Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. Ag in the Classroom United States Department of Agriculture a^s'SS A bi-monthly newsletterfortheAgriculture in the Classroom Program. Sponsored bythe U.S. Dept, ofAgricultureto APRIL/MAY 92 help students understand the important roleofagriculture in the United States economy. For information, contact: ShirleyTraxler, Director, Room 317-A, Administration Bldg., USDA, Washington, D.C. 20250-2200. 202/720-5727 Vol. 8, No. 3 New Curriculum curriculum, their teaching style, and their Package Examines students. It’s almost like a recipe book.” p The activities are hands-on, and requires f Lines On The Land students to use critical thinking skills to solve problems. For example, in an activity called “Splish-Splash,” students discover the V R • What are all those lines and patterns on the destructive force of rain on soil and how to \ in “Lines on the Land,” lliannedsswcearpee?m—aTdhee—stoarnydofwhhaotwtahnedy wmheyanthtoose tpiroenvetnetc.hint.iqTuheesnt.thahtey7mir.neis.meia.zrechthsoeilfocrocnesoefrrvafVr -v st,ude.njtsd?-Llearnmoreyoa-btout each of us is the subject of a new teaching water on the soil ... and try out the methods \ howfat^prsprotectthe package called “Lines on the Land.” for themselves to see whether or not their T; 1' o Ylandby thei.rconservation Developed by the Iowa Association of Soil .ideas were correct. p -~r and Water Conservation District Commission- Cost of the teaching package is $26, plus practices. ers; the USDA Soil Conservation Service; and shipping and handling costs, postpaid. To the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land order, call the National Association of Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation, Conservation Districts, the materials are designed for students in 1-800-825-5547. sixth through eighth grade. They can be integrated into science, math, or social studies classes. The teaching package also includes some activities that help teach language arts. ‘“Lines on the Land’ gives students and parents the chance to learn about what they see when they’re driving down the road or flying in a plane. It gives them a greater appreciation of what’s around them,” says Ruth Chenhall, education and information specialist for the National Association of Conservation Districts. “Lines on the Land” includes a videotape, 16 lesson plans, and a color brochure. “Because there are so many activities,” says Roger Beane, a teacher who helped develop the curriculum package, “it’s easy for teachers to choose the activities that fit their APRIL/MAY92 Editors’s Note Recently a representative from a major textbookpublishing company askedme , what I wouldlike to have teachers know aboutAg in the Classroom. I told her that one of the most important aspects ofAg in the Classroom is that teachers are enthusiastic about it. Once theyhave a chance to learn about the program andget involved, they are among its most vigorous supporters. Teachers likeAg in the Classroom. We wouldgetnowhere, no matterhow noble ourcause, ifteachers did not find that employingAg in the Classroom contributed to a positive educational experience that achieved the desiredstudent learner outcomes. Library Helps the nation’s collection of agricultural informa- tion.” Preserve Eastern Slezakova spent two weeks at NAL learn- Europe’s Ag Heritage ing how the library develops and applies new information management technology to meet the problem. From compact disks to prepar- The thawing of relations between Eastern ing abstracts for AGRICOLA, NAL’s biblio- Europe and the United States has brought a graphic database, her visit gave her many flood of visitors to the nation’s capital. new ideas to take home with her. In particu- “They’re not tourists,” says Joe Howard, lar, she is interested in ISIS, NAL’s computer director of the National Agricultural Library (NAL). “They’re agricultural librarians looking for advice in protecting their agricultural information. And they want to return the favor by sharing their information with the United States.” Typical of the visitors was Helena Slezakova, a librarian at the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information for Agriculture in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Slezakova came to NAL because her country’s agricultural knowledge is in danger of '' ?/y. •- being lost. ” ":kit Notes . v. :: pre“cWieo,ustocoo,llheacvtieonaovferoyld taoutfionmdattheedicnaftoarlmoagt,iownhitchheyalnleoewdsiNnAmLinpuatterso.ns Klttbat necemDe teacTls." ssiwnccee agricultural publications,” “I would like to be more acquainted with narticte< teachers Slezakova said, “but the ISIS system because we are now prepar- sho' sd,manV ^Eng- unfortunately we don’t have ing the automation of our library’s catalogs. ™*Z**»** the facilities to maintain ISIS looks like an excellent system for that ^ them the way you do.” In purpose,” she said. 5PrlC^orP°s ea0d many Eastern European To help in building stronger ties between e$25° ItheKhs countries, air pollution has the world’s agricultural libraries, NAL spon- sthsoturledduc^hoi +o'an*'eatc*orbLd«Tp*<*»C»o*nt»*ct dpaCrmzoaevgceihdnotgsoltoboveaolkedsipapeucibsilanilocltayttihoens. tsahgoirrsiecwduilnattuercrao.lnflReiebrprearnrecisaeennswtiiatnthiBeevlaetssstveiflrrlnoem,EMusirDxo,pEeeaasartnleyrn L ttVnAestrd*eut*e,Yopr°V pornelsyercvoiunngtriytscaogrnicceurltnuerdalabout Epaunrtospevaonwecodunttorcioenstaitntueendientde,rnaantdionpaalrticcoio-per- heritage. “It is a worldwide prob- ation in preserving and exchanging agricul- lem,” Howard said. “Even here at tural knowledge. Within the past year, NAL NAL we are quite concerned with has also hosted librarians from a number of staying ahead of the dramatic deterioration of other countries. Iowa Teacher peared one day. “At first, some students think that because their parents work for a Preserves the Prairie gas station or in a clothing store, they wouldn’t be affected. But as they recognize In teaching science, there’s no substitute that the fiber to create the clothing comes for first-hand observation. And because of from the soil, they quickly see how important his belief in letting students see things for this natural resource is for everyone in the themselves, Roger Beane has created natural state.” habitats that provide living laboratories for his On land near the school, Beane and other students. teachers have developed a wildlife area that Beane teaches life science to seventh now houses a nature trail. Originally planted graders at Oelwein Junior High in Oelwein, with trees and shrubs provided by the county Iowa. Much of the course focuses on conser- conservation service, the area now serves as vation and the importance of protecting our a refuge for a variety of birds and animals. natural resources. “When our students learn about the environ- He has integrated agriculture into his ment, they can make their own observations,” science lessons since he began teaching. But he says. even in the heart of the corn belt, few stu- Recently, Beane has begun creating a dents have a direct understanding of agricul- second natural area, this time a prairie, next ture, Beane has found. “Surprisingly, out of a to the school. Students have worked to class of 25 students, may have at the most germinate traditional prairie grasses and I five whose livelihood depends directly on the flowers. “We’re preserving a part of Iowa’s farm. Fewer and fewer kids have any direct history for our students,” he says. experience with agriculture,” he observes. Beane was one of the teachers who helped Still, agriculture is Iowa’s number one develop “Lines on the Land.” He now uses industry. To bring home its importance, some of the activities in his own classroom. Beane asks students to imagine what would happen to their parents’ job if the soil disap- RogerBeane’s students are creatingaprairie out- side the school. Beagle Brigade’s Furry Like many retirees, Jackpot is now living the good life on a three-acre estate in the Maryland countryside. But Founding Father Retires his successors in the Beagle Brigade continue to protect the U.S. food supply by preventing animal and plant pests Jackpot, the beagle that established the USDA detector and diseases not found in the U.S. from infecting our dog program in the northeastern United States, recently nation’s food supply. was honored at New York City Animal Medical Center’s — Heart of Gold Awards ceremony just before his retire- ment from active service. In 1983, USDA’s Animal and plant Health Inspection Service rescued Jackpot from a South Carolina dog pound. After training, Jackpot went to work in a pilot project to sniff out illegal foodstuffs brought into the country. In 1986, the pilot effort wa—s expanded into a permanent program under a new name “Agriculture’s Beagle Brigade.” Dogs in the “Beagle Brigade” are trained to sniff out prohibited agricultural items illegally brought into this country by international travelers. Shortly after receiving the award, Jackpot retired. At a December 10, 1991 retirement ceremony, Jackpot was , presented with a letter and a certificate signed by the APHIS Administrator recognizing his many years of suc- cessful service. Canadian Conference Links Alberta come from urban areas), teachers will play an even more important role. Educators, Industry The conference features activities for both teachers and the agriculture industry. For teachers, the conference will Alberta’s Ag in the Classroom program will host a confer- include information on how to integrate agriculture into the ence with the intriguing title, “Don’t Shoot The Teacher.” social studies, science, and language arts curricula. It will Emphasizing the importance of developing relationships also suggest a number of models for identifying and between agriculture and the schools, the conference will handling sensitive environmental issues. be at the Mayfield Inn in Edmonton, Alberta, October 24 - For representatives of the agricultural industry, the 27, 1992. conference offers an opportunity to learn more directly “All too often,” says Betty Gabert, coordinator of the Ag about what teachers are looking for when they choose in the Classroom Program in Alberta, “we see a split curricular materials to use in their classroom. And for between rural and urban communities. How often have we everyone, the conference will provide an opportunity to heard people in agriculture say, These city people just share ideas and ask questions. don’t understand’?” Those who attended last year’s U.S. AITC conference Because teachers are the critical link in helping tomor- will automatically receive registration materials. For more row’s consumers understand agriculture, “ the agriculture information, or to register, contact Betty Gabert, Ag in the industry should reach out to teachers in the AITC pro- Classroom Program, Alberta Agriculture - Education gram,” Gabert believes. As North America becomes even Branch, 2nd Floor, 7000 113 Street, Edmonton, Alberta more urbanized (today, 80 percent of the school children in T6H 5T6, or call 403-427-2403. EPCOT Internships plant biotechnology, plant nutrition, and plant Ag pathology ... as well as additional professional Available for agricultural staff ... support programs includ- Students ing integrated pest management, greenhouse environment management, and fish culture. The Land Agricultural Internship Program Agriculture students, like well-known athletes, offers select students an opportunity to work can now say, “I’m going to Disney World.” in this unique and dynamic agricultural show. Specifically, they may be going to EPCOT The students’ primary work is to grow the Center as part of an Agricultural Student more than thirty crops in the show. Typically, Intern program. their work includes planting, pruning and The Land, a pavilion in Future World at harvesting fruits and vegetables in tropical, EPCOT Center, gives a close-up view of desert, and greenhouse settings. They spend agriculture. Guests travel through a series of six hours a week conducting walking tours. greenhouses in which many of the world’s They also participate in discussion classes on most important agricultural crops, concepts, technology applications at The Land and take and technologies are showcased. field trips to see Florida agriculture. Scientists with advanced degrees in The Land Agricultural Internship Program agricultural engineering, agronomy, aquacul- gives students a chance to learn more about ture, chemistry, entomology, horticulture, career opportunities in agricultural sciences today. “It’s exciting to see how much the interns learn during their experience,” says Peter Cook, Communications Coordinator for the Science and Technology Group at EPCOT Center. The internships, which last six months, provide a salary and a travel allowance. For more information on the internships, contact Peter Cook, P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. APRIL/MAY92 New Smithsonian than 80 different foods of American origin that are available in food stores in the United Posters Offer Food States today. Other posters in the series For Thought highlight African-American and Native Ameri- can foods and medicines. The booklet that accompanies “Good as Five hundred years ago, Columbus sailed Gold” provides basic information on foods west fr—om Spain in search of the “gold” of the native to North, Central, and South America Indies spices, especially the black pepper- and the Caribbean. From the atemoya to corns of the Spice Islands that were so highly yerba mat*, the pamphlet provides brief valued in Europe. Instead, he f—ound the descriptions of these foods. It also includes culinary gold of the New World corn, suggestions for activities that can help potatoes, tomatoes, chili peppers, chocolate, students learn more about the foods and a list and many other foods that have transformed of selected references. the ways people eat all over the world. The posters are priced at $6.00 each. To commemorate foods native to North ($4.00 if ordered in quantities of 50 or America, the Smithsonian Institution’s more.) For more information, contact the National Museum of American History has Publications Division, National Museum of developed a series of posters and accom- American History, Smithsonian Institution, panying activity booklets. “Good Washington, DC 20560. as Gold” introduces more “Goodas Gold”is one offournewposters developedby the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum ofAmerican History. Coloring Book about agriculture through math problems, science experiments, social studies lessons, Introduces Students and language arts activities. (Actually, they’re To The Business called “Agtivities” in the book.) A teacher’s guide offers suggestions on Of Agriculture how to integrate the activities into the class- room. It also includes names and addresses of resouce people throughout the state who Most Wisconsin students probably know can assist with field trips, guest speakers, and that their state is a leading dairy producer. additional information.' ' But would they suspect that their state also ffi|spcfnse to the publication has betyf \ PH produces 95 percent of the nation’s supply of excellent, according to Anna Maenner, ginseng? executive vice president of the foundation. It They would if they have read the latest was rated “excellent” by 74 percent of the p hr Tedhieticoonloorfi“nTghibsooBku,sinnoewssinCaitlsltehdirAdgryiecaurl,tuirse.” teaTchheercsolwohriongusbeodokft iisnjtuhsetirocnleasosfrtohoem.act,jivji- pm1ir distributed to all fourth graders by the Wis- ties of Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom. A ! # consin Agri-Business Foundation. It teaches three-credit graduate course will be offered for the second year at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, fromWJun”e 15th P through the 19ttt. I888 ! ! “The teachers begin by touring a varji.e^ty of agribusinesses,” says Dennis Sabel, state contact. “From a canning company to a trout farm, they see the diversity of agriculture in our state.” Business It’s important for teachers to see the different facilities for themselves. “When people feel confident that they know some- thing about a subject, they’re more willing to spend time on it in the classroom,” Sabel says. “These tours help our teachers develop a comfort level that will make them want to pass on the information to their students.” Wisconsin4thgraders After attending the week-long class, Agriculture learn about “This teachers go back to their home communities to develop lesson plans. Near the end of the Business CalledAgricul- summer, they return to share lesson plans ture. with each other. “Teachers leave the class with a well-rounded set of activities they can use to introduce agriculture to their students,” Sabel points out. PHOTO CAPTION: In an innovative way to spread the word about the importance of agricultural literacy, the Simpson County (MS) Farm Bureau sponsored a float in the Magee Christmas Parade. The float featured students and a teacher sitting at desks and studying their Ag in the Classroom packets. 1 1 — APRIL/MAY92 Ag in the Classroom State Contacts Theindividuals listed hereare Delaware Louisiana Nevada RhodeIsland Wisconsin skteayter.eIffeyroeuncheavpeerasnoynsquiense-taicohns, 2MDr3e.l3aGSw.aDWruaeplFolanacrtemHCBiaugurhlewka,auyJr. MLPsAO.FBBaoarxrmb9aB5ru0ar0eL4aaungFleedyeration M1Rre2.n9o4B.5enNOlVDda8Vm9i5or1gnitneiaRd SM1osSu.ttCahamrCpooluPnSltatcyaemTrpail WM7ri0.s1c0BoonMbisnieLnreaFelagrePmoinBturRedau wanttomakereports, orneed Camden-Wyoming,DE19934 BatonRouge,LA70895-9004 702-853-5696 Exeter,Rl02822 Madison,Wl53705 moreinformation aboutyour 302-697-3183 504-922-6200 NewHampshire 4S0o1u-t9h42-C4a7r4o2lina 608-833-8070 state’sAg intheClass-room Florida Maine Ms.LynnBlye 8Mr0.3-HughMcClimon Wyoming program, contactthefollowing: FCM1rL5o.3nDsJCeouophmntnenorefMrcSANegBrrelivdecigluc.yletsureand OMRUnrroi.oovnCemolri,sf1ifM0tS1yEh,oaf0Wff4iMe4nar6si9lnoewHall GCCDareolapnlntcei,ortroeBdfoS,AxtgaN.t2He040D2a3i3r0y2Production 9SCo2Cl2uDmR7ebu3pit4tal-,eo8df4Sg2EeC6duB2lc0da1gt.iColnemson W2MExs2Ye.1c9DuSteuCipaevtreSeohyDfeiAArrgvemrecia.tconurlWtuArIeTC Alabama 3125ConnerBlvd. 207/581-3206 603-271-3696 Cheyenne,WY82002 Ms.JaneAliceLee Tallahassee,FL32301 SouthDakota 307-638-7355 2101BellRoad 904-922-2189 Maryland NewJersey Ms.GailBrock Montgomery.AL36117 Ms,LaurieGreen Ms.MaryannHutson SDFarmBureau Ms.ElaineMoore 205-272-261 Georgia DepartmentofAgriculture NJDeptofAgriculture POBox1426 President Ms.BrendaSummerlin GMeso.rDgioannFaarRmeyBnuorledasu 5An0naHpaorlriysS.TMrDum2a1n40P1kwy TCrNen3to3n0,NJ08625 6H0ur5o-n3.52S-D675371350 W24y0o7miHnigghlAagndinCtohuertClassroom DeptofAg&Industnes POBox7068 301-841-5894 609-292-8897or633-7463 Douglas,WY82633 POBox3336 Macon,GA31298 Ms.RobertaAnson 307-358-6232 Montgomery.AL36193 912/474-8411 Massachusetts NewMexico ExecutiveDirector,AITC 205-242-5872 Hawaii 2Mr1.1WSatoycnkebrHiidpgseleHyall MNrM.EFaGr.mB&laLnitvoenstockBureau PPiOerrBeo.xS5D7757501 DMri.cRruobneensDiaayrit Alaska Mr.KenKajihara UniversityofMassachusetts 421NWater 605-224-0361 CTAS/CollegeofMicronesia Mr.TedBerry DeptofEducation Amherst.MA01003 LasCruces,NM88001 Kolonia,Ponape Mat-SuCollege 49FunchalSt,J-306 413-545-2646 505-526-5521 Tennessee FSM96941 UniversityofAlaska Honolulu,HI96813-1549 Mr.BobbyBeets 691-320-2738 POBox2889 808-373-3477 Michigan NewYork TennesseeFarmBureau P9a0l7m-e7r4.5-A9K75929645 MIsd.ahKaothieJohnson 4DMr1i.c0hEAidggdraiinecuSMlttoauotrreeeUHnalilversity CM1o1sr1.neBKleeltntUnyneiWdvoeylrsaHiantlyylk BC6o1ol5xu-m33b18i38a-,78T7N238402-0313 GCMoru.llaVeigmcetoorfAArgte&roLifeSciences Arizona IdahoDeptofAgnculture EastLansing,Ml48824 Ithaca,NY14853-5901 UniversityofGuam Ms.SueCafferty POBoxU 517-355-6580 607-255-8122 Texas Mangialo,Guam96923 4341EBroadway TwinFalls,ID83303 8M0r1.-TadDuncan 617-734-2575 Phoenix.AZ85040 208-736-2188 Ms.JulieChamberlain NorthCarolina TexasFarmBureau 602-255-4456 Illinois M7i3c7h3igWanSaFgairnmawBuHrweayu NMsC.FJaarnimceBuSrheeapuard WPaOcoB.oxTX267869702-2689 VMri.rgEirincIBsoluagnhds Mr.RobertWilson Ms.EllenCulver Lansing,Ml48909 POBox27766 817-772-3030 Dept,ofEconomicDevelopment A34n0z1onEaEFlawromodBureauFederation IFlileilndoisSeFravrimceBsuDrievaiusion 517-323-7000 9Ra1l9e-i7g8h,2-N1C70257611 8U0t2a-h &StACgrroiicxu,ltVuIre00850 Phoenix,AZ85040 1701TowandaAve Minnesota Mr.ElShaffer 809-778-0991 612-470-0088 Bloomington,IL61702-2901 Mr.AlanWithers NorthDakota UTDepartmentofAgriculture ADrr.kPahinlispaBsesonen 3I0n9d-i5a5n7a-2219 9SMt0NPWaDuelP,plaaMtrotNmBe5lnv5td10o7fAgriculture SMNtsDa.tDeKeaCpyatpeiotEfofAflegrrtizculture 3Sa5l0tNL5a3Rk8ee-7dC1wit0oy4,odUTR8d4116 CMPhrOr.iBsOttoiixsan8Hs0it4cakds GE310 Mr.RobertBook 612-296-6688 Bismarck,ND58505 St.Croix,VI00821-0804 5UFan0yi1ev-tet5re7svi5itl-yl4eo2,f7A0ARrk7a2n7s0a1s IF1INno0d1oIidnaW,sntai&pWtouaNltsuiethsro,iifntIAigNgotni4ol6ne2,S0t2#1320E MMMsiS.ssFHiaesrlesmniBpJuperinekaiuns 7OO0hh1iio-o2A2g4-A2w2a3r1enessCouncil VA8DUgrn0e.ri4ivr-Gce.merrsoEainntlgydtionFfeuleVlreeirrnmgoBnltdg 8MPr0u.9e-Dr7at7vo3e-0RH7eii5cl8iog California 317-637-1600 POBox1972 POBox479 Burlington,VT05405-0004 USDA/SCS Mr.MarkLinder Jackson.MS39205-1972 Columbus.OH43216-0479 656-2001 CaribbeanAreaStateOffice CAFoundationforAITC Iowa (Street:63101-55N 614-249-2473 GPOBox4868 9S11a66c01r-a9Em2xe4pn-ot4so3i.8ti0ConAB9l5v8d15FB13 IPIMnAsOd.FiaoBFnuoronexlddaia3,t6JIi4uAorin50fo1r25AgAwareness J6Ma0ic1sk-ss9oo5nu7.r-3iM2S0039211) OOMsKk.lDJaeophDaaorhmtlmaTehnetiomferAgriculture SS8Mhh0see.2ll-bMb9uue8rrg5nn-aee8.n6FV8CaT6ram0ms5p482 S80a9n-J4u9a8n-,52P0R600936 Colorado 515-961-2548 Ms.DianeOlson 2800NLincolnBlvd C3M7Lo0s0al.30ko-eHKr2wiea3opld9oleoi-dnn4,Dg1DeC1Sapt4vOt.is#o8f400A20g1n05c-u5l8t9u4re KM1Ks2aa.4nnaSBsshlaauSsrteoamtnoenTtUanlHliayvlelrsity J3MPe1iOf4sf-sBe8oro9usx3onn-6F15Ca48irt0ym0,BMuOre6a5u102 O4ODr0kk.5ll-Jaa5ahh2moo1emm-saa38CRSi6tut8atytl,eeOdUgKneiv7e3r1s0it5y VVMPRisiAOr.cgFhBJiamoanroxninmead2B,7Fu5uVr5teAc2ah2u3F2e6d1eration Manhattan,KS66506 StillwaterOK74078 225-7544 2Ms8.27B6etWteCRBli1n5de 913-532-7946 Montana 4F0A5X-744045--5734940-5339 Washington W3Ci0on3nd-ns6oe8r6c.-tC7io8.c0u68t0550 SS9Mra1C.l3Sm-Ta8i7,2m63K0-CSh4Sr.56i77sB0t4ri0oa1nadway 24MGr0s8e.69a-MtA7ai2rrF7iapleo-lr5sHt,0o4BMr5elTnanc5dh94R0o4ad OMsr.eKgaoynShidler WMPL.asAOc..eDyJiB,ellopWxtHaAo3rf9d92eA8gr45r0ic3ulture 2MDRH1ar0e6or.3p5ot-tfDCm5oaao6rvfp2d6ii.3A-tdg43oCr6lNiTi7cAs1u0evll6ety1ur0e6 9MKL5Ko2se0eu0.n2in1ts-vFtu4iaBc9ulyukl5ceeny-.ks5LFyK0eoa0nYwr0meP4k0B2wu5yr0e-a0u700 4NMNPLi0sEOen.2cb-FoBEr4laoln2arlx,1emsn-8Nk4B0HEa4ue20lr69l0e89ea5reui0xc1tFhe2d0e0r2ation A15PPMgo0s2err.30nti-0l-nB6aBesN2nutdy7Wsh.-li0nOMvF8eroaRs6oons0nr9itCe7aoA2uv0en9.c-,i2lSu8i0t0e290 2WWMRBrt0ueV.6c3s-k,WF5thiaB8larol6nVmix-nia1ormB14ngu52A,ir6i7ne-kWiaAeaVun26201 DUrn.ivAelrfsrietdyMofanCnonenbeaccthicut 5Ch3a9m9bGeuristbnuerrgR,d.PA17201 304-472-2080 249GlenbrookRd 717-375-2639 Storrs,CT06269-2093 203-486-0246 Ag in the Classroom Notes Room 317-A, Administration Bldg. U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-2200 Tostopmailingortochange youraddresssend mailing label toaboveaddress 8