Curated OER
What is Biotechnology?
Young consumers explore the concept of biotechnology as it pertains to the foods they eat, economics, and agriculture. They watch several videos, explore a website, complete worksheets, and engage in class discussion. Son they'll know...
Curated OER
Career Trek: Agricultural Careers
What is agriscience and could it hold a potential career opportunity? Learners define agriscience and explore careers that involve both agriculture and natural resource fields. The lesson includes several web links, a game, a full...
Curated OER
High-Tech Food: Science in Your Shopping Cart
Kids are given a lot to think about, as they delve into the world of high-tech foods. They discuss GMOs, biotechnology, food enhancements and domestication. They view videos, engage in class discussions, complete worksheets, and learn...
Curated OER
Agricultural Careers
Now here is a very well-designed resource describing the types of jobs available to those interested in pursuing an agricultural career. Each job type is defined by the education required, average annual salary, and job expectations....
Kenan Fellows
A Farmer’s Challenge to Breed to the Greatest of Grapes
What does your class know about GMOs? Are they savvy to selective breeding? Challenge young minds to engineer the greatest crop of all time using a hands-on genetics unit. Learners discover the good and bad details of selective breeding,...
Curated OER
Plant Reproduction
Students plant seeds in order to investigate and explore the questions: "How do seed companies develop varieties of plants?" and "What is the ideal plant?" Students will study related vocabulary and sketch seeds as they emerge. Students...
Kenan Fellows
Terrarium in a Bottle: Modeling the Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect, and Water Cycle
You've heard of farm to table ... but what about farm in classroom? Junior agriculturalists embark upon a two-week journey into the science of growing things. Based upon the classic terrarium in a two-liter experiment, the lesson plan...
Curated OER
What is Biotechnology
Students discover the concept of biotechnology. In this biotechnology lesson, students explore the history of biotechnology and its implications today.
Pulitzer Center
Food Insecurity
Food insecurity, whether as a result of food scarcity or a lack of nutritious food, is a growing and serious problem in the world today. After discussing the concept of food insecurity, learners listen to an NPR radio broadcast on the...
Curated OER
Who's in my soil!?!...and just what do they think they're doing there?
Students discover organisms that inhabit the soil, the beneficial an detrimental roles these organisms play, and the interactions between the organisms and their environment and other organisms. Students participate in four hands-on ...
Curated OER
Catalase: A Bioinformatics Case Study
High schoolers investigate the physical structure of a protein by using a computer simulation tool. They record its primary amino acid structure while viewing it in three dimensions for a better visual recognition. There is also a...
Curated OER
Not So Sweet
Students explore farming, slavery and cacoa farming. In this agricultural science lesson, students fill out KWL charts, create PowerPoints and do internet research. Students write letters to chocolate companies requesting them not to buy...
Curated OER
Soil Testing and Texturing
Learners are introduced to soil textures and why they are important in examining soil quality. They find out how to feel the difference between soil textures. Pupils describe which soil texture is best for gardens and growing healthy...
Curated OER
Steps for Taking a Cutting for Your Own Forest at Home
Students study renewable and nonrenewable resources and take a hardwood cutting. In this hands on activity students learn what rooting hormones are, how they generate roots and then take their own cutting and root it.
Curated OER
Tree Leaves: Determining the Characteristics They Share in Common
Students use their basic knowledge of dendrology concepts and terms. In this tree leaf lesson students divide into groups and determine which characteristics go with what plant.
Curated OER
Electrical Safety
Middle schoolers create a list of things that they do with electrical power. They then are shown a PowerPoint on "Basic Electrical Safety." Students evaluate electrical equipment, cords and situations for serviceability and safety...
Curated OER
Using The Scientific Method
Learners are given a problem or hypothesis, they can create a relevant experiment using the steps to the scientific method. They collect quantitative and qualitative observations in scientific experiments. Students identify the...
Curated OER
From Milk to Cheese and Seed to Shelf
Students learn about food production by making cheese, seeing how a seed gets to a shelf, and discussing food safety. In this food production lesson plan, students complete 3 days worth of activities and learn about food production,...
Curated OER
High Tech Food
Learners view videos, read, and fill in charts about agriculture production. In this agriculture lesson plan, students complete these agriculture activities and explore careers in agriculture.
Curated OER
Agriculture Careers
Students study the careers available in the agricultural field. For this agriculture field lesson, students study the jobs required to getting a food product into someone's kitchen. Students select an agriculture career from a list and...
Curated OER
Dendrology Scavenger Hunt
Students examine leaves that are assigned to them. For this earth science lesson students work in groups and find examples of leaves that the instructor asks for.
Curated OER
Safety -- It's An Attitude: Promoting Farm and Ranch Safety
Students examine the unsafe practices that farmers and ranchers sometimes participate in. They describe behaviors that promote safe behaviors. They also outline a "Safety Action Plan" for promoting safety in their community.