December 2020 | Issue #111 |
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*make sure to click "View entire message" to get access to the full newsletter!* |
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MAITC 2020 Grants Program |
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Deadline for applications is DECEMBER 14th at 4PM. Four paper copies of the grant application and attachments shall be submitted to Willie Sawyer Grenier at Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333
We have already awarded several grants from our earlier 2020 deadlines, please visit our website to learn about the great projects that have been approved for funding!
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Read ME Agriculture: March 22-26, 2021 |
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Plans for Read ME 2021 are in the works!
Please mark your calendars for March 22-26!
Stay tuned for virtual opportunities to participate!
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Maine School Garden Network is actively looking for interested people to serve on our board. The board supports the mission and work of the Maine School Garden Network to promote and support educational gardens for youth, and to encourage school programs which teach healthy eating and environmental stewardship. As an MSGN board member there are many opportunities for you to serve, including executive committee and program committee roles. More details are available upon request. If you are interested in becoming an MSGN board member, please contact: info@msgn.org.
We hope you will join us as we strive to support school garden programs in Maine!
MSGN is HIRING! Check their website in December for the job posting! We'll share it on our Facebook page once it's posted!
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Summer Teacher's Institute 2021 - We Want YOUR Input!! |
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MAITC definitely wants to offer professional development for educators this summer and we're keeping our eyes open for what we'll be allowed to do.
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Harvest of the Month - December is Maine Winter Squash! |
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Check out the great HOM materials:
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KidsGardening.org, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing inspiration to parents and educators who are gardening with children, awards Youth Garden Grants to support school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities. Any nonprofit organization, school, or youth program in the U.S. or U.S. territories planning a new garden program or expanding an established one that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of three and 18 is eligible to apply. The top five programs will receive award packages valued at $1,700. Twenty-five programs will receive award packages valued at $700. The selection of winners is based on demonstrated program impact and sustainability. Closing date: December 18, 2020. For more information.
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Teacher Resources Section |
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Discover Christmas Trees. Grades K-5. This lesson is composed of six learning activities to teach about the Christmas tree. Science, history, and geography topics are used to explore the history of the Christmas tree, life cycle of a conifer, types of trees and how they adapt, work on a Christmas tree farm, and the ecology of conifer trees.
Food Master: Measurement. Grades 3-5. Students will learn where the ingredients in a cookie are made and make chocolate chip oatmeal cookies to practice their measurement skills and fractional mathematics.
Food Miles. Grades 3-5. Students will explore the economic and environmental benefits of buying locally grown food.
Ethnobotany for the Holidays. Grades 3-6. How do you combine history, social studies, geography, and science, and wrap in a bit of holiday fun? By exploring ethnobotany!
Looking for more? Explore the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix HERE
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This time of the year we're often surrounded by chocolate! But is white chocolate really chocolate? Watch this video to find out where it really comes from. |
In this video visit the largest Christmas Tree Farm in the world,
learn about how Christmas trees are grown, and how to tell the difference between the three main kinds of Christmas trees.
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Growing Up Evergreen. In this activity, students will explore how evergreen trees grow from cone to maturity by reading Where Would I Be in an Evergreen Tree? by Jennifer Blomgren and by making a bird feeder from a pine cone.
Value-Adding on a Christmas Tree Farm. In this activity, students will learn how to add value to Christmas trees by making scented pillows from balsam fir needles which can be used for gifts or potentially as a fundraiser for your classroom. Older students can also calculate the potential income from selling their value-added projects.
Chocolate Taste Testing. In this activity students will taste different types of chocolate to determine if price is an indicator of better taste. Chocolate is a New World food that is now beloved by cultures around the globe. Use this activity to engage students with lessons related to the Columbian Exchange, global trade, food ingredients, and food origins and processing.
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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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