs for Ag education initiatives by the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council.
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Donate today to The Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Association
The Non-profit, completely volunteer, portion of MAITC. These funds are used directly to support teacher scholarships and recognition, and support volunteer participation for Ag education programs. Your donation is completely tax deductible and you can make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly donation which will support the mission, "to promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public." If you have any other questions or would like to join this group please contact the chairman, Maryjane Stafford. Donate Here.
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Our Mission Statement
"To promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public"
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28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207)287-5522
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