NATIONAL AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM CONFERENCE
&
CHS Registration Scholarships

Portl a n d is t he closest this conference will be to New Hampshire for at l east e i ght years.  Take advantage of this great opportunity!    Space  is limited and it is filling up VERY quickly, so register now!  
 
For th e fifth year, t he CHS Foundation is sponsoring teachers from across the nation to attend the Agriculture in the Classroom Conference 'Agriculture for ME on Land and Sea' in Portland, Maine June 27-29.  They are graciously providing $20,000 in scholarships to fund dozens of deserving K-12 teachers.  A choice of over 80 hands-on workshops, traveling workshops, keynote speakers and networking events will provide exceptional learning opportunities for these teachers to increase their comfort level in agricultural topics and to integrate agricultural content into instruction to meet academic standards in Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Math and Health/Nutrition.  If you would like to participate in an engaging professional development experience and connect with educators from across the country, you should consider applying for this scholarship, which covers the cost of early bird registration of $435.  All other travel costs are the responsibility of the individual.      

                                 conference information

The scholarship application deadline is FRIDAY MARCH 2nd.  

scholarship application      (scroll to the bottom of the page)    
Free Tree Seedlings for Educational Purposes

Free seedlings are available for schools from the state forest nursery for educational purposes.
Here are the criteria and how to access the free seedlings:  * S eedlings must be either planted on public property as a class or school event, or each student may be given one of the free seedlings to be planted at home.   * Ordering can be by the county forester, or by the school directly.  * A completed order form is needed with the following words "Free Seedlings - School," indicating the number requested.  * A limit of 200 seedlings per school.  * The state forest nursery determines the species and decides in March, depending on the available inventory. The species likely will be white pine or white spruce this year.      more information and updates
Feeling Better Futures
General Mills Scholars Program

The global population is rising, and our current food system simply isn't equipped to  handle it. We're solving the food accessibility problems of today and tomorrow with  help and ideas from amazing young people - like your students.   Enter Feeding Better Futures by sharing in-action solutions that tackle hunger relief or sustainable agriculture for a need to  submit an idea with a 2-3 minute video and project summary by March 5th

2018 FREE SEED PROGRAM

UNH Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are offering free seeds for schools, scout troops, 4-H clubs, community gardens and any education-based or youth group and individuals. Vegetable, flower and herb seed packets are available for pick up at the UNH Education Center in Goffstown or they can be mailed.  Tax-deductible donations are welcomed to cover postage.  Limit of 15 packets per organization.   New this year, antique and heirloom varieties from Strawberry Banke. 

Order forms are due  May 18th                More Information
Strawberry Banke Seed Fact Sheets         General Garden Info Sheets
2018 AGRICULTURAL LITERACY BOOK NOW AVAILABLE 

Seed Soil Sun by Cris Peterson is New Hampshire's 2018 Agricultural Literacy
book of the year.   Appropriate for grades 
K-4, this book uses wonderful photographs to explore soil, follow germination, look at composting, touch on photosynthesis and discover the edible parts of a plant.   If you would like a copy of the book along with the Educators' Resource Guide, please contact NHAITC.  The cost is $6 each if picked up at the Farm Bureau in Concord.  We can mail them directly to you for an additional $2.50 per book.

CLASSROOM CONNECTION  

Animal Life Cycles                    (K-2)
This lesson introduces students to six major livestock species, teaches that animals need air, space, food, water, and shelter to survive, and introduces students to the life cycle of a farm animal.

Hatching Science with Classroom Chicks     (grades K-2)    (grades 3-5)
Students will explore how an embryo develops inside of a chicken egg over time, discuss life cycles and other natural cycles, and observe similarities and differences between parents and offspring.        
 

(grades 6-8)    Students will use basic mathematical skills to solve problems related to the cost of food while integrating geography and nutrition to enhance learning. Activities include analyzing grocery ads, assessing the nutrition and cost of meals, and exploring diets around the world.

Global Food Security    (grades 9-12)
Students will explore the causes of hunger, both domestically and globally; evaluate potential solutions for solving world hunger; and forecast the impact of a growing world population on current food supplies.

NHAITC OUT & ABOUT

  2018 School to Farm Days
 Merrimack County         5/10/18
 Sullivan County             5/16/18
 Grafton/Coos Counties   5/24/18
  Rockingham/Strafford 
    Counties at UNH         6/5-7/18
 Belknap County             9/18/18
 
registration links can be found on our website

 PLAN AHEAD:
 the 2018  National Agriculture   in the Classroom Conference    will be in Portland, Maine          June 26-29, 2018

CLASSROOM SUPPORT

offers gardening tips and curriculum ideas

lessons for K-12 classrooms based on the science, social studies and more

Build a Cold Frame From Hula Hoops  - a great way to get those school garden plants started

KidsGardening.org has a helpful list of possible school garden grant opportunities

Connect with us for the latest news and resources:

nhaitc@nhfarmbureau.org  I  www.agclassroom.org/nh  I  (603) 224-1934

SUPPORT  NHAITC