May News from New York Agriculture in the Classroom

New York Agriculture in the Classroom | May 2024

Professional Learning Workshop

Chester Agricultural Center

Engage in a day of interactive learning focused on teaching core standard concepts through the lens of agriculture and the benefits of utilizing agriculture for a vehicle to deliver classroom teaching to enrich student engagement and learning outcomes.

Educators will participate with standards-based hands-on lessons focused on food, fiber, and fuel systems, art and agriculture, and meet and learn from community-based professionals about the availability of resources for students, educators, families, and communities.

Earn 6.5 CTLE credits, and bring home over $100 in classroom resources and tools.

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

MAY 10

Ice Cream Challenge Pre-Registration Due

JUNE 07

Aspiring Large Animal Veterinarian App Due

JUNE 24-27

Agriculture in the Classroom Conference

NOV 21-22

NY Farm to School Summit 2024

Aspiring Large Animal Veterinarian Experience

Do you know a young person passionate about animal care and interested in a career as a large animal veterinarian?

NYAAC (NY Animal Agriculture Coalition) is hosting a program where experienced veterinarians from across NY will provide insight into a career as a veterinarian. This program will allow young people to watch a veterinarian interact with farmers, the public, and fellow professionals. Additionally, participants can ask questions and get guidance from those who have successfully navigated the daunting journey of becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

This experience takes place during the NYS Fair in the Dairy Cow Birthing Center.

Learn More and Apply Here

Ice Cream Challenge

We all scream for ice cream! The Ice Cream Challenge allows your students to develop their own ice cream recipe, identify their target audience, create marketing materials for their flavor combination, and learn about the dairy processing industry in their community. This cross-curricular experience will reinforce core academic concepts in math, science, and ELA, while exposing students to career opportunities in our food system.

Pre-registered classrooms can be reimbursed up to $50 for cooking supplies and food supplies. If you are registering more than one class (multiple periods of different students) you are eligible for an additional $25 in reimbursed supplies and ingredients for each class.

Featured Lessons

Grades 3-5

Seeds, Miraculous Seeds

In this lesson, students will dissect seeds, identify the anatomy and function of seed parts, and classify seeds as monocots or dicots.

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Grades 6-8

Fungi Multiplication

Learn about edible mushroom cultivation and how one mushroom multiplies into many more! Create a spore print, and explore ecology concepts by experimenting with mold and yeast growth and researching species of fungi.

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Grades 9-12

Aeroponic Engineering and Vertical Farming

Students will use the Engineering Design Process to develop and construct an aeroponic garden to grow a food crop. Students will develop and apply an understanding of plant anatomy and physiology related to plant growth and ultimately discuss the possibilities and limitations of using vertical farming to produce our food.

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May Book Nook

First Peas to the Table

A fun work of fiction in which a girl competes in a classroom garden competition to see who can get the 'first peas to the table.' Based on the contest that Thomas Jefferson held with his friends and neighbors every year, this book seamlessly integrates school gardens, history, botany, and seasonal weather themes into one fun-to-read book. Teachers may even consider modeling a classroom science project after the one featured in this book.

Read this Book

Peach Heaven

The white peaches grown in Puchon are the best in all South Korea and are a rare treat for a little girl who lives in the town. She dreams of a peach orchard where she can play and eat as much of the delicious fruit as she wishes. Then one day, after weeks of heavy downpours, the sky begins to rain peaches. Yangsook finds herself in peach heaven—until she remembers the farmers who have lost their harvest, and decides she must help them.

Read this Book

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