One in four jobs in Nebraska are related to agriculture. With one of our main industries being agronomic crops, crop scouting is important to learn. This lesson will test the students' knowledge of all things pests and challenge them to identify the problem in a field.
Over the course of three sessions, students act as agricultural engineers and learn about the sustainable pest control technique known as soil biosolarization in which organic waste is used to help eliminate pests during soil solarization instead of using toxic compounds like pesticides and fumigants. Student teams prepare seed starter pots using a source of microorganisms (soil or compost) and “organic waste” (such as oatmeal, a source of carbon for the microorganisms). They plant seeds (representing weed seeds) in the pots, add water and cover them with plastic wrap. At experiment end, students count the weed seedlings and assess the efficacy of the soil biosolarization technique in inactivating the weed seeds. An experiment-guiding handout and pre/post quizzes are provided.
The purpose of this lesson is to research artificial selection. During this lesson, we will use fast growing plant crossing to model traditional agricultural practices and we will use Punnett squares to predict plant crossing outcomes. We will also use online simulations to learn about current biotechnology techniques used to make genetically modified crops. We will compare traditional agriculture to current biotechnology techniques that are being used to create pest resistant crops. We will discuss how artificial selection such as selective breeding and genetic engineering can impact organisms over time.
This lesson plans helps students prepare for the agricultural industry and storytelling through social media. Students will learn how impactful social media can be and learn about those in the industry already paving the way to advocate for our industry.
In this lab activity students generate their own biomass gases by heating wood pellets or wood splints in a test tube. They collect the resulting gases and use the gas to roast a marshmallow. Students also evaluate which biomass fuel is the best by their own criteria or by examining the volume of gas produced by each type of fuel.
Hear about how respect for Earth can help us attain a more sustainable lifestyle in the face of climate change in this video segment adapted from United Tribes Technical College.
Learners will be able to 1) describe different integrated pest management techniques for controlling agricultural pests and 2) identify environmental/economical advantages and disadvantages of different pest management methods
In this activity, students conduct an energy audit to determine how much carbon dioxide their family is releasing into the atmosphere and then make recommendations for minimizing their family's carbon footprint.
This is the ninth and final lesson in a series of lessons about climate change. This lesson focuses on the various activities that humans can do to mitigate the effects of climate change. This includes information on current and predicted CO2 emission scenarios across the globe, alternative energy sources, and how people are currently responding to climate change. Importantly, this lesson is motivating in showing students that they can make a difference.
The information, activities and assessments included in these curriculum modules aim to tell a story. This storyline will help students learn the basics of how populations of bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, and how that knowledge can help make sense of the phenomenon presented. Students will learn that local conditions and actions can have a significant impact on global issues. The activities with which students will engage constitute a meaningful pathway to understanding and are not intended to be used in isolation. As you make plans for how these modules will be used, carefully consider the connections and interdependence of the activities, which make it difficult to separate the activities and is not advised.Each module consists of two or three activities. Each activity provides opportunities to develop and use specific elements of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) science and engineering skills and practice(s) to make sense of phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems. They also provide students with the chance to use conceptual understanding that spans scientific disciplines and develop deep understanding of core ideas and content.
Students investigate how much greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide and methane) their family releases into the atmosphere each year and relate it to climate change. To address this, students use the Environmental Protection Agency Personal Emissions Calculator to estimate their family's greenhouse gas emissions and to think about how their family could reduce those emissions.
Students conduct a greenhouse gas emission inventory for their college or university as a required part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
Students will investigate how the factors that influence erosion work together to produce an overall erosion rate. In agricultural areas, these factors are rainfall-runoff erosivity, soil erodibility, slope characteristics, and agricultural practices. Students will analyze changes in precipitation predicted by climate change models to consider how a changing climate could influence erosion rates in agricultural areas.
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In this podcast, Professor Roberts from the School of Biosciences discusses his research into the mechanism responsible for regulating cell separation in plants. In particular how plants ‘shed’ parts of themselves such as leaves or fruit. Professor Roberts explores the potential application of his research, through prevention or encouraging of the ‘shedding’ process, agricultural harvests could potentially be increased or even synchronised.
Professor Roberts also discusses the resistance faced to research in this field, exploring the potential problems it presents and benefits for both the plant and agriculture.
An overview of basis in agricultural markets. What it is, how it is calculated and what it means for agricultural producers.
Fueled by surplus crops, agriculture led to the formation of the world's first large-scale civilizations. Created by Big History Project.
This Flash animation describes how hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power tools.
In this podcast, Professor Roberts from the School of Biosciences discusses his research into the mechanism responsible for regulating cell separation in plants. In particular how plants ‘shed’ parts of themselves such as leaves or fruit. Professor Roberts explores the potential application of his research, through prevention or encouraging of the ‘shedding’ process, agricultural harvests could potentially be increased or even synchronised.
Professor Roberts also discusses the resistance faced to research in this field, exploring the potential problems it presents and benefits for both the plant and agriculture.
This activity is meant to follow a lesson about world or international agriculture. It gives the students an understanding of exports, imports, and trade embargos by using M&M’s as agricultural products. By Katie Griffith, Nebraska Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources educator
In this activity, students will explore 12 different career development events through a station activity. The purpose of this activity is for students to explore different educational and personal growth opportunities within agricultural education / FFA.Students will have 5 minutes to complete 5 general knowledge questions and 5 questions as a part of a practicum activity. Contests included in this lesson include: Agriscience (2022 theme), Agronomy, Ag Sales, Ag Mech & Tech, Environmental & Natural Resources, Farm & Agribusiness Management, Floriculture, Food Science, Livestock Management, Meat Evaluation, Nursery Landsdape, Vet Science.