Published by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, the 600-page manual covers practical aspects of organic farming and gardening, applied soil science, and social and environmental issues in agriculture. Units contain lecture outlines for instructors and detailed lecture outlines for students, field and laboratory demonstrations, assessment questions, and annotated resource lists. Although much of the material has been developed for field or garden demonstrations and skill building, most of the units can also be tailored to a classroom setting.The training manual is designed for a wide audience of those involved in teaching farming and gardening, including colleges and universities with programs in sustainable agriculture, student farms or gardens, and on-farm education programs; urban agriculture, community garden, and farm training programs; farms with internships or apprenticeships; agriculture extension stations; school gardening programs; organizations such as the Peace Corps, US AID, and other groups that provide international training in food growing and ecological growing methods; and master gardener programs.

Looking for a project for middle school-age students? This project-based learning experience will allow students to solve the problem of excess beeswax, a byproduct of honey bees, by developing a useful beeswax product and marketing their product to be sold in a local boutique or farmers market. This is a great way to drum up business and interest with students and the community in preparation for starting your own Bee Club! This lesson has step-by-step instructions and how-to documents to help the educator facilitate the process.  

Course Workbook

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Word Count: 10148

ISBN: 978-1-55195-444-8

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Poster showing small scenes of ploughing and a military camp, with extensive text soliciting agricultural workers and offering assistance to farmers. New York State Food Supply Commission, Albany, N.Y. Includes quote from New York Governor Charles S. Whitman. Forms part of: Willard and Dorothy Straight Collection.

In this activity, kids will work on two fundamental early math skills – sorting/classifying, and graphing. There will also be some great fine motor skill practice! Includes place-based discussion questions, activity instructions, extension activities, songs, and student graph worksheets.

NGSS: K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-1, partially meets K-ESS3-1 (book and discussion)

Common Core: MP.4

Time: 45 minutes

Matierals: bag of dried beans ("16 bean soup"), paper bowls, glue, chart paper, the book "One Bean" or similar book about growing food plants, especially beans.

In this lesson, students will explore apples using their five senses. Includes activity instructions, extension activities, songs, and apple and five senses realted reading list.

NGSS: K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-1

Time: 30 minutes

Materials: "Apples Grow on Trees" or other book about apples.

In this lesson, students will investigate the miraculous process of air and water combining with seeds, soil, and sunlight to create nearly all the food we eat. Extension activities can take this a step further by encouraging kids to track growth rates of different seeds in an observation journal. Includes place-based connection, activity instructions, extension activities, songs, and vobaulary list.

NGSS: Partially meets 2-LS2-1, 1-LS1-1

Common Core: W.2.7, W.2.8, and MD.K, MD.1, MD.2.1, MD.3.3, MD.4.4, MD.5 with extension activities.

Time: 45 minutes

Materials: "One Bean" book or other book about plant germination, clear plastic cups, paper cups, paper towels, seeds, and water.

In this lesson, students will learn about the life cycle of an apple tree and sequence the stages of development. Includes activity instructions, extension activities, songs, and student worksheet.

NGSS: K-ESS3-1, 1-LS1-1

Time: 30 minutes

Materials: "Apples Grow on Trees" or other book about apples, apple life cycle student worksheet, glue sticks.

Course combines the fields of ecology and conservation with planning for the efficient use and preservation of land, water, wildlife, and forests. Within this course may be topics covering environmental factors affecting water, water pollution, water and land use management, alternative energy resources, metals and minerals.
** References to Common Core Standards are included as the first slide in each lesson's PowerPoint**

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Experience agriculture hands-on by visiting one of Silos & Smokestacks’ 117 partner sites. Learn about the history and rich culture of farming in America, get up close and personal with livestock and animals, or discover new and amazing innovations in the agriculture industry!

Silos and Smokestacks is one of the 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and are affiliated with the National Park Service. Their mission is to tell the story of American agriculture and its significance to the world through activities and partnerships.

Did you have an idea for improving this content? We’d love your input.

Did you have an idea for improving this content? We’d love your input.

Poster showing a man and woman tending a vegetable garden, with Uncle Sam and an arrangement of vegetables in the foreground. United States Department of Agriculture.

What is carbon? A hot topic in agriculture. Attend to preview new Nebraska-specific lesson plans aligned to Nebraska AFNR standards, that highlight the advantages and disadvantages of carbon.Explore answers to questions such as: What is the carbon cycle? How are agriculture and carbon connected? What steps are farmers and ranchers taking to reduce their carbon footprint?  Thee lesson plans and worksheets are included.  Curriculum developed by Rebecca Wulf.Sponsored by TallGrass, Leading Energy Solutions and the Nebraska FFA Foundation.

Agriculture: the science, art, and occupation of raising crops and livestock for food, fiber, and fuel.

Learning Fields was created to help 3rd to 5th graders and their educators learn how agriculture has changed through the years in Iowa. This website includes how livestock, crops, people and power have affected our lives.

Students will observe the physical characteristics of flowers and explore the principles of pollination with this 3rd-5th grade lesson. From Bee Dancing to flower direction, this lesson will engage young minds and explore the miracle of flower reproduction with some amazing little pollinators! Attribution for image used: "Balancing Act" by LadyDragonflyCC - >;< is licensed under CC BY 2.0.