
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Edible Garden

1. Plastic container or paper plate to contain the garden
2. One large bag of natural agricultural foods including such items as
- Brown or white rice, yellow or white cornmeal, popcorn for the base
- A variety of nuts
- A variety of beans
- A variety of dried fruits
- A variety of popcorn
3. A smaller bag containing a variety of processed foods including such items as
- Salted pretzel sticks
- Marshmallows
- Candy
- Cereal
- Dried Pasta
Directions:
1. Pass out a container or paper plate along with the large and small bags filled with food
2. Place the contents of the first bag containing natural agricultural products in the plastic container or on the paper plate.
3. Discuss the meaning of a dry landscape, or zen garden, using photos from the internet or books.
4. Arrange the items from the first bag in a pleasing arrangement as one would for a dry landscape garden. Use the pretzel sticks as a rake to create lines in the rice or corn meal.
5. Discuss how the foods were grown (climate, country, state, above or below the ground, planting and harvesting), compare and contrast the nutritional value of the foods in terms of vitamins and minerals, and determine the amount of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
6. Add the contents of the second bag to the garden. Discuss how processed foods contain additional ingredients such as sweeteners and sodium.
7. Use The Nutribase Complete Book of Food Counts to create a lesson for students based on grade level using items from this edible garden and seasonal fresh produce. See second handout for subject and suggested lesson plan ideas for primary, intermediate, and secondary grade levels.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
September Monthly Food Theme Ideas
All American Breakfast Month
Better Breakfast Month
National Chicken Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National Food Safety Month
National Honey Month
National Papaya Month
National Rice Month
National Date-Nut Breat Day (September 8)
National Chocolate Milkshake Day (September 12)
National Cream Filled Donut Day (September 14)
National Apple Dumpling Day (September 17)
National Butterscotch Pudding Day (September 19)
International Banana Festival (September 21)
National Pancake Day (September 26)
ISATs: 10 Minutes a Day the Ag In The Classroom way!
The goal is to give teachers 20 weeks worth of review materials to use to prepare for ISAT testing. The activities are intended to take no more than 10 minutes a day and to use Ag Mags as a resource. Ag Mags are available from the Vermilion County Farm Bureau or online at: www.agintheclassroom.org
The intended format for each week is as follows:
Monday: Introduce the Ag Mag - have students read and use pre-reading strategies
Tuesday: Vocabulary Activity related to the Ag Mag
Wednesday: Math Activity related to the Ag Mag
Thursday: Reading Passage and questions related to the Ag Mag
Friday: Extended Response question related to the Ag Mag
There are 20 Ag Mags in print and/or online for use for the 20 weeks. Visit the Illinois Ag In The Classroom website to download the ISAT materials. www.agintheclassroom.org
Friday, August 7, 2009
Vermilion County Farm Bureau Foundation

National Ag In The Classroom Conference
June 24-27, 2009
We had terrific traveling workshops and St. Louis themed dinners. The conference was a great place to network with other involved in education and agriculture. This conference provided lots of great learning experiences and information to expand the Ag In The Classroom program in our schools and communities.
Don't miss the conference next year in Baltimore, Maryland from June 24-26, 2010.
Conference proposals are due October 1, 2009. Contact Jeanne Mueller at jmueller@maefonline.com