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Department of Agriculture: Education

DELAWARE AG IN THE CLASSROOM


Delaware Educators are offered clusters for professional development credit dealing with land use issues in Delaware using the Food, Land & People curriculum. Workshops on general agriculture, specific commodities, and agricultural topics and issues are also available on teacher-directed schedules to assist in teaching agriculture-related materials to students. Through hands on activities, teachers can help students learn about agriculture by introducing activities that are integrated into all classroom subjects.

Agricultural literacy is a life skill. The program goal is to produce students who are aware and appreciative of the role of agriculture in their lives as the source of their food, fiber, and shelter. An agriculturally literate adult, the voter and policy maker of the future, can only emerge from a child who has learned the value of agriculture.

The cluster being offered "Using Food, Land & People to address the Delaware issue of land use" has been approved for agricultural teachers of all grade levels, and for middle school teachers of science. Completion of this 90-hour cluster earns the participant a 2% salary increase for a 5 year period.

This program of workshops is primarily designed for teachers of traditional subjects in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. Topic- specific workshops are also available for college level natural resource majors and pre-service teachers. Workshops will be scheduled at teacher request for their time period and meeting site.

The Agri-Mentor program offers presentations in the classroom which feature agricultural topics. Teachers suggest the topic, and presenters give students interactive opportunities and materials based on teacher requirements. Through educational hands-on activities, students develop an understanding of the processes, effects, practices, and impacts of agriculture. Delaware specific agricultural issues and effects are addressed in-depth. Students learn about the economic, social, and quality of life effects of Delaware's number one industry- agriculture.

  

Workshops included in the Ag-in-the-Classroom program includes:
  • Project Food, Land & People

    Project Food, Land & People promotes agricultural and environmental awareness, critical-thinking and problem-solving skill, cooperative attitudes, and appreciation for cultural differences. Project Food, Land & People materials have been developed by educators for educators. They are designed for a variety of instructional settings and rigorously evaluated for use with students. These activities range from Pre-K-12 grade levels. Each lesson includes supporting information, objectives, teaching time, skills, and subjects.

  • Project Food, Land & People: The "S" Connection- Soil, Seeds, and Sheep

    This three part workshop is held at three different sites, each one dealing with one of the "S" areas listed above. Facilitators furnish activities and materials designed to increase knowledge and awareness of both the subjects and the sites. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

  • Potatoes, Apples, and Pancakes

    This workshop is a general overview of agriculture. Materials and activities are designed to give students hands on opportunities to learn about agriculture and Delaware- specific agricultural contributions to their quality of life. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

Workshops included in the Delaware Commodity-Specific program includes:

  • Wow, That Cow!

    This Beef related workshop offers activities and materials which focus on beef related information. This workshop is sponsored by the Delaware Beef Advisory Board. Activities focus on the evolution and effects of agricultural technology on beef and on food safety practices and nutrition. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

 
  • The Pizzazz of Potatoes!

    This Potato related workshop is designed to update and reacquaint educators with the potato and the effect that this food source has had on lives throughout history. This workshop is sponsored by the Delaware Potato Board. Activities are cross curricular and deal with diet, history, technology, economics, and consumer trends. Specific occupations and cultural differences relating to the potato, especially as related to Delmarva, are examined through hands on activities. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

  • From the Egg to the Frying Pan

    This Poultry related workshop is designed for teachers of grades 5-8. This workshop is sponsored by the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. Scientific information and activities will form the bases for understanding the contributions of this industry to the economic and quality of life factors affecting Delaware's citizens. The diversity of agriculture careers related to this industry will also be examined. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

 
  • Just Wing It: Delmarvelous Poultry

    This Poultry related workshop is designed for teachers of grades 5-8. This workshop is sponsored by the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. Presentations and activities are geared to all aspects of the poultry industry on Delmarva. The wide spread economic effects of this industry on Delaware, as well as the nutritional benefits of poultry are explored. This workshop features a tour of a hatchery, poultry growers, and poultry processing facility. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

  • The Joy of Soy!

    This Soy related workshop focuses on the evolution and effects of agricultural technology on both the production and products derived from soybeans. Activities that deal with nutrition, economics, products, and consumer and society use and perceptions will be featured. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

Topic-related Workshops include:

  • Native American Agriculture

    This workshop compares and contrasts the contributions of Native Americans methods and beliefs regarding agriculture to modern beliefs and practices. Native American representatives focus on the cultural contributions of this society through tours of the Nanticoke Museum, and through presentations and activities by a Native American herbalist. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

  • Project Food, Land & People: Livable Delaware & Land Use

    This workshop is designed for teachers of grades 9-12, and incorporates background materials and activities from Project Food, Land & People along with Delaware-specific land use statistics and policies. The management and responsible stewardship of Delaware agriculture lands is especially targeted, as are citizen responsibilities in regard to the land use arena. Participants will be introduced to the Delaware Department of Agriculture's Internet based GIS page, and given instruction in the use and interpretation of GIS, statistics, and land use policies. This workshop may be scheduled by a group of 6 teachers or more.

 

 


Last Updated: Monday, 31-Mar-2008 14:49:27 EDT
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