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New York Agriculture in the Classroom

Resources

Archived Resources

Over the last 30 years New York Agriculture in the Classroom has been involved with curriculum development and a variety of exciting educational partnerships and programs. While the resources and opportunities have evolved to meet the current educational climate, we still find value in the inspiration the programs and resources below offer. Explore and be inspired by our past programs and educational tools, and do not forget to engage in our most current resources on the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix.

Lessons

NYAITC Lesson Plans

These are the lesson plans, in PDF format, from the original award-winning NYAITC notebooks. Lessons address concepts in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies using the food and fiber system as a theme. Lessons include teacher instructions, student activities, worksheets, answer keys, puzzles, and games.

SOLE Activities

Science of Life Explorations through Agriculture

SOLE stands for Science of Life Explorations through Agriculture. It is a set of lesson plans, grouped into themed units, developed by NYAITC in conjunction with Cornell's Integrated Pest Management program. Each lesson ties key concepts of agriculture and natural resources into the classroom curriculum for grades four and five, and is aligned with New York State Learning Standards across subject areas.SOLE

General Agriculture
Plant Science
Soil Science/Composting
Hydroponics
Insect Anatomy/IPM
Dairy
Specialty Crops

Make N Takes

These activities are quick and easy additions to any classroom, fair display or educational event.

Resources

  • Food, Land & People Food, Land & People is a nonprofit organization committed to helping people of all ages better understand the interrelationships among agriculture, the environment, and people of the world.
  • Ag Career Cards The Agriculture Career Cards were developed in 2005 to highlight the many careers in agriculture to showcase to students the median wage, education level, job outlooks, and much as they consider their future career path. If you are looking for an updated, online resource of agriculture career profiles, videos, and career finder assessments we recommend AgExplorer.com.
  • Growing a Nation American history program for secondary teachers that features the story of American agriculture, an event timeline, lesson plans, and more!
  • Web Education Resources Find lots of useful websites for your classroom.

Programs

  • Still Growing Poetry Contest This contest is a celebration of the tenacity of the people, technology, and tools that are navigating New York into a future that is "still growing". Students in grades 3-8 are invited to submit original works of poetry on the theme of "Still Growing".
  • Commodity Icon Art Contest We are looking for amazing artists from across New York State who are interested in applying their talent in helping us create a new statewide agricultural commodities map.
  • STEM Teacher Experience with Beef Join teachers from across New York State for a three-day, two-night experience connecting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with beef production. Touching on every aspect of the industry, teachers will have a chance to experience first-hand animal care, housing, feeding, transportation and more at each farm we visit.
  • Orchard to Table Extension educators and volunteers provide a 30-minute interactive lesson for 5th grade classes focusing on New York agricultural products and food systems careers through role-playing the people and processes that get apples from orchard to table.
  • High Tunnels in Schools A partnership between Cornell University's Department of Horticulture and New York Agriculture in the Classroom, the project's goal is to explore how high tunnels in school gardens can maximize garden-based learning and agricultural literacy activities.
  • I NY Agriculture Art Contest The I NY Agriculture Art Contest is a great way for students to explore agriculture and the food system and to meet the New York State Learning Standards in your classroom. Students learn more about where food comes from and why it is important that they understand agriculture in New York State as part of this art and writing contest.
  • Kids Growing Food Kids Growing Food prides itself on connecting kids to agriculture through growing food at school. This mini-grant program provides New York educators with financial start-up funds and educational tools that help integrate knowledge of the food and fiber system into the classroom.