TEACHER FEATURES

 Programs and Resources for Educators

3rd Grade Student at St. Mary's Wins Placemat Design Contest!

$250 IAITC Teacher Grant Winners

Each year, the Illinois Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom program and the IAA Foundation give $10,000 in teacher grants.  An application can be found here.  The applications are due October 1st and up to $250 is granted to each teacher. 

The two proud 2008 IAITC Grant recipients (L to R) Mrs. Karen Yerly (St. Isidore) and her Principal, Mrs. Collins.   Mrs. Monique Vodicka (St. Mary's

Parish School) her students and Principal Mrs. Couglin.  We are very proud of you both!  Congratulations!

NEW TEACHING MATERIALS

Add,   to your classroom!

 Magic kits open the doors to active discovery and hands-on learning. Teachers, watch your students explore the depths of the world of Agriculture.  The lessons in the mAGic kits are multidisciplinary, all inclusive, and designed to bring math, science, social studies and language arts to life through agriculture in every classroom.  Each kit contains all the materials and resources needed for the lessons.  Wow what a magical time saver!

Learning English, Math, Science and

Social Studies Through Agriculture

mAGic kits include all of the necessary components to allow students to develop skills in Math, Science, Social Studies and English Language Arts, grades 4^th- 8^th. 

The kit lessons include exercises in:

ü      Mapping  ü      Graphing  ü      Sequencing  ü      Reading

ü      Writing   ü      Experimentation  ü      Research ü      And much more…

Available mAGic Kits:

 PLANT, SOIL, INSECTS, ILLINOIS, SIMPLE MACHINES, DAIRY & POULTRY.

 ILLINOIS mAGic Kit for (4th-8th) Grade   

 Available Agriscience/Agrilearning Kits:

Careers IN HORTICULTURE, HORTICULTURE SCIENCE, Embryology, Apples, Pumpkins and PONDERING pizza!

mAGic Kits are available from your County Ag Literacy Coordinator. 

Agricultural Literacy Coordinator - DuPage County

Curtis Miller, 245 S. Gary Avenue, Carol Stream, IL 60625

dupageaitc@sbcglobal.net  or (630) 668 -8161

NEED CLASSROOM MATERIALS?

VISIT OUR TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER!

245 S. GARY AVE. CAROL STREAM, IL 60188

 Teaching is a very time driven career!  So here are a few tools to make your job easier, your lessons more hands-on and hopefully your task of education more fun!

Agriculture in the Classroom- School Calendar
(Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades K-8  School year-Calendar
This Sept.-June calendar features color photos of school-aged kids and agriculture. Each month focuses on an ag topic with interesting daily facts and even jokes! Classroom activity ideas are also included. Distributed to K-8 teachers (by request) each fall.

BOOKS

Cat in the Hat-Oh Say can you Seed?
By Worth/Ruiz (2001)
Grades 2-5 Book
Introduces beginning readers to important basic concepts about the natural world.  Provides critical foundations upon which complex facts can be built.  Entertaining and educational.

Leah's Pony
By Elizabeth Friedrich (1996)
Grades 2-5 Book
Set in the Dust Bowl region during the Great Depression, this book tells the moving story of a young girl who sells her beloved pony to save her family's farm. An author's note at the end of the book shares the historical facts behind the story.

Heartland
By Diane Siebert (1989)
Grades K-adult Book
"I am the Heartland, Great and wide. I sing of hope. I sing of pride," begins this poetic tribute to the Midwest. Incredible illustrations and moving descriptions will stir feelings of pride and appreciation in the hearts of all who read this book.

 Corn Belt Harvest
By Raymond Bial (1991)
Grades 3-6 Book
The U.S. produces most of the corn grown in the world, and more than three-fourths of it is grown in the "Corn Belt." Follow the author's words and photos as he illustrates the cycle of corn production. Excellent resource to teach about our region!

 Cool Careers for Girls with Animals
By Ceel Pasternak and Linda Thornburg (1999)
Grades 4-12 and Teacher/Adult Book
Guidebook to help young women with career exploration, in careers with animals they might not have considered.  Book also includes basic career exploration activities and methods.  Great Stuff! 

 Farm Magazines
(Various Publishers)
All ages Magazines
Clip pictures from modern agricultural publications to create an agriculture bulletin board, or for student collages. The possibilities are endless! Even some of today's textbooks do not depict modern farms and equipment. These magazines do!

 ABC's of Illinois Agriculture
(Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades PreK-2 Coloring Book
This engaging, 30-page coloring book uses the alphabet to teach young children about Illinois agriculture. Each letter stands for an ag-related word and that page contains a message to read, a picture to color, and space to print the word.

 Agriculture Books for Children
(2000, Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades PreK-8 Book List
This list of 15 books was developed by the Illinois Farm Bureau and updated in 2000. Ideal for teachers and librarians, the list serves as an excellent reference for those looking for accurate, agriculture-related books for children.

Hold the Anchovies! A Book About Pizza
By Shelley Rotner & Julia Pemberton Hellums (1996)
Grades PreK-2 Book
No matter how you slice it, pizza is every kid's favorite food. Color photos and simple text take the reader step-by-step through the pizza-making process -- from wheat fields and tomato vines to steaming ovens and happy faces. Pizza recipe included!

 Facts Not Fear
By Michael Sanera and Jane S. Shaw (1996)
Grades 10-12 and Teacher/Adult Book
Guidebook to help teachers, parents and students become more informed on a more balanced view of global environmental issues and counter irresponsible claims of environmental extremists.

AND so much more…

VIDEOS

 Agriculture is Every Day
Grades 2-6 Video
Gives students a season-by-season overview of ag while highlighting urban topics such as hydroponics, greenhouses, & transportation. Children will learn that agriculture is all around them every day in both the city and the country. 18 min.

 Ten Things Kids Want To Know About Farming
(2001, American Farm Bureau Federation)
Grades 4-6 Video
This video is a useful tool for teaching about such fundamental concepts of food production as what can grow on an acre, what constitutes soil, and how much water is needed to grow a crop. Answers questions kids commonly ask about farming. 22 min.

 Make Mine Milk
(National Dairy Council)
Grades 2-5 Video
This highly entertaining video teaches elementary kids where milk comes from, how it is transported and processed, and how it contributes to a nutritious diet. Integrates geography, science, and math. 27 minutes.

 Chosen Fields: Exploring Careers in Agriculture
(2000, Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades 6-10 Video
Help students get a taste of careers in agriculture with this exciting video! It highlights careers in agricultural engineering, animal behavior, animal nutrition, and landscape design. Includes CD-ROM with 15 classroom lessons. Length 8:30.

 Connecting to Agriculture
(1998, Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades 5-8 Video
Exciting, fast-paced video connects agriculture to students' lives. Highlights corn, cotton, apples, milk and soybeans while telling the story of ag and how it relates to economics, science and business. Includes lesson plan guide for teachers.

Exploring Planet Pizza
(Indiana Farm Bureau, 1998)
Grades K-5 Video Kit
A spacecraft will land on Planet Pizza and explore the planet's surface, consisting of dough, cheese, tomato sauce, and sausage. Students will also discover history, geography, and math with the included teaching materials. Video length is 12:28 min.

 Art of Cheesemaking, The
(Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board)
Grades 6-Adult Video
This 17-min. informational film presents an upclose-and-personal view of master cheesemakers in action. Learn the basic steps in the cheese making process, and what makes cheeses different. Have some cheese samples on hand--this will make you hungry! One of my favorites!

 KID TV News
(1999, National Pork Producers Council)
Grades K-3 Video
KID TV News will help students learn about farmers, baby pigs, pig history, and little-known pig facts! This 7-minute video features kids as TV news anchors and is sure to capture student interest. Use alone or with the "Welcome to Our Farm" unit.

Take a Cook on the Wild Side
(1999, National Cattlemen's Beef Association)
Grades 7-12 Video Kit
This supplemental education kit is designed to help junior and senior high school students learn life skills in food safety, nutrition and beef preparation. Developed to align with the National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

 Tractors, Combines and Things on the Grow
(1994, Just Our Size Videos)
Grades K-6 Video
This 30-minute video shows children the wonders of where food really comes from and how it ends up on the grocery shelf. Shot on location across the country, children can watch powerful farm machinery in action through an entire growing season.

 Tractors, Cotton-Pickers and the Stuff Kids Wear
(1995, Just Our Size Videos)
Grades K-6 Video
This video will fascinate your students as they discover how their favorite pair of blue jeans came from a tiny cotton seed. The entire process from seed to jeans is portrayed. Silk, wool and flax are also discussed as they pertain to our clothing.

 Fresh from the Family Farm
(1995, ZMedia Inc.)
Grades 1-3 Video
Join seven-year-old Nick as he experiences the fun of visiting Steve's family farm. From tomatoes to tractor rides, you and your students will be a part of the action, helping Nick solve the mystery of growing fruits and vegetables. 30 minutes.

 My Amazing Garden
(1994, Metropolitan Banana)
Grades 1-6 Video
Join Peggy and some amazing kids as they explore the secrets to a great garden. Ideal video for a class preparing to create their own garden. Covers planting to picking, fun ideas & projects, and creative crafts. 30 minutes.

 Vrrrooommm 1: Farming for Kids
(1996, Rainbow Communications)
Grades K-4 Video
Join Farmer Bill in this award-winning video as he engages your students' imaginations with the noise and live action of hi-tech farm equipment. Follow vegetable and grain production from planting to harvest on a modern family farm. 30 minutes.

 Vrrrooommm 2: Dairy Farming for Kids
(1996, Rainbow Communications)
Grades K-4 Video
Friendly Farmer Bill takes you on a personal tour of a modern family dairy farm. From cows mooing to tractors roaring, this fun, educational, 30-min. video has it all! Follow milk production from growing the herd's feed to seeing cheese being made.

 Vrrrooommm 3: Apple Farming for Kids
(1997, Rainbow Communications)
Grades K-4 Video
The award-winning Farming for Kids video series continues with this live action adventure exploring modern apple production. From pollination to processing, Farmer Bill shares the chronology of how apples are grown and make their way to the market.

 Vrrrooommm 4: Citrus Farming for Kids
(1999, Rainbow Communications)
Grades K-4 Video
The award-winning Farming for Kids series continues with this live action adventure exploring the Florida citrus industry. Join Farmer Bill as he heads south for a first hand look at growing and processing oranges and grapefruit. 30 minutes.

 Fueled for Flight
(1998, National Cattlemen's Beef Association)
Grades 5-6 Video Kit
This kit is designed to help students learn science and math skills using a space theme approach. Nutrition and fitness are used to convey key concepts for everyday healthy living. Includes activities, video, teacher's guide and activity masters.

TEACHER WORKSHOPS

Teachers interested in learning how to effectively use any of the AgriScience kits, AgriLearning Kits, or the Kids, Crops, & Critters in the Classroom and Innovations in Agriculture lesson guides while earning CPDU's towards recertification have the option of requesting a workshop in their school. Activities such as making plastic from corn starch, creating Dr. Suess career hats or making a "Soil Sam" are much easier to conduct in the classroom if you've had hands-on experience ahead of time. Call-Curtis Miller at 630-668-8161 or e-mail dupageaitc@sbcglobal.net to schedule an visit!

Kids, Crops, and Critters in the Classroom
(2000, Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades K-3 Curriculum Guide
Kids, Crops, and Critters is a great way to infuse food & fiber system concepts into your curriculum! This 295-page guide features 60 teacher-created activities in six subject areas, and each activity is correlated to Illinois Learning Standards.

Kids, Crops, and Critters in the Classroom
(2000, Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades 4-6 Curriculum Guide
Kids, Crops, and Critters is a great way to infuse food & fiber system concepts into your curriculum! This 356-page guide features 60 teacher-created activities in six subject areas, and each activity is correlated to Illinois Learning Standards.

Innovations in Agriculture
(2000, Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades 7-8 Curriculum Guide
Innovations in Agriculture is a great way to infuse food & fiber system concepts into your curriculum! This 335-page guide features 60 teacher-created activities in six subject areas, and each activity is correlated to Illinois Learning Standards.

In-service - Workshops

Lesson Plans Kits

FACES of Agriculture
(1999, American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture)
Grades 4-8 Lesson Folder
FACES presents ideas for teaching an awareness of and appreciation of our food and fiber system. Includes a poster and lessons that encourage students to think about careers while they develop reading, language, math and social science skills.

Farm Facts Lesson Plans
(2000, American Farm Bureau Federation)
Grades 7-12 Booklet and Lessons
Cross-curricular lessons accompany the colorful Farm Facts booklet, a 26-page overview of U.S. agriculture, including statistics, ag facts, nutrition information, a fold-out poster depicting agricultural products by state, and more. Updated in 2000.

Farm Facts Lesson Plans
(2000, American Farm Bureau Federation)
Grades 4-6 Booklet and Lessons
Cross-curricular lessons accompany the colorful Farm Facts booklet, a 26-page overview of U.S. agriculture, including statistics, ag facts, nutrition information, a fold-out poster depicting agricultural products by state, and more. Updated in 2000.

Eggciting Experiments: Chick Incubation and Embryology
(Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education)
Grades K-8 AgriScience Kit
Hatch chicks in the classroom! This popular kit includes incubator, turner, feed, bedding and everything else needed to study the incubation of eggs and growth of the embryo as it develops into a chick. Poster, floor puzzle and books also included.

Teach Me About Soybeans
(1996, Nebraska Foundation for Agricultural Awareness)
Grades K-3 Lesson Kit
This packet is designed for use with the included book, Why the Brown Bean was Blue, in which a mysterious talking bean takes three children on a journey to learn about the production and uses of soybeans. Includes a language arts lesson and game.

Pumpkin Patch: A Vine Through Time
(2000, Partners for Agricultural Literacy)
Grades K-5 AgriLearning Kit
Discover the wonders of pumpkins. Watch tiny seeds grow into several varieties of pumpkins in a time-lapse video and learn how to prepare the soil for next year's crop. Contains books, posters, recipes, craft ideas, and more.

Getting to the Core: Apples and Orchards
(2000, Partners for Agricultural Literacy)
Grades K-5 AgriLearning Kit
How do apples grow? Where do all those varieties of apples come from? Learn the answers to these questions and much more! Take an inside look at apples and their history. Includes games, things to make and eat, videos, posters, and books.

 Fun With Plants
(2001, Illinois Farm Bureau)
Grades PreK-K Activity Guide
This engaging booklet contains a wealth of plant-related activities that are perfect for young children. Coloring, cutting, counting, and matching are just a few of the skills your students can master as they complete these activities.

 Fun With the Plant Nutrient Team
(Potash & Phosphate Institute)
Grades K-3 Activity Guide
This 24-page educational activity book features the three major plant nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium while helping students understand soil conservation and science in agriculture. Teacher's guide also available.

 Teacher-Created Lessons & Units from past participants of Agriscience Bus (Summer Ag Institute)!
(Various)
Grades PreK-12 Lesson Plans
Why "re-invent the wheel?" Gather great ideas from your peers as you browse through a selection of agricultural lessons and units created by area teachers. Gain insight from others who have found creative ways to infuse ag into their classrooms!

 Pondering Pizza: A Slice of Agriculture
(2000, Partners for Agricultural Literacy)
Grades K-5 AgriLearning Kit
Take a look at a slice of agriculture--a pizza slice. Through books & videos, see how the ingredients on your pizza begin on farms, are processed, distributed and made into a delicious meal. Explore "Planet Pizza" and visit a real "pizza farm!"

Farm Bureau Offers Substitute Teacher Resource Guide