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Organic Farming / Agriculture
Want an organic farming resource packed with experiments, background information, science fair projects, and topics of interest for further research? Here it is. Young environmental scientists can explore concepts involved in organic...
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The Dairy Shoppe
Fifth graders research dairy farming and learn about dairy products as well as dairy processing. In this dairy lesson plan, 5th graders read background information about dairy farming and processing. Students discuss running a small...
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Real People, Real Farms: Case Studies of Animal Agriculture
Students explore sustainable animal production. In this agriculture lesson, students examine how animal production is managed in the US and world. They apply this knowledge to real life situations by evaluating the sustainability of a...
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Introduction to Farming in the United States
Students discuss basic foods and what constitutes a well-balanced meal. They identify four basic food groups, and identify food sources, such as farms.
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Keeping Milk Fresh
Young scholars identify the risks of spoilage and pathogens in fresh milk. They investigate the farmer's role in keeping milk safe to drink and identify safety procedures used in dairy farming.
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Frightening Factory Farms
Students discuss existence of and conditions on factory farms, and identify alternatives to factory farms that provide sustainable solutions for food production and environmental safety.
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Soil, Designing the Small Farm of the Future
Students examine the history of farming. In this environmental farming lesson plan, students explore the web and complete a variety of activities in order to understand the necessity of local, sustainable, and small farms for the future....
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Better Butter
Students explore the process of making butter. In this agriculture lesson, students discuss how butter is made today and how it was made in the past. Students make their own butter using baby food jars and some "elbow grease."
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Agriculture and Me
Second graders categorize and organize agricultural products. In this agriculture lesson, 2nd graders complete classroom activities that challenge them to make connections between agricultural products and their own lives.
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On The Farm
Students study a dairy farm and also the crops that grow on farms. They research how we depend on farms to get the food we eat. They transform their findings and describe one the farms or make up their own. They turn the information...
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Animals on the Farm
Students work in groups to create a description of a farm animal. Other classmates try to guess the animal. The class discusses what farmers need to provide for each animal on their farm (food, shelter, veterinary care). Students...
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Animals: Farm Animals
Students examine the different types of animals that live on a farm. They participate in online games and activities to help them explore the different types of farm animals.
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Nutrition: A Thematic Unit
Young learners explore nutrition and the food groups in these two mini-lesson plan ideas. First, kindergarteners have a discussion about their health and how different foods contribute to it before making their own personal food pyramid....
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Here Today. . .Gone Tomorrow
Students observe that there are threatened and endangered bird species in Illinois, why they have been given this status and how it relates to endangered species on a worldwide basis. they participate in the Project WILD "Oh, Deer" or...
SF Environment
Sort and Color!
Sorting is a very important skill that can be used in math and even science. Learners get familiar with some environmentally friendly vocabulary terms as they practice separating objects that can be recycled from those that can't. They...
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Problems with Rivers
Students explore the PNI model. In this river pollution activity, students use the PNI (positive-negative-interesting) problem solving model to analyze 5 scenarios.
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Ag in My Community; Agriculture
Learners build knowledge about agriculture as it relates to their communities' commodities. In this agriculture instructional activity, students brainstorm about conditions in their community with regards to growing different types of...
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Picture Perfect Pyramid
Students investigate the concept of the food pyramid. The lesson includes background information for the teacher to lecture students about the food pyramid. They construct a model of the pyramid using cereal boxes. The projects could...
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WHO CARES FOR THE LAND?
Students explore the importance of natural resources. They are given copies of the story, "Who Cares For The Land," and students follow
along as the teacher reads it. Students identify the key points in the story. (Soil, water and air...
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The Effects of Agricultural Fertilizer Runoff Upon Aquatic Ecosystems
Students measure the toxic levels of runoff and discuss the effects it would have on the aquatic system. For this runoff lesson plan, students answer questions to how runoff would affect the animals in an aquatic system.
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Fan 3: Sort and Color!
Students explore the concept of recycling. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students discover how to recycle and compost. Students complete an activity that requires them to sort recyclable items.