December 2023 | Issue #147 | |
*make sure to click "View entire message" to get access to the full newsletter!* | | | |
Read ME 2024 Book Announcement & Registration! | | |
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Description: Nanami has two grandmothers: Baachan, who lives with Nanami’s family in Japan, and Gram, who lives in Maine. When Gram visits Japan, Baachan takes her and Nanami on a trip to the seaside to gather wakame, a long, curvy seaweed that grows near the shore.
While the three assemble their equipment and walk to the beach, Baachan explains how wakame and other seaweeds are used in Japan. Gram shares stories about how seaweeds are used in Maine, and Nanami translates for them both.
Click here for more book info.
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We are SO pleased to announce our choice for the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Read ME Agriculture program for 2024 is
The Wakame Gatherers by Holly Thompson.
The program will be held March 18-22, 2024.
Every classroom that participates will receive a copy of the book and accompanying educator’s guide, with aligned classroom activities.
To best serve the hundreds of classrooms that participate in Read ME each year, the 2024 program will be a hybrid model where classrooms can choose from in-person and virtual options. Classrooms may choose their own reader or ask MAITC for help. Contacts may register their own classroom or schools may choose 1 contact to register multiple classrooms.
MAITC is planning separate virtual sessions for grades PK - 1 and 2 - 4 this year.
If you are interested in participating, please complete this google form by February 9, 2024 and MAITC will contact you by email to fine tune your participation.
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The Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) Kids Day is back for 2024 at the Windsor Fairgrounds on Friday, May 17th! This is a full day field trip event for Grades K-6 students. With up to 30 different opportunities to visit with animals, insects, history, and more, NELE offers a unique experience for students to interact with livestock commodities and the Maine agricultural industry.
Bus transportation reimbursements will be available for schools within a 60 mile radius of Windsor Fairgrounds on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Pre-Registration is MANDATORY; registration closes on February 16th. Please email maitc@maine.gov with questions.
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Book Highlight - Readers to Eaters Books | | |
Readers to Eaters was founded in 2009 with a mission to promote food literacy from the ground up. They publish books that give a fresh and fun perspective on what we eat and how we eat through good stories, beautiful writing, and a deep appreciation of food cultures; and also partner with community organizations to promote food literacy. | |
Check out their award winning "Food Heroes Series" which are picture book biographies on a diverse group of pioneers growing a better community through food! | | |
Does your school or district want to create or expand experiential learning tied to food and school gardens? Does your school nutrition director want to increase scratch cooking, use of locally grown ingredients, or increasing participation in the meal programs?
If so, you might be interested in a partnership with FoodCorps.
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FoodCorps is a national non-profit serving in 17 states, including Maine. They place FoodCorps Americorps service members in schools full-time to teach kids about gardening, cooking, and most importantly, using those activities to make deeper connections to the learning standards/curricula they already need to learn. Examples include teaching area and volume calculation using raised beds or teaching fractions and measurements by making a fruit salad. | |
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They expect to be able to start two new partnerships in the coming school year. To place a service member in August 2024, please reach out to FoodCorps Impact and Partnerships Lead, Maine, Ryan Parker: ryan.parker@foodcorps.org and visit their website foodcorps.org to learn more. | | | |
NEW Resources & Opportunities! | | |
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KidsGardening.org
Youth Garden Grant
Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities.
In early 2024, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program.
Application Deadline:
December 15, 2023
Learn More and Apply Here
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Maine School Garden Network
NEW Video
"Promoting and Supporting Educational Gardens for Youth"
At their recent annual meeting, MSGN premiered their new video! Check it out to learn more about the Maine School Garden Network and the important work they do.
The video was filmed and created by Just One Look Media, and funded by a MAITC Statewide Organization Grant through the Agriculture Specialty License Plate
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Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Local Seafood in Maine Schools New Curriculum & Educator Workshops
Come learn about and experience activities from GMRI's new curriculum module focused on the importance of seafood across communities and cultures and celebrating its environmental, economic and nutritional benefits. Designed for students in grades 5-9. Lessons are aligned to Maine middle school science, health and social studies standards and are designed to help students share, connect and learn about fish and seafood both locally and globally.
See the full curriculum here.
Two Dates:
During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to experience and explore activities and resources in the curriculum, talk with GMRI staff about sea to school partnerships in the region and connect with other educators in the area. Dinner is provided.
This workshop is suitable for both formal and informal educators working with middle school and high school aged youth as well as those engaged in farm and sea to school partnerships.
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MaineHealth, Let's Go!
Culinary Skills for School Meals Training
The Culinary Skills for School Meals training is a 5-day hands-on intensive culinary training for school nutrition professionals focusing on foundations for food service, including knife skills, cooking techniques, and kitchen efficiencies, to improve the culinary skills of school nutrition professionals.
Check out the video above to get an inside look at the culinary trainings and hear from organizers and participants about the hands-on experience and the value behind the training.
Learn more here, where you an also sign up to receive communication about future Culinary Skills for School Meals Trainings.
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Harvest of the Month - December is Maine Winter Squash! | | | |
Teacher Resources Section | | |
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Discover Christmas Trees. Grades K-2, Grades 3-5. 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.
Healthy & Delicious Plant Food. Grades K-6. Check out lesson 4 from the Cool Beans from Around the World nutrition curriculum - recommended for December: Lesson 4. Healthy & Delicious Plant Food...the gift you give yourself! Cool Bean & Cultural Connection: GARBANZO Bean & the Middle East. Nutrition Focus: USDA & Harvard Healthy Eating Plates, Healthier Whole Grains (vs. processed). Fun and engaging worksheets with recipes too!
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!
Discover Christmas Trees. Grades K-8. Curriculum Packet from Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York. Contextualize your ELA, mathematics, social studies, science, and economics curriculum by teaching through the lens of agriculture and Christmas trees. Be inspired by both the experiential learning activities and the impressive history of these iconic conifers that impact our lives more than just one season a year.
The Columbian Exchange of Old and New World Foods. Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12. Students will explore New World and Old World food origins to understand how the Columbian Exchange altered people's lives worldwide.
MyPlate, MyWin. Grades 9-12. Students will explore the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines, compare and contrast historical food guides, and discover how to apply principles of MyPlate into their diet to create a "MyWin."
Looking for more? Explore the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix HERE
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Christmas Tree Farm
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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How Does it Grow? Christmas Trees
Learn about the life cycle of a Christmas tree, why they are harvested by helicopter, and what it means for the environment in cutting them down versus an artificial tree.
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The Maine Christmas Tree Association. Are you looking to buy a local tree or visit the Christmas tree farm nearest to you? The Maine Christmas Tree Association has a great search tool on their website. You can check them out on Facebook too!
Elf on the Shelf Ag Classroom Style! Check out this brand new Elf on the Shelf resource booklet from Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom! This booklet contains 20 agriculture-themed Elf on the Shelf ideas, complete with example photos, materials needed, setup information, book recommendations, ag facts to share, and activities to pair.
Poinsettia Growing Guide. How did this chill-averse plant come to symbolize Christmas, right alongside Frosty the Snowman?
The Amazing Amaryllis. Add a little holiday cheer to your classroom as you practice your measurement skills with the amazing amaryllis bulb.
Wild Bird Holiday Decorations. Filling trees and shrubs with festive treats for the birds enlivens the winter landscape and supports our feathered friends. Berried garlands and seeded ornaments can last after the holidays, when the winter months are snowiest. Handmade outdoor ornaments also make great gifts for kids to make and give.
Invent a Plantiful Holiday. Plants fill a number of roles in our customs and celebrations — they can serve as decorations, gifts, and ingredients for traditional dishes. Give your students a chance to dream up their own holiday with a focus on the plants that will help make it special.
Wreaths around the world. Throughout human history and across the globe, wreaths have been imbued with symbolism that varies among cultures and uses. Now commonly displayed as door decorations to welcome winter guests, wreaths have played significant roles in ceremonies, rituals, and competitions, as well as to signify social status and invite good fortune.
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.
Christmas Tree Ag Mag. The Christmas Tree Ag Mag was written for elementary and middle school students. In this issue, students will learn about the origin of the Christmas tree tradition, discover different varieties of evergreen trees, identify pests that can damage trees, explore careers, and other fun facts. The ag mag includes specific statistics for North Carolina, the 2nd largest producer of Christmas trees. Visit the Interactive Map webpage to discover if your state produces Christmas trees. The reader can be viewed by students electronically on individual devices, as a class with a projector, or printed.
National Christmas Tree Association Educational Info. This website has a teacher's corner with great ideas for educators. You can also learn about the history of Christmas trees, different tree varieties, environmental benefits, holiday safety, the White House Christmas tree, and check out some puzzle and activity sheets for kids.
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.
Homemade Botanical Paper. Check out this fun activity! Could be a great homemade gift!Make your own cards, bookmarks, or ornaments using homemade paper. You can add accents from your garden like dried flowers and leaves, or to make it truly magical, add seeds so that your paper can be planted in the garden.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Resources. Check out this video where UMCE talks about how to properly identify and harvest Maine Balsam Fir tips.One tip: Hold off on collecting evergreen boughs for holiday decorations until after the trees have experienced at least three consecutive nights at 20 degrees.This will ensure that the needles hold on longer. Another tip from University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Avoid creating or purchasing holiday decorations that contain invasive species. There are many great alternatives to the tempting orange of bittersweet vines and the little red fruits of multiflora rose. Fruits from common winterberry and staghorn sumac; seed heads from black-eyed coneflower and native grasses; dried flowers; and even the spore fronds of sensitive fern are just a few of countless natural elements to consider for your seasonal creations. Learn more: Making Balsam Fir Wreaths, Christmas Tree Marketing, Safety in Christmas Tree Production.
Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0! Resources. The holiday season is upon us and celebrations are a part of the traditions we know and love. If you serve food at your upcoming celebrations, be sure and offer healthy choices. Check out these great ideas from Let's Go! 5-2-1-0! It’s also a great time to engage children in the kitchen. It’s beneficial for them and you! It gets everyone off screens, provides fun and valuable together time, and children are more likely to try new foods because they helped prepare it! Planning ahead can help you save money and eat healthy. Check out letsgo.org/happy for more ideas on living 5-2-1-0 every day!
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This document is a compilation of agriculture related resources to be used in virtual and remote learning.
Pictures, videos, and words are hyperlinked throughout the document.
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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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