December News from New York Agriculture in the Classroom

New York Agriculture in the Classroom | December 2021

Applications now open for the

Grow with Us Grant

To connect students with growing food in schools, New York Agriculture in the Classroom is again awarding grow systems through the Grow With Us Grant for the fifth consecutive year.

The Grow with Us Grant allows schools to apply for two types of grow systems. Schools should apply for the grow system that would best meet their educational goals, classroom space needs, and consider their experience level in school gardening and curriculum integration.

Schools are eligible to earn either a bundle of three Tower Gardens, or a high tunnel. Please note that only one high tunnel will be awarded.

NYAITC aspires to provide teachers the vehicle and tools to facilitate experiential-learning using agriculture as the context for learning.

Applications are open now on our website and due

Friday, February 4, 2022.

Apply for a Grow with Us Grant

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

DEC. 13

NAITCO Conference Workshop Proposals Due

DEC. 16

Christmas Tree Virtual Field Trip

FEB. 04

Grow With Us Grant Applications Due

APRIL 15

White-Reinhardt Grants Cycle 2 Application Due

JUNE 28

National

Agriculture in the

Classroom

Conference

Christmas Tree Virtual Field Trip

Join New York Agriculture in the Classroom on Thursday, December 16 for a virtual field trip to Rocking Horse Farm in Jamesville, NY!

During this trip, students will experience a family owned and operated Christmas tree farm in action. Students will learn about Christmas tree farming as our hosts explore and wrap a Christmas tree. Students will also learn how a Christmas wreath is produced. There will be a live Q&A session to allow our farmers to answer student questions.

The first 100 classrooms to register will receive a free inquiry box prior to the virtual field trip.

Learn More and Register Now

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Announcing the First Annual Grow-NY Youth Competition Winners

New York Agriculture in the Classroom, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and New York FFA, hosted the first Youth Competition during this year’s Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Business Competition. Nine youth participants presented their innovative business pitches to a panel of judges for a chance to win a $2,000 prize to invest in their enterprise. Selected based on a competitive proposal process, the next generation of business developers, agriculture, food, and technology leaders engaged in this unique program.

Twin brothers Ethan and Oren Welch of Marion, NY were named as winners for their booming business building apple bins for the apple growers in their region.

Seeking Workshop Proposals for National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference

Deadline Extended

National Agriculture in the Classroom is seeking workshop proposals for its 2022 National Conference "Empire State Of Agriculture" scheduled for June 28-July 1 in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is December 13, 2021. If your workshop proposal is accepted, you will receive $50 off your conference registration per one full workshop or one mini workshop selected. Proposals should be for hour-long workshops and/or 20-minute mini workshops that will be repeated two or three times.

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Featured Lessons

Grades K-2 and 3-5

Discover Christmas Trees

In this lesson students will explore the history of the Christmas tree, explain the life cycle of a conifer, identify types of trees and how they adapt, discover what it's like to work on a Christmas tree farm, and examine the ecology of conifer trees.

This lesson is available for both grades K-2 and grades 3-5.

Teach this Lesson for grades K-2

Teach this Lesson for grades 3-5

Grades 6-8

FoodMASTER Middle: Sugar

Students will learn the concept of simple carbohydrates (sugar) in the diet and their role in providing energy to the body, compare saturated sugar solutions, and evaluate the sugar content of common beverages and sugar consumption within their own diet.

This lesson is part of a series of 13 lessons that uses food to teach math and science skills. Other topics include food safety, grains, fats and oils, weights and measures, and more.

Teach this Lesson

Grades 9-12

Say Cheese for Protein

Explore protein, discover the role of amino acids, identify dietary sources of complete and incomplete proteins, and make fresh mozzarella cheese—a food science experience where students will observe the protein in milk (whey and casein) separate from water in the creation of cheese.

Take this lesson further with the "Gourmet Lab: The Scientific Principles Behind Your Favorite Foods" teacher reference.

Teach this Lesson

Gourmet Lab Teacher Reference

December Book Nook

Real Farm & Ranch Kids

Real Farm & Ranch Kids is a collection of “interviews” with small boys and girls, who live, work and love their ranching life and the animals that they care for. Author Sue Tebow has captured each youngster and their zest and understanding of their life on a ranch or a farm by simply listening.

Read this Book

Christmas Farm

When Wilma decides her garden needs a new beginning, she gathers all her supplies and sixty-two dozen balsam seedlings to start a Christmas tree farm. Follow Wilma and Parker, her five-year-old neighbor, year after year as they nurture their trees, keeping careful count of how many they plant, how many perish, and how many grow to become fine, full Christmas trees. A great holiday read-aloud for the month of December.

Read this Book

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