April 2026 | Issue #176 Click 'View Entire Message' to make sure you don't miss important information! | | |
The last day to register for Maine Agriculture in the Classroom's Spring workshop is quickly approaching! us as we explore Maine’s agricultural story in a way learners can see, touch, taste and experience. Together, we’ll look at how the land has sustained us throughout history — from historical traditions to the farms and gardens students know today. You’ll leave with hands-on activities and classroom materials that will help students learn where their food and clothing come from, and how agriculture continues to shape Maine communities.
There will be hands-on lesson demonstrations from MAITC and program partners like the Maine Grain Alliance, materials for your classroom, online resources shared, and lunch is included! All lessons and activities are tied to Maine Learning Standards, NGSS and the Common Core.
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All participants will receive 6 contact hours or .6 CEU's from the University of Maine.
Who: PK-8th Grade Educators
When: April 30, 2026
Where: Woodlawn Museum, Ellsworth, ME
The cost for this workshop is $30.
Deadline to register: April 20
| | Gardening with Mushrooms: A Hands On Workshop for Educators! | | | | |
At this hands-on workshop, our friends at North Spore will show you how to integrate edible fungi into the gardens and landscapes all around you! Whether you teach science, agriculture, environmental studies, or manage a garden, this class is designed to give you practical tools and understanding you can bring directly into your curriculum. Mushrooms build soil, recycle organic matter, and help students see ecological systems in action.
You’ll Learn
- How to grow mushrooms in beds, mulch, logs and containers
- How mushrooms improve soil, water retention, and plant health
- When and where to plant based on season and climate
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Cost: FREE!
Date and Time: 5/2/2026 from 9am - 2pm
What you should bring:
- Gardening shoes or boots
- Work/garden gloves (North Spore will have some)
- Water bottle
- Clothes that can get dirty!
- Eye protection (North Spore will have some)
- Hearing Protection (North Spore will have some)
- Snacks
You’ll leave with
- Your very own shiitake log
- A discount code for mushroom gardening supplies
- Probably other surprises!
Registration goes live within 24 hours of this newsletter hitting your inbox, so be sure to scope it out!
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Bring Soil Science to Life: New Grant Opportunities for Educators!
Are your soil science lessons limited by your lab supplies? The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) wants to change that.
A recent survey showed that while teachers want to dive deeper into soil science, soil physics, chemistry, and biology, the lack of equipment often holds them back. The Soil Science Society of America and the Agronomic Science Foundation (ASF) are stepping in to provide the resources you need to move from theory to hands-on discovery. Here are the particulars.
Who: 10 Educators per year.
What: Up to $750 for one-time supplies or permanent equipment.
Why: To help students discover the vital role soil plays in our global ecosystem.
Key Dates: May 15, 2026: Proposal deadline and June 10, 2026: Awardees notified
Help your students gain a deeper appreciation for the ground beneath their feet and inspire the environmental leaders of tomorrow. Use these funds to support your own curriculum or to bring lessons from Soils4Teachers.org to life!
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Grades K-2
A Garden Plot:
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Students identify foods grown in a garden, observe various types of seed, and grow their own "milk jug" garden. Students listen to the Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter and investigate produce that is grown in gardens or on farms.
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Grades 3-5
Desktop Greenhouses
Students investigate the importance of light to plants by creating a desktop greenhouse investigation and exploring the process of photosynthesis.
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Grades 6-8
Crop Case Files:
Dichotomous Keys
Students will explore the connection between weeds and ecosystem stability, practice observing characteristics by using and creating a dichotomous key, and research and present information on noxious weeds.
| | Looking for more? Explore the Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix HERE | | Can one seed make a difference? Women in Botany introduces kids to the field of botany through the questions of a spunky girl whose inquiries guide an engaging, scientifically accurate conversation. Readers will experience the dazzling world of plants and learn about timeless women botanists who have used tiny seeds to do huge things, like create new medicines and feed their communities. The highlighted women hail from all over the world, span from the 16th Century to present day, and include Waheenee, Ynés Mexía, Dr. Janaki Ammal, Elizabeth Coleman White, Loredana Marcello, and Wangari Maathal. | |  | With lyrical language and blooming illustrations, Mara Plants a Seed demonstrates the transformative power of simple actions. By cleaning up an empty lot and planting fifty sunflower seeds, Mara begins to create a flourishing, wild garden—but she doesn't do it alone. Little does Mara know, flying insects, digging worms, hungry birds, noisy neighbors, and other secret gardeners are working to help transform the lot into something even more beautiful than she imagined. Rain storms wash away seeds, but rabbits leave some behind. Some helpers nibble up weeds, and others fertilize the soil. Each time Mara visits the garden, she's expecting to see her sunflowers growing. But as the flowers blossom, she uncovers the exciting secrets waiting for her! | | | |
Funding from this plate impacts up to 200,000 students annually with lessons, materials, volunteers and teacher training. Additionally, up to $60K is distributed annually in grants to schools, FFA, 4-H and other Non-profit programs for Ag education initiatives by the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council.
Learn more about the Ag plate here.
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Our Mission Statement
"To promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public"
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28 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
(207)287-5522
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