New York Agriculture in the Classroom | October 2020
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Important Dates:

Sept.- Nov.- Virtual Maple Workshop Series

Oct. 5- Top Cut: A Beef Contest Pre-Registration Deadline

Oct. 15- White-Reinhardt Grant Applications Due

Oct. 16- NAITC 2021 Conference Workshop Proposals Due

Nov. 6- Teacher of the Year Applications Due

March 15-19- Agricultural Literacy Week 2021

June 28- July 1- NAITCO Conference 
News
Nominate a Deserving Educator for Teacher of the Year Award!
Do you know an amazing educator or team of educators who integrate agriculture in their curriculum? The New York Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year nomination period is now open. This top honor is awarded annually to a teacher, or a team of teachers, who are committed to "teaching through the lens of agriculture". 

The the top nominee(s) will earn an expense-paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. Nominations or self nominations are due Friday, November 6th, 2020

Visit the New York Agriculture in the Classroom website where you can find more information as well as learn about past NYAITC Teachers of the Year. Complete the application today!
Time is running out to Register for Top Cut Beef Contest!
Top Cut Beef Contest is an engaging virtual cross-curricular authentic learning culinary experience for grades 3-12. Participating students will design a beef recipe focused on this years theme; "global street food". Students will develop a creative marketing strategy for their product. To support students learning, multiple on-line live and prerecorded virtual events will be included in the experience. 

In each of the three grade level divisions students will vie for the chance to win $250. This year, four $25 prizes will also be awarded in each division for most entrepreneurial, most creative, most unique recipe, and most persuasive. 

The deadline for contest registration is October 5th. Visit the contest page on out website to learn more!
Virtual Maple Workshop Series
The Cornell Maple Program is offering six online workshops this fall. Each course features a selection of self-guided materials including narrated presentations, videos and articles, followed by a live question and answer session. Learn at your own pace from the comfort of home, then log-in for discussions with Cornell experts and fellow sugar makers. 

This program is great for educators seeking to begin or improve their at-school or at-home sugarbush. Learn more about this program and register at the Cornell Maple Program website
Spring 2021 White-Reinhardt Grant
The White-Reinhardt Grant window is closing soon! This funding opportunity is offered through a partnership between The American Farm Bureau Foundation and the AFB Women's Leadership Committee. County and state Farm Bureaus may apply for $1,000 grants on behalf of local K-12 educators. Proposals should focus on initiating new or expanding existing agricultural literacy programs. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The funding window closes October 15thLearn more and apply here
Seeking Workshop Proposals for National AITC Conference in Iowa
The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO) is seeking workshop proposals for its 2021 National Conference "Fields of Dreams" scheduled for June 28th-July 1st in Des Moines, Iowa. Workshop topics should demonstrate how PreK-12th grade core-content can be taught and enhanced by teaching through the "lens of agriculture".
 
Proposals for workshops are due on or before Friday, October 16thLearn more and submit a workshop proposal today! If your workshop proposal is accepted, you will receive $50 off your conference registration per one full workshop or one mini workshop selected. 
Teacher Resources
Food Waste Infographic
Do you "clean your plate" at every meal? If you don't, what is thrown away is considered "food waste". This is a global issue with 1/3 to 1/2 of food produced being tossed every year. Imagine all that energy, time, water, and resources thrown in the garbage. This poster gives tips to consumers on how to help solve this global problem. 
Elementary Resources
Pumpkins... Not Just For Halloween
In this lesson, students will participate in a variety of subjects including history, science, nutrition, and math as they investigate the fall favorite; pumpkins! Activities include estimating size and weight, sprouting seeds, and making pumpkin pie in a bag. This lesson is available for grades K-2 and grades 3-5
Homegrown in Your State: Fruits and Vegetables
In this lesson, students explore their state's specialty crops, discover how food gets from the farm to table, and discuss the importance of daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Powerful Potato
Who knew that potatoes had so much influence? Have your students explore life science concepts by observing the effects of soil on potato growth in this lesson. As their experiments are fructifying, your students will spend time learning about global geography and world cultures by charting the expansion of potato cultivation on a world map. As a culminating activity, students get to participate in a potato dress up contest.
Walnuts: The Importance of Grafting
Ever wonder how fruits and nuts can have the same taste, texture, and smell every year? They key is to clone fruit and nut trees by grafting. The purpose of this lesson is for students to understand the science and economic importance of grafting as they investigate the grafting of walnut trees. 
Middle School/ High School Resources
Superfoods: Super Healthy or Super Hype? 
Superfoods... are these magical foods going to swoop in to make us all healthier and stronger? Or is it another trendy fad? Use this article to prompt critical thinking scenarios focused on this popular nutritional trend.
Inherited Traits in the Living Corn Necklace
In this lesson, students will observe the growth of Indian corn and popcorn seeds, observe similarities and differences between the two varieties, and discuss heredity. 

Is food safety really that big of deal? Have your students solve this essential question by participating in A Chilling Investigation. In this lab, students will observe the difference in bacterial count between a hamburger that's left out at room temperature and a hamburger that's kept refrigerated. This authentic learning opportunity reinforces food safety and handling concepts. Pair this lesson with the Top Cut contest
Algae Fuel Could Change the World
Could a motorcycle get its energy from algaeCould algae provide a more sustainable fuel source? Learn how this "green" technology could revolutionize the transportation industry.  This video pairs well with the Algaculture and Biofuel lesson for grades 9-12. 
Apples and the Science of Genetic Selection
Using the apple as context, students will compare and contrast natural selection and artificial selection as they learn the history of the apple, how apples are propagated on farms, and how new varieties of apple are developed in this eLesson
October Book Nook
Pick, Pull, Snap! Where Once a Flower Bloomed
In the orchard, a honey bee buzzes. Its legs brush pollen inside a fragrant pink flower. A small green fruit begins to grow and grow and grow...Peaches and peas and even peanuts-they all begin with a single flower. How? Buzz into this book and find out!
Two Old Potatoes and Me
One day at her dad's house, a young girl finds two old potatoes in the cupboard. "Gross." But before she can throw them away, her dad suggests they try to grow new potatoes from the old ones, which have sprouted eyes. Told from May to September, the potato-growing season, the story includes all the basic steps for growing potatoes while subtly dealing with the parents' recent divorce. Just like the new potatoes that emerge from ugly old potatoes, this dad and daughter move on and make a new life together in the face of unavoidable and unpleasant change.
Rotten Pumpkin: A Rotten Tale in 15 Voices
Compost won't mean the same thing after readers have seen the amazing transformation of Jack from grinning pumpkin to mold-mottled wreckage to hopeful green shoot. The story of decomposition is vividly told so that science comes to life (and death). Part story, part science, and a whole lot of fun.
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