New York Agriculture in the Classroom | June 2022

National Agriculture in the Classroom

National Conference in Saratoga Springs

New York Agriculture in the Classroom is proud to be the state host for the 2022 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Saratoga Springs. It is an honor to welcome teachers from across the country to our beautiful state, showcasing the beauty and diversity of New York’s agriculture.

The New York Agriculture in the Classroom full conference scholarship is now closed, but we encourage educators to ask their administrators for support in attending this exciting professional development and networking opportunity.

Attendees can receive up to 28 hours of CTLE professional development credit, visit farms and agribusinesses, participate in hands-on workshops, and more!

The National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference will be held June 28-July 1, 2022 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Learn More and Register

Upcoming Events and Important Dates

June 15

STEM Beef Experience Applications Due

JUNE 28

National

Agriculture in the

Classroom

Conference

AUG 1-4

STEM Beef Experience

STEM Beef Experience DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The STEM Beef Experience is a four-day immersion into the world of beef for New York educators. Throughout this experience, teachers will learn how beef influences environments as they engage with in-person tours of a beef farm, a university beef processing facility, and cook with a professional chef.

As educators gain a foundational understanding of different aspects of the beef industry, they will engage with STEM lessons that will allow them to use their new beef knowledge to engage their students. At the conclusion of the experience, teachers will team up for a project where they will create, market, and pitch a unique beef snack.

Participants will have the opportunity to earn up to 22 CTLE credits with participation in this FREE experience.

Apply Now

National Conference Scholarship Winners Announced!

High-quality workshops, tours, and inspiration to include food and agriculture as a lens for learning are in store for this year's National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York.

New York Agriculture in the Classroom has dedicated scholarship funding to provide 63 New York educators the opportunity to attend the premier professional development conference about teaching through a lens of food and agriculture. The scholarship is valued at over $900 for each winner.

Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients!

View the Recipients

Schoolyard Sugaring Contest Winners Announced!

New York Agriculture in the Classroom is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Schoolyard Sugaring Maple Contest. In this contest, students and teachers were exposed to the time, patience, and science it takes to turn sap into syrup by participating in every step of the maple syrup production process from tapping the trees to bottling the syrup. Seventy-two entries in three divisions were submitted for judging by a panel of maple producers and experts.

Thank you to each of our participating classrooms for your hard work, time, and effort!

Madeline Gabel Middle School Gabel Home School.jpeg

View the Winners

Featured Lessons

Grades 3-5

Get Growing

In this lesson, students will design a green bean planter and explore planting specifications for green bean seeds.

This lesson plan is part of a series designed to teach students about producing, preparing, and preserving agricultural commodities, while fostering an appreciation for how fruits and vegetables start in the field and finish at the table.

Teach this Lesson

Grades 6-8

DNA: Expressions in Agriculture

This lesson centers around the activity of extracting DNA from a strawberry while highlighting careers in biotechnology and agriculture.

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Grades 9-12

Pig Power: Creating Biogas and Renewable Energy

After exploring the science of energy and energy conversion, students will evaluate some environmental impacts of hog farming and explore technologies that minimize negative human impact by creating biogas energy from animal waste.

Teach this Lesson

June Book Nook

I Love Strawberries!

Through Jolie's comical scrapbook-style journal entries, readers will learn how she convinces "old people" (her parents) to let her grow her own strawberries. Growing strawberries is a lot of work and responsibility, but Jolie is ready with the help of her faithful rabbit Munchy! Together they find out just how delicious, rewarding, and sometimes complicated it can be to grow your own food.

Read this Book

Miguel's Community Garden

Miguel is throwing a party at his community garden for all of his friends, and he needs help searching for sunflowers to complete the celebration. What do we know about sunflowers? They're tall with petals and leaves—and, hold on, is that a sunflower? No, that's an artichoke. Where, oh, where could those sunflowers be? Can you help Miguel find them in time for his party?

Read this Book

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