Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! We know teaching looks very different this year whether you're teaching face-to-face, completely online, or in a hybrid course. Here at Utah Agriculture in the Classroom, we want you to know we're still working virtually to provide teachers with standards-based curriculum, hands-on activities, virtual experiences, and online professional development. In response to this year's circumstances, a new eLearning site is available to teachers and students. Our Utah AITC team is also working to provide teachers with online professional development workshops as well as an online course that will offer USBE, CEU or USU credits. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up-to-date on new curriculum resources and online workshops. We hope you have a fun, safe school year!
~ Denise, Bekka, Carrie, and Lexy
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Apply for a $500 Classroom Award! |
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Utah Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is awarding ten $500 awards to Utah pre-kindergarten through 12th grade core education teachers whose innovative classroom projects use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, healthy lifestyles, science, or social studies. The deadline for award applications is October 9, 2020 at midnight. All applicants will be notified of award status by email on or before October 23, 2020. The purpose of the Utah AITC Classroom Award is to encourage teachers to use agricultural concepts to teach core subject areas. This award is designed to fund projects that will educate Utah Pre-K-12 students about the importance of agriculture. Only fully completed applications will be considered.
For teachers interested in applying for a $500 award, Utah AITC will host a 30-minute webinar on September 23, 2020 at 4:00 PM. This webinar is not required to apply, but available for teachers to ask questions and learn more about using the $500 award money in their classroom.
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Take a look below at what some of our 2019 award recipients accomplished with their $500 awards! |
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Brad Hendershot, Excelsior Academy: Pollinator Gardens |
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Meaghan Porritt, Lewiston Elementary: Aquaponics and Hatching Science |
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Sharon Mumford, Plain City Elementary: Hatching Science |
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Complete our five-minute teacher survey
and receive Utah AITC resource kits!
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Help us improve our program, curriculum resources, and professional development workshops by completing a quick five-minute survey. Teachers who complete the survey by September 30, 2020, will receive either a set of Source Search cards, What's for Lunch? cards, or an About Farm Animals mini kit.
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Delivering content online? These free student-ready eLearning content resources are what you need to contextualize science, social studies, and nutrition content with active learning strategies. These lesson plans are already adapted for a student audience and can can be dropped into your online platform (Google Classroom, Canvas, etc.) Be sure to follow the Curriculum Matrix page for eLearning updates.
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Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix Tutorial
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Don't forget to search the Matrix for standards-based, grade-specific lessons! This short tutorial gives tips on navigating the curriculum matrix and accessing hundreds of free lesson plans. |
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Dairy West Offers Free Biotech Cheese Kits
and Virtual Dairy Farm Tours to Utah Teachers
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Are you looking for an interactive way to teach your students about food? Dairy farmers in Utah and Idaho are offering a free Dairy West Biotech Cheese Kit to teachers in Utah and Idaho. Use these cheese kits to teach students about agriculture, the science of cheese making, and dairy nutrition.
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Join a Virtual Dairy Farm Field Trip
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Through Zoom, a local dairy farmer will "visit" your classroom and engage students by taking them on a tour, answering questions about dairy farming, and providing insight on agriculture and food production. |
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Visit the Dairy West farm-to-school webpage for other educational resources. If you have any questions regarding the biotech cheese kit or virtual dairy farm tours, please contact Rashel Clark at rclark@dairywest.com or by calling (801)668-8642.
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Survival of the Fittest: Comparing the
Needs of Humans and Cows
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Did you know? In 2019, there were 37,468 dairy farms in the United States. The top milk-producing states in 2019 were California, Wisconsin, Idaho, and New York.
In this K-2 lesson, students identify what cows and humans need to survive by exploring the physical characteristics of cows and the food, water, shelter, and other environmental needs of cows compared to their own needs. Students also examine how farmers work to meet the needs of their cows.
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State Standards
for Utah
Kindergarten: SEEd
Strand K.2
- Standard K.2.1
- Standard K.2.2
Grade 1: SEEd Strand 1.2
Grade 2: SEEd Strand 2.2
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Energy's Journey from Farm to You |
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Did you know? Every year in the United States, 40% of edible food--about 34 million tons--is wasted. Using food waste and byproducts for animal feed can help reduce this number.
In this 3-5 lesson, students discover how plants use energy from the sun to change air and water into matter needed for growth. Using dairy cows as an example, students investigate how animals obtain energy from the plants they eat to the products they produce for human consumption. Further exploration is facilitated by a live virtual tour of a dairy farm.
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State Standards
for Utah
Grade 5: SEEd Strand 5.3
- Standard 5.3.1
- Standard 5.3.2
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Carbon Hoofprints: Cows & Climate Change |
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Did you know? Beef production is responsible for about 2% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Grain-finished beef has a lower carbon footprint than grass-finished beef. Cattle that are fed grain produce less methane and reach market weight more quickly, thus using fewer natural resources.
In this 9-12 lesson, students will explore the carbon cycle and evaluate the carbon footprint of beef cattle. Using critical thinking skills, students will use the Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning model to determine the effect of cows' methane production on the environment and investigate the extent cattle contribute to climate change.
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State Standards
for Utah
High School Biology:
SEEd Strand BIO.1
Earth and Space Science: SEEd Strand ESS.3
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Help us continue providing programs and materials that promote awareness and understanding of agriculture among Utah's educators and students. |
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