Ag in the Classroom
Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation
Try It!
I am Sarah Kaper, the Ag in the Classroom Director at the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation. I am a former classroom teacher who is taking my classroom "to the fields." Julie Adcock, a "super sub", joined the team in August to help expand our ability to reach students with great curriculum and fun, hands-on activities. No team would be complete without an amazing intern, Madison Michels!! She keeps us all focused and loaded with supplies so that we can bring the best Ag lessons to YOU wherever you are in Champaign County! Best of all, the lessons are FREE. We invite you to explore ways that agriculture can find a place in your classroom, whether in ELA, Math, Science, or Social Studies.
Please note that we have divided the county so we can effectively bring the best, most engaging, hands-on lessons to your classroom. Contact us at anytime if you have questions about our program.
Territory 1: Unit 4, USD 116, Mahomet, Rantoul, and all private schools, contact SARAH KAPER at sarah@ccfarmbureau.com.
Territory 2: Gifford, PVO N, PVO S, Fisher, St. Joseph, Thomasboro, Homer, Unity East, Unity West, and Ludlow, contact JULIE ADCOCK at julie@ccfarmbureau.com.
Quick Facts and Scheduling:
- TO SCHEDULE, PLEASE FILL OUT THE GOOGLE FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER. WITH THE VOLUME OF REQUESTS THAT WE ANSWER, EMAILS TEND TO GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO START THE PROCESS. WE WILL CONTACT YOU WITH DATES, TIMES AND A CONFIRMATION.
- Each lesson lasts 30 minutes.
- Not all lessons are meant for all grade levels. That means that you may not be able to schedule a lesson for every month--even though we wish we could!
- We will provide all of the materials (excluding school supplies like pencils, scissors, glue sticks)
- We will share and present from a slideshow with supplemental links to videos and learning sites. Watch your email on the Monday before your scheduled visit. We will share the link with you.
- We will provide Ag Mags and other freebies as they pertain to the lesson.
January-February-March Lessons
TRY IT! HOW FRIEDA CAPLAN CHANGED THE WAY WE EAT
Meet fearless Frieda Caplan--the produce pioneer who changed the way Americans eat by introducing exciting new fruits and vegetables, from baby carrots to blood oranges to kiwis. In 1956, Frieda Caplan started working at the Seventh Street Produce Market in Los Angeles. Instead of competing with the men in the business with their apples, potatoes, and tomatoes, Frieda thought, why not try something new? Starting with mushrooms, Frieda began introducing fresh and unusual foods to her customers-snap peas, seedless watermelon, mangos and more! In this lesson, student will learn more about the variety of foods that are available to us because of Frieda. During our hands-on portion of the lesson, students will map where many of these "strange" produce items originated. We will also explore and sample some of the produce.
-Best for 1st-8th
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER
George was an agricultural scientist and inventor who developed hundreds of products using peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. He was also a prolific artist. Born into slavery a year before it was outlawed, Carver left home at a young age to pursue education and would eventually earn a master's degree in agricultural science from Iowa State University. He would go on to teach and conduct research at Tuskegee University for decades. Soon after his death, his childhood home would be named a national monument--the first of its kind to honor an African American. During our hands-on portion of the lesson, students will explore George's scientific discoveries and his art--a rare combination!
-Best for 3rd-8th
IF YOU WANT TO KNIT A MITTEN
How do you knit a pair of mittens? The first step is to get a sheep, of course! In this playful story, a girl follows 18 steps to knit mittens--from bringing home a sheep to carding, spinning, and dyeing the wool to knitting the mittens. But along the way, her mischievous sheep creates chaos and wins her heart. Students will learn everything there is to know about sheep and the process it takes to make a pair of mittens. During our hands-on portion of the lesson, students will make a felt marble to take home. -Based on the book If You Want to Knit a Mitten by Laurie Purdue Salas
-Pre-K-2nd Only
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Illinois Ag in the Classroom (IAITC)
2. Check out other resources, lessons, and professional development at https://beyondthebarndoor.wordpress.com/
Click to read the Nutrition Ag Mag
Click to read the Horticulture Ag Mag
Why Bring Agriculture to Your Classroom?
Why should you consider adding AG to your classrooms this year?
You will connect students to the Ag Industry: Building a solid foundational understanding of the relationship between agriculture and the environment, food, fiber, energy, animals, lifestyle, the economy, and technology is critical in educating future consumers and citizens of the world.
You will increase Ag Literacy: Agricultural Literacy is fundamental to developing the next generation of scientists, teachers, and policy-makers to ensure a sufficient food supply for the world's inhabitants.
You will help educate Tomorrow's Consumers: By 2050, the world's population will increase to 9 billion. So today's students will drive our food system in the years to come.
https://farmcredit.com/blog/ag-classroom-educates-tomorrows-consumer
Keeping students in Champaign County GROUNDED IN AG!
Email: sarah@ccfarmbureau.com
Website: www.ccfbfoundation.com/AITC
Location: 801 North Country Fair Drive, Ste A, Champaign, IL, USA
Phone: 217-352-5235
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/691133121333352/