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Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. A Ag in the Classroom United States Department of Agriculture ' Abi-monthlynewsletterfortheAgricultureintheClassroom Program. SponsoredbytheU.S. Dept, ofAgriculturetohelp NOV/DEC 96 studentsunderstandtheimportantroleofagricultureintheUnitedStates economy. Forinformation, contacttheAITC Vof ll, No. 6 Director, Room4307, South Bldg., USDA,Washington, D.C. 20250-0991.202/720-7925. Illinois AgriScience Kits Offer Hands-On Experiments o Science and agriculture are linked together in the study of animals, energy, insects, plants and soils. Students can develop a better understanding of these important subjects asthey conduct hands-on experiments. ThesetenAgriScienceteaching kits werecreated underthedirection ofthe Illinois CommitteeforAgricultural Education and the Tenexciting Illinois Leadership Council forAgricultural Educa- AgriScience tion. Scientists and educatorsfrom the College of kitswit!help Agricultural, Consumerand Environmental studentslearn Sciences atthe University of Illinois, the Illinois State Board of Education, andthe Facilitating moreabout Coordination inAgricultural Education staffworked agricultureand cooperatively todevelopthe kits. They offer students in grades K-8 a betterunderstanding of science. subjects ranging from weather’s effect on agricul- tureto incubation and embryology. Theself-contained kits include everything teachers and students will needtoconduct experiments, learn scientific methods of observation, organize and record data, draw informed conclusions, explore careeropportunities in science and agriculture, and participate in coop- erative learning activities.Teachers reportthatthe kits have enriched theirscienceteaching. In DairyDelights-GoodNutrition fromMilk, studentsconduct avariety of experiments de- signed toteach them scientific principles asthey are learning more about milk. In “From Milkto Glue,”students demonstrateone ofthe many uses of milk.They learn thatthe3.2% protein found in milk is composed of85% casein, a high quality protein. Casein, acommon ingredientofwhite glue, can be extracted from milk. Continuedonpage 7 From the Director: This latestedition of Noteshas newsfrom Winteron the Farmcompletesthe Summer twostateswhich have notbeen recently onthe Farm series ofvideotapes. We hopethe featured. Theeducational kitsfrom Illinoistake producerwill be abletojoin usatthe National a unique approachto instructional materials Conference inJuly. aboutagriculture by including everything The NationalAg intheClassroom Confer- neededtoteach and conductthe activities in an enceis scheduledfor Nashua, New Hampshire all-inclusive kit. Utah’s useofsciencestandards on July 9-12.Thedetailswill be in the next toenhance program utilization is onethatcan issue of Notes, alongwith registration be replicated acrossthe United States aseach information. statesets oradopts its own form ofstandards. Mattie Merrittand I wish you happy holidays Cotton Now& Thencombines history and and awonderful 1997! technologywith illustrations and photographsto answerthequestion, “Wheredoesfabriccome from?” Utah Links Agriculture and State Science Standards As states movetoward establishing oradopting statestandards in various curriculum areas, someAITC programs arefinding innovative ways to usethe standards as another way of helpingteachers integrate agriculture intotheircurriculum. Last summer, fifth gradeteachersfrom Utah took part in aworkshopthat mettheir state science core curriculum standards. “Some ofthe standards and objectives thatteachers are required toteach can be greatly enhanced byAg in the Classroom activities,”says DebraSpielmaker, state- wideAITC Project Coordinator. In Utah, agriculture provided an especially good vehicleforteachingthesciencestandards and objectives dealing with natural resources. Theworkshop, which used atrain-the- trainers approach, enrolled oneteacherfrom each ofthe state’s 50 districts. Theseteachers, inturn, will train theircolleagues in howtoteach the newscience standards by using agricultural activities. Continuedonpage 7 Putting Theory Into Practice Ginger Habel, afifth gradeteacher at Forbs “The children were especially startled to learn Elementary School inAlpine, Utah, attended the thatjusttwo percent ofthe population takescare workshop and has alreadytried some ofthe of oursoil, water, food, and fiber,” Habel says. activities in herclassroom. “I was surprised to learn Later in theyear, theywill role play about issues how little my students knewaboutagriculture,”she facing agriculture and theenvironment. says. “Agriculturewas a newword in my students’ vocabulary,” Habel says. “Through demonstrations, activities, and experiments, we alllearned that agriculture produces renewable resources.” Thechildren used corn starch to make plastic and learned why corn-based ecofoam packing material is biodegradable. They also used agrass-clipping experimentto demonstrate how livestock grazing affectsthe range. Studentsin Ginger Habei’sfifthgradeclass learn forthemselvesthat agricultureproduces renewableresources. Corn Growers Offer Educational Materials Online The National Corn GrowersAssociation Web site There is plenty of other information on corn for includes awealth of material forteachers and middle and high school students, including a students. From acorn word searchto an activity glossary ofcornterms and up-to-date news about called “Finding Corn in YourGrocery Store,”this corn.Although many ofthe materials are copy- Web sitewill befun and educational forelementary righted, teachers are encouragedto print outthe school students and theirteachers. information andto use it intheirclassrooms. ContacttheWeb site at http;//wvm.ncga.com Manyeducational activitiesforchildrenare includedon theCorn ^ffp;//vwvvv'"cga.com/iOk, Growers’ Website. °™Pa9e100).h,„, — leiooa-M™' I ,com/l0korn/pa9« I'VeAmericans ^ Vxaaxiy peaover7onn. Idaily 1 01plants. \sofCentral ^'"“fcSnisusedinavanetyo- . aStatesisfedto Woundinto ^™fres^ they ® „„stdrypetfoodis I g , ™emovies? , c“om7Comhelpskeep _ asagoodsotu nutohon History<:ax/e.•... ’ yearsWhenthefiSt '' \ ^^“rahasfoinid Pmade“fo^^^°fthe pehundrednere™’ ^eing 1 '“^™^defromcointo \remembermvfo , teforallof12S. ^yi9/9s11:.52;57 t1/l9/96H-.M'.O't 1of Video Gives Students a Close-Up View of Winter on the Farm What’s it liketospend winteron afarm? Cool, says a newvideo by Chris Fesko, on whose farm many ofthe sceneswereshot. The25-minutevideo shows an aspectoffarm lifethat most non-farm residents neversee: winter months. Winteron the Farm,thethird in aseries of award-winning videos bythesame producer, shows young viewers scenes ofeveryday chores on thefarm. Some, like milking cows and feeding animals, go on year round. Others, like repairing machinery, cutting wood, and collecting and making maple syrup, can eitherbedone only in the winterorare scheduled during thatseason because moretime is available. As with othervideos bythis producer, narration is minimal. Instead, viewers are stimulated to developtheir observation and deduction asthey learn thatfarming is ayear-round occupation. Cowsgive birth during the winter, and the video includes somecharming scenes of wobbly-legged calves. Winteron the Farm doesn’t missthe educational opportunityto pointoutthatcows need togive birth in order to produce milk. Visits byveterinarians and farriers let children seethat many people play a hand in helping farmers.Thevideo alsotakes childrentovisit nearbyfarmsto learn more aboutwintertime activities. The snowy scenes in thevideo are exquisite, and show aspects of both work and play. Scenes of children skating, sledding, and riding in asleigh are sure to leaveviewers smiling. Winteron the Farm has public viewing rights and an illustrated teacher’s manual. Send check or P.O. for$49.95to Chris Fesko Enterprises, 1261 East Lake Road, Cutting wood, trimming Skaneateles, NY 13152-8909. Forcreditcard trees,andmakingmapie orders, call 1-800-747-6470. syrupareailpartofWinter on theFarm. Now & Cotton Then: History With a Fun Twist “Wheredoesfabric times (and production methods) gone by. Each comefrom atthe pageoftext is bordered by adrawing of afabric start?”Sueasks her samplethat might befound in thefabric store. mom afteravisittothe Young readerswill alsoenjoy looking forthecat fabricstore. So, in on every page. CottonNow& Then, Thebook includesfascinating facts about past Sue’s motherexplains howa and presentcotton production. Forexample, simplecotton seeddevelops into readerswill learn thatgeesewere once usedto thecolorful cloth she uses in her keepdown theweeds inthecotton fields before quilting, comparing modern methodswith pesticidesweredeveloped. those of herpioneerancestors. This bookletwould be ideal forstudents This 32-page, full-colorbookteaches children learning howa raw material becomes afinished about cotton fabricfrom bollto bolt. Thecatchy product. Itwill also interestchildren who loveto rhyming textby Karen Bates Willing andJulie learn how andwhythingswork. Bates Dockwill hold children’s attention while Cotton Now& Thenis availablefrom Now & giving them lots of interestingfacts aboutcotton. Then Publications, 725 Beach Street,Ashland, The illustrationscombinephotographyand OR 97520.Thetelephone numberis 541-482- illustrations. The photos, from the National Cotton 7935, andthefax is 541-482-7937. Singlecopies Council and Cotton Incorporated illustratetoday’s are$8.95 foreach paperback and $12.95 for each high-tech cotton production process. Whimsical hardback, plus $3.00 shipping perorder (butfree illustrations by Sarah Morseofferaglimpseof shippingfororders ofsix or morecopies). Children willlearnhowa cottonseedbecomes colorfulclothinCotton Now& Then. . Kits frompage3 In an activity moreappropriatefor uppergrade Inthis activity, casein and other milk solids are levels, students actuallydistill ethanol in their classroom, using amixture ofcorn syrup, yeast, and separated from the liquidthrough heatingandthe water.The pricefor GrowingEnergyfortheFuture addition ofvinegarorotheracidic substances.The is$135. whey is drained from thecurds, which arethen Thekits range in pricefrom $95to $185. mixed with baking sodaandtapwatertoform a Consumable items may be replaced atacostthat crudeglue. In an enrichmentactivitysuggestedfor rangesfrom $20to$40. For more information, this lesson, studentstracethestory ofdairy contacttheVocationalAgricultural Service, Univer- products from thefarm tothe storewherethey sityof Illinois, College ofAgricultural, Consumer, purchased them. In other activities, students makecultured and Environmental Sciences, 1401 S. Maryland Drive, Urbana, IL61801 217-333-3871 yogurtand cottagecheese and observetheaction ; of rennin on milk. From thetesttubestoa repro- ducible labsheettothe rennintablets,thekit includes everythingteacherswill need (exceptthe Kittitlesandthegrade levelsforwhich milk). theyarerecommended include: DairyDelightsis availablefor$160. In AgricultureRenewsOurPlanet-Growing EggcitingExperiments-Chick incubation Energyforthe Future, students learn thatthe and Embryology (K-8) earth’s supply ofoil is a limited resource. It is AgricultureRenewsOurPlanet-Growing especially importantthat students learn the Energyforthe Future (K-8) importance ofconservation andwise use. One /nsecte-Agriculture’s Foes orFriends (K-8) conservation effort involves using ethanol (alcohol ProbingOurSoils-Gettingtothe Roots of madefrom corn) as asupplementtooil and its Agriculture (2-8) derivatives. ProteinProviders-The SuperbSoybean To help students learn about using renewable (K-8) resources, they are introduced toa new product AnimalsinAgriculture-TheirGrowth and madefrom 40 percentsoybeans,40 percent Development (4-8) recycled newspapers, and 20 percentadhesives. DairyDelights-Good Nutrition from Milk They see some examples ofthe product,then (K-8) complete a display boardthatfeatures soybean GrowingBetterEveryDay-Using Genetics products. toImproveAgriculture (6-8) In a chromatography experiment, students AgricultureMeasures Up-Using compare soy-based inkwith a petroleum-based Mathematics inAgriculture (3-5) ink. They learn thatthe pigments ofthesoy inkdo Rain orShine—Weather’s Effecton not separate, butthe pigments ofpetroleum inkwill Agriculture (K-8). separate into red, blue, orange, and yellowdueto its volatility. Utah frompage2 Duringthetraining, teachers received instruction sensitive issues intheirclassrooms. One ofthe on subjectsthat included composting; sustainable mosteffectivetechniques, according toSpielmaker, agriculture: wildlife management; land issues (open wasan activity thatinvolved a bouncing 13-inch spaces); renewable and recyclable productsfrom rubberball. “I wrotethe numbers from 1 to 6 on the agriculture; and soil, water, and rangeconserva- ball very much astheywould appearon adie. Then tion. I askedteachers on differentsides ofthe room to Because many ofthesubjectsdiscussed in the tell uswhich numbertheysaw. Wewere all looking natural resources partofthe sciencecurriculum atthesame ball, buthad different perspectives and also involve issues on which people may hold sawdifferent numbers. When weare looking at widely divergentviews,teachers practiced handling issues, it’sagood ideato look atall sides beforewe makeadecision,”sheconcludes. — smr Agin the Classroom State Contacts Twkssmpttaerohaaynortetgteeer.r’ietsaInifofdmnAeyi,fmgrvooaeicurdnikomnucnhaeaetttalhaivrspceoeeetnlprCioasatslrnthbtoaeyesonds,ussfqhtooureilreonyrlsoooenetwmueiaiareocnrndghes:, DMD23DD5FMRs0oe3eles4ov.2ol2l.l5oer-aa0aAriD7mEwwwn.do.S3aaaa.nt92rrOTry-e0eeeDeE46nWuTA8D.neP1e1IBenpo91lFTstz9ianC,ts0ceEtzkx1elogtHefeB.iruA2gaigl7lh.ddw9ianyg 2LMLPB55MRMrsa1o00aAaOs.tcu444i.Feoi--4nBBlnsa94LoeaaiH24ryxRrna28imnbodn--g9dau,aB62h5argu23w0Lae0r9Da0A,0e5Lya4aa7nLun10oAg3sFl79ee04dy8e9ra5t-i9o0n04 DHSG7BNMDCC6taoooe0os0eealprtl2n.3nlrwtocc--eS,tLoo5D2RrpHhnytr27aor.ayBdnd9f1miamon.--nAHo,xep0g3gnaNr4s6sNB2timH49hlc0eRV06miyu4a0elroC823ntoen9u3c-4rd0hce12o4ntact RMS4ESS4881RFxso000l9oohCSeo33.u1b1uottr--t-bA3tedeCa6h7irghnae6mC8,ecrC5o3pCieoIoR-lnM-a.lls1ulPy7rtlneSlSeo7h30agtaerl0t6C2neyci1s4ad8Cen(2mL2TlaHr9a2paa)5kisl0es6rDoroivme W2MC3W2M3CD2s0h4s0oyya.7u1.e70oong--y97mamLEl33eoildaiC2H5nransaai28inni.grg--engGhe56eW.rAly72ogaMYW23sAno72vYsido8ner2C.t8e6oh2u3e0r30Ct2lassroom Alabama Tallahassee.FL32308 Mr.BuzzGamble 796-6700(W) JeanMiddleton 23MM13so04.n1-tJ2gaB4one0mle-el7rAR1yloi2,ca4eAdLLe3e6117 9G9M01es24.o--rD4go8i7na-n4a97R3eynolds SA2Dtu0eag7p.u-as#2rt82ta7m3.-e5nM8tE9o9f04E2d2uc2.-0433 NMCNsJNe.3wD3JeoJp0neti,rsEoelflyiAogtriculture SSMsoD.uAtMghelDianantkihoeetSaCclhausmsraocohmer OA91nu01tr50ao-rrT8iaa4o,m1aAO-grn7rta5iac9r-4iFTrooaoiLdl4EGdu5cTa1tion Ms.BrendaSummerlin GPeOorBgoixa7F0a6r8mBureau Maryland T6r0e9n-t2o9n2,-N8J89078o6r25633-7463 PPi.eOr.reB,oSxD57577501 Guam 3AAW9DPMMPMir.l30leioOl.Oa47pkanl.s--tetsToBk24gkewBooCa49o.adofxa05mAxArAB--e3IlKger7163sTry1023oC&9r.21n6y948IA6n8Ld8u3-s6t0r10i96e32s 2MH8WMBHIMarrlo5a0ad..dinw83cagtoa-o0hMR.ll4i7noiieu7Ai13.dcyl.40<3hu-tGAa-,RWh8se9Aao4slH1Ai1oIot23vc1Bl5m1e9iae2n6ray2r9,tu83oe8e1Dss6irector S2MB44MdDL5aa1t1a1a0eokFl0e0r08sbeto1v-y--Posviue7l7i.3rmanln5EaO83oadcl.a2n3r6ahAehs-ed--t,.But.00i4CAosM6C8o.4gFMxeo7n5r2AoHn1tD,i7r61ncott01uIeF2gs2nAl7lA1act13vl.u2nX4yer37an0lueEd-uScuaittieon124 NS45NLNA4NC20oa0mneeeM1r5s8dowwwn-rkeFCN5KelYMYera2elowoueWyr6nrcrax-UmnkFeBknti5easil&Ae5cd.vgar2IoenyaL1TrNtinsCHovMianetlsy8lt8o0c0k1Bureau 6TTC6TPCTMP80.her1eoee0OO.a5l5nx1nx.ru---naanTBlm93sesaBeoeb48sdosxsiF58sxsaa-D-eC2e.2r7uu3e6er38m1nT8t07F3cN9iB62aasur3nrm8e4aB0uu2r-e0a3u13 RC6UMFMC6DKFrnoea7oT9iaS.illsn1A1cxvoMlgi-S-rReneid67/3oruigae973sC2nabeln61i5.o0eoett9--ol-s.ynP47f2l2iI13oGo0ne7aAD4fsn0g3ugat-a9e8yGra6rp&uuoi8mceft4atLii29Mmof6ienc9SCr2coo3onireeisnnicaaetsor Box953 1741GibsonWay Ithaca,NY14853-5901 Waco.TX76702-2689 DeltaJunction,AK99737 Meridian,ID83642 Michigan 607-255-8122 817-772-3030 PuertoRico 907895-4819(H) 208-888-0988 4Dr1.0EAdgdriiecuMltouorreeHall NorthCarolina U80t2a-h MUrS.DDAa/vSeCHSeilig A3MP4rhso0.ie1zDnoieEnxbaa.sotrAaZEhl8wF5ol0oo4wd0e-Sr1tsr6e2e5t IMIFllislle.iilnndoSoiitsSsaeFcrayvriSmcheBsaunDreievaisuion 5ME1aisc7th-i3Lg5aa5nn-s6iS5ntg8a,0teMlUn4iv8e8r2s4ity NPRMasCOl.eFBiJgoaahxnr,im2cNe7BC7uS6rh26ee7a6pu1a1rd MULUosTMg.CaSDnl.ea2tb3Uer1Ta5UnS8ip4vie3re2sl2im-ta2yk3e1r5 GS8C0aaP9rnO-iJb4uBb9ae8ona-x,n542PA80rR66e8a00S9t3at6eOffice 602-470-0088 1701TowandaAve Ms.JulieChamberlain 919-782-1705 797-1657 Arkansas 3B0lo9o-m5i5n7g-t3o3n3,4IL61702-2901 7Mi3c7h3igWanSaFgairnmaBwuHrewayu NorthDakota Vermont VMir.rgEirnicIsBloaungdhs Dr.LarryR.Dale Lansing.Ml48909 Ms.SarahNordby Ms.MeganCamp Dept,ofEconomicDevelopment ASUCenterforEconomic Indiana 517-323-7000 NDDept,ofAgriculture ShelburneFarms &Agriculture P.EO.duBcoaxti2o8n90 OMfsf.icPeaomfCBormigmhitssion Minnesota AHmCid1o.nB,oxND958620 S8h0e4l-b9u8r5n-e8,68V6T05482 S8t09C-r7oi7x8,-0V9I9010850 StateUniv.,AR72467-2890 150WestMarket,Suite414 Mr.AlanWithers 701-224-4757 501-972-3810 3In1d7i-a2na3p2o-l8i7s,69IN46024 9M0NWDePplaartotmBelnvtdofAgriculture Ohio GVeursmoHnotweFarmBureau MPrO.OBtoixsH8i0c4ks California StPaul.MN55107 Ms.JudyRoush RR2BOX123 Christianstad Mr.MarkLinder Mr.HarryL.Pearson 612-296-6688 OhioAgAwarenessCouncil Richmond,VT05477 St.Croix.VI00821-0804 CAFoundationforAITC IndianaFarmBureau POBox479 802-434-5646 809-773-0758 1601ExpositionBlvdFB16 P.O.Box1290 Mississippi Columbus.OH43216-0479 Sacramento.CA95815 9In1d3i-anapolis,IN46206 Ms.TeriBontrager 614-249-2429 Virginia 916-924-4380 317-692-7851 MSFarmBureau Ms.MicheleAwad P.O.Box1972 Oklahoma VAFarmBureauFederation Colorado Iowa Jackson.MS39215-1972 Dr.CharlesCox POBox27552 Ms.HelenDavis Ms.BarbaraLykins 601-977-4824 205PoultryScience Richmond.VA23261 ColoradoDeptofAgriculture IowaFarmBureauFederation OklahomaStateUniversity 784-1234 700KillingSt.#4000 5400UniversityAvenue Missouri Stillwater,OK58505 Lakewood,CO80215-5894 WestDesMoines,lA50266- Ms.DianeOlson 405-744-5390 Washington 303-239-4114 5997 MissouriFarmBureau FAX405-744-6522 ShanSchnebly 515-225-5425 POBox658 P.O.Box786 Ms.BetteBlinde JeffersonCity,MO65102 Ms.JoTheimer Ellensburg.WA98926 C2o8l2o7r6adWoCFRou1n5dationforAgriculture SKaanndsraasKramer 573-893-1400 O28k0l0ahNoom.aLiDnecpotl,noBflAdggr.iculture 509-962-4134 Windsor,CO80550 124BluemontHall Montana OklahomaCity.OK73105-4298 Mr.DougHasslen 970-686-7806 KMaannhsaatstaSnt,atKeSUn6i6v5er0s6ity AMgarrigciueltTurheominpMsoonntanaSchools 4F0A5X-542015--3582614-4912 OPl.Oy.mpBioax.4W2A5698504-2560 Connecticut 532-7946 RuralRoute 206-902-1940 BernadetKayan WolfCreek.MT59648 Oregon 510PidgeonHillRd. 406-562-3562 MatySteward WestVirginia W2i0n3d-s6o8r3.-1C9T2206095 KMse.ntFuacykeyLowe Nebraska A1g2r0i0-BNusWinFersosntCAovuen.c.ilSuite290 WMrV.WFiallrimamBuAriekeanu Dr.AlfredMannebach 9K2e0n1tucBkuynsFeanrmPkBwuyreau MNsE.FEallremnBHuelrleearuichFederation 5Po0r3t-l2a2nd1.-8O7R5697209-2800 B1uRcekdhaRnoncokn.RWoaVd26201 UniversityofConnecticut Louisville.KY40250-0700 POBox80299 304-472-2080 249GlenbrookRd 502-495-5000 Lincoln.NE68501 Pennsylvania Storrs.CT06269-2093 402-421-4400ext2002 Ms.PatSueck Wisconsin 203-486-0246 Ms.RayettaBoone 534KennedyRoad Mr.BobLeege DepartmentofAgriculture Nevada Arrville.PA17302 WisconsinFarmBureau 500MeroSt..7thFloor BenDamonte 717-862-3486 7010MineralPointRd 5Fr0a2n-k5fo6r4t-,4K69Y640602 S1p3a0r0ksM,arNieVtt8a9W43a1y 6M0ad8i-s8o3n6,-5W5l7553705 702-853-6464 Agin the Classroom Notes Room 4307, South Bldg. U.S. Department ofAgriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-0991 00914 22036/20250UNASR 4 0001 USDA NATL AGRICULTURE LIBRARY SERIAL RECORDS BELTVILLES ROOM 002 USDA DELIVERY STOP 20250-1200 Tostopmailingortochange youraddresssendmailing labeltoaboveaddress.