Newsletter from Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Funding from this plate has impacted over 200,000 students in 2017 with lessons, materials, volunteers and teacher training. Annually up to $60K is distributed in grants to schools, FFA, 4-H and other Non-profit programs for Ag education initiatives by the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council.

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28 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
207-287-5522

Donate today to

The Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Association

The Non-profit, completely volunteer, portion of MAITC.

These funds are used directly to support teacher scholarships and recognition, and support volunteer participation for Ag education programs. Your donation is completely tax deductible and you can make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly donation which will support the mission, "to promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public."

If you have any other questions or would like to join this group please contact the chairman, Maryjane Stafford.

Donate Here.

January Newsletter

#100

2020

SIGN UP DEADLINE: January 10th

Read ME Agriculture 2020

In March 2020, Read ME Agriculture will debut the newest book in the series, Plant Something for ME .

The Plant Something for ME book is the sixth book in the Agriculture for ME book series. Students will learn about plants and why they are so important. A focus on careers involving plants in our state will increase students' awareness of opportunities available. In the wrap-up students are encouraged to plant something themselves. Funding is pending for classroom planting kits to accompany the books during the 2020 Read ME Agriculture program. Classrooms should sign-up early if they are interested in the kit because supply may be limited. Sign ups are available on our website ! Sign up deadline is January 10th , materials are limited, first come, first serve!

Resource Highlight: New Pollination Lessons!

Our Teach ME Food and Farms Lesson Site has two new lessons on pollinators developed by ReTreeUS and First Light Wildlife Habitats.

Lesson 1: The Power of Pollination. Grades 5-6. Students will learn how pollination yields fruit via insect services.

Lesson 2: Signs and Signals. Grades 5-6. (Follows "The Power of Pollination" Lesson) - Students will learn the variety of ways that flowers send messages to pollinators to ensure their own reproduction..

Maine Aquaculture Research, Development, and Education Forum

The 4th Maine Aquaculture R&D&E Forum will be held at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Maine on January 17th, 2020. Hosted by the University of Maine Aquaculture Research Institute and the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center , the R&D&E Forum will include sessions, posters, and technical workshops focused on emerging topics in Maine aquaculture ranging from workforce development to recirculating aquaculture systems.

There will be a 1 hour session on workforce development programs, and a 1 hour session on K-12 programs. If there is interest, arrangements can be made for these sessions to be recorded, please contact Anne Noll.

Find more info on the forum here.

Join the Maine Nutrition Council to learn about the role of red raspberries in relation to Metabolic Syndrome as well as updates from the latest research from the prestigious Berry Health Benefits Symposium.

RSVP to the event to Kelsey.

Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) Kids Day

Thursday, May 14th, 2020

Windsor Fairgrounds 9:30am to 1:30pm

To register your school youth for this agricultural exhibition, please email Cindy Kilgore.

We have funds to reimburse your school bus transportation on a first come, first serve basis. As in the past, we expect to have 40 + agricultural educational exhibits for the students to enjoy.

Maine School Garden Day

Saturday

May 2, 2020

Reeds Brook Middle School

Hampden, ME

Save the date and Stay tuned for more info!

Harvest of the Month

January is Maine Potatoes Month!

Check out the great HOM materials: Maine Potatoes Poster, Maine Potatoes Fact Sheet.

Learn more about how schools can participate.

Check out our teacher resources section below for lessons, books, videos, and other classroom resources!

This year's conference will feature a keynote from Sebastian Belle, Executive Director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, a plenary session with Barton Seaver, chef, author, and educator; plus two repeated sessions with breakout speakers!

Topics for the day include: farmed vs. wild caught seafood; plant based diets from the sea; seafood on a budget; contaminants; and more!

On Tuesday, April 7th from 3-5pm there will be a free opportunity for conference attendees to receive 2 additional contact hours at a pre-conference event and tour at College of the Atlantic, right next door to our conference venue.

The Maine Nutrition Council has reserved a room block at the event venue, Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center. Please visit the MNC website for more information on room rates and how to take advantage of this great deal!

Registration is now open!

Lessons:

January is Maine Potatoes Month!

- The Farmer Grows a Rainbow: Second Servings . Grades K-2. Students will understand that appropriate portions of foods from each food group should be included in a daily diet.

- Potato . Grades 2-5. Students will be able to explain the history of potatoes and locate where they are grown on a Maine map. They will be able to identify the parts of a potato plant and write directions for planting and optimal growth. Students will also write stories about Mr. Potato for younger students and participate in composting activities.

- Investigating Potatoes . Grades 3-5. Students will work in small groups and with Maine maps, find the areas of the state where potatoes are grown on a large scale. They will research the nutritional and health benefits of potatoes as well as the economic importance of potatoes to Maine. Students will interview a local farmer about his potato crop, challenges faced by potato farmers and write a news article about potatoes.

- Let's Grow Potatoes . Grades 3-5. Students will work in small groups to research the life cycle of potatoes and learn about the growing process from a local farmer. They will plant, care for, measure growth of plants and chart the growth of the classroom potatoes.

- Powerful Potato . Grades 3-5. Students will explore life science concepts by observing a potato grow with and without soil. They will further learn about geography and world cultures by charting potato geography on a world map and holding a potato dress up contest.

- Where Does it Come From? Grades 3-5. Students will explore the connection between geography, climate, and the type of agriculture in an area by reading background information and census data about the agricultural commodities beef, potatoes, apples, wheat, corn, and milk.

- Esperanza Rising . Grades 3-5. Students will read the novel Esperanza Rising written by Pam Munoz Ryan to learn more about migrant workers, agricultural economics, the impact of agriculture to rural communities, agricultural history, and how fruits and vegetables have been harvested historically and are harvested currently.

- Microbes - They're Everywhere! Grades 6-8. Students will explore the varied roles that microorganisms play in the world as well as different methods for controlling their growth. Activities include using a dichotomous key to identify waterborne diseases, comparing effectiveness of handwashing techniques, reading fictional and factual excerpts about microbes, and experimenting with the growth of microorganisms on potato slices.

- Digging Into Nutrients . Grades 6-8. In this lesson, students will gain background knowledge of the nutrient requirements of plants, how those nutrients are obtained by the plant, what farmers must do if the nutrients are not available in soils, and current issues related to agricultural production.

- Before the Plate . Grades 9-12. Students will view the 2018 documentary Before the Plate and follow Canadian chef John Horne as he journeys to the source of ten primary food ingredients used in his restaurant. Using critical thinking skills, students will explore the farm-to-table journey of food.

- Source Search . Grades 9-12. In this lesson students will learn that agriculture provides nearly all of the products we rely on in any given day by participating in a relay where they match an everyday item with its "source."

Check out all of the activities and resources from our Potatoes for ME activity book, available HERE on our Teach ME Food and Farms Website!

Including recipes, math, coloring, nutrition facts, and MORE!

Books:

Potatoes for ME

No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas

Tomatoes, Potatoes, Corn & Beans

Step into the Inca World

Midday Meals Around the World

Esperanza Rising

An Orange in January

Eating the Alphabet