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Specific Grade Level Core Curriculum Workshops
Several grade level appropriate workshops for elementary and secondary educators are offered by Utah Agriculture in the Classroom. All courses noted below translate "core objectives" into "real world" examples and activities for your students. Activities are "hands-on" and participants take home many free samples, lesson plans, and activity information. The workshops are sponsored by Utah State University Extension and the Utah Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Districts or groups of (12) teachers may request any of the courses. Fees for the workshops range from $0-$60 depending upon the materials (and University credit) requested by the district or group of teachers. A certificate will be provided upon request for licensure points.

Elementary Workshops

K-6 Food, Land & People Online Course
This science, social studies, and healthy lifestyles integrated course has been developed for the K-6 educator and provides teachers with 1-3 Utah State University Continuing Education graduate credits that can be completed throughout the school year. To learn more visit our online course page.

4th Grade Workshop (Dirt: Secrets in the Soil)
This workshop utilizes the Dirt: Secrets in the Soil instructional unit. The educational package is complete with an interactive video and educators guide. The workshop will demonstrate the hands-on activities and model instructional strategies. Instructional units are designed so you will be able to communicate to your students the importance of soil to our environment and our food and fiber system. This workshop can be scheduled throughout the school year. The workshop is free. The entire unit, video and soil samples is $40.

5th Grade Workshop (Heredity...A Link to Your Past)
This course addresses the Heredity section of the Science Core Curriculum. Activities are centered around inherited traits that are passed from a parent to its offspring and the effective demonstration to students of these concepts (click here to download lesson plans.) Inherited traits, learned behaviors, instincts, survival advantages and seeing the bigger picture of heredity are part of the instruction. The workshop presentation/travel is free, participants will be charged $20 each for workshop lesson plans and materials.

6th Grade Workshop (Microorganisms: Bad Guys and Good Guys)
Search for and study microorganisms with or without a microscope. Participants will receive instruction on "good guy" bacteria used in food processing, and learn how to grow microorganisms, good and bad. "Bad" bacteria will be discussed in the context of food spoilage and safety. Innovations and careers in food science are also discussed. All activities are "hands-on." Participants will take home lesson plans, a cheese making recipe, a fool proof yogurt recipe, posters, and numerous activities and ideas. Lesson plans can be downloaded free. The workshop presentation/travel is free, participants will be charged $20 each for workshop lesson plans and materials.

If you would like to schedule or register for any elementary workshops, please contact Debra Spielmaker at debra.spielmaker@usu.edu.

Secondary Workshops

7th Grade Utah Studies: Changes and Challenges
Changes and Challenges: A Century of Utah Agriculture is the newest instructional unit created by Utah Agriculture in the Classroom in a partnership with LetterPress Software. The workshop will instruct teachers about how to use the instructional unit and accompanying interactive CD within their Utah Studies course. Instruction and the media focuses on the settlement of Utah, the self-sufficient nature of the state's people, and the future of Utah agriculture and agricultural land. As students learn about U.S. and Utah historical events, they also learn about what the people of Utah are doing to sustain themselves, how they make their living, establish their communities, and, as science innovations evolve from research and education, how these events have changed their lives in Utah. This free workshop is scheduled as requested. Teachers will receive a free complete mulitmedia instructional CD by attending this 2-hour in-service course. Lesson plans can be downloaded free by clicking here.

7th Grade: Career & Technical Education, Introduction
This workshop provides teachers with agricultural lesson plans and activities to enhance the TLC exploratory Applied Technology Education Core Curriculum required course for middle/junior high school students. The workshop will demonstrate to FACS, Business, or Technology teachers how to involve students in activity centered lessons, which utilize technology, develop beginning skills, and explore careers. Each workshop (FACS, Business or Technology) can be scheduled for 2-3 hours and are free. Lesson plans can be downloaded by clicking here.

8th Grade: Culture of the Land (US Studies through 1877)
This workshop focuses on the culture and issues of our early agrarian nation and the development of technology as it related to the production and the processing of agricultural products. Activities focus on what life was like in Colonial times, and the mid 1800's. Cotton and wool hands-on activities will be demonstrated. The free 2-hour workshop is scheduled as requested. A PowerPoint presentation may be downloaded by clicking here.

9th Grade: You can grow what where? The Effect of Geography on Culture (Geography)
Geography has determined where agriculture and civilizations thrive. Geography and food along with cultural development are explored in this workshop. Geographical requirements for agriculture, world trade, and the foods of different cultures will be discussed and various classroom activities will be demonstrated. This free 2-hour workshop is scheduled as requested. A PowerPoint presentation may be downloaded by clicking here.

10th Grade: Ancient and Ageless Agriculture (World Civilizations)
Learn how agriculture has influenced the development of societies and culture around the world. Geography, soils, longitude, and latitude help to determine where civilizations begin and agriculture determines whether the societies flourish. This free 2-hour workshop is scheduled as requested. A PowerPoint presentation may be downloaded by clicking here.

11th Grade: Growing a Nation (US Studies II)
From early America 1877 to present day, agriculture has change our society and culture more than any other in the world. Two hundred years ago we were a country with 97% (a total country population of 5 million) farming. Today 5 million still farm, but that is less than 2% of our population; feeding the U.S. and the world! What changes have taken place to cause such a change in our country's workforce and economy? Explore the answers in this free 2-hour workshop is scheduled as requested. Click here to view the Growing a Nation multimedia program and Instructional Resources

If you would like to schedule or register for any secondary workshops, please contact Debra Spielmaker at debra.spielmaker@usu.edu.

What teachers say about Agriculture in the Classroom Workshops:

"Thanks for all the hands-on stuff!"

"I wish I had taken this course last year!"

"So many useful materials and freebies, thanks!"

"You caused me to think about things I'd never thought about before.
Ag is a great theme for teaching."