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In this 360° tour, you'll meet a Canadian pig farming family and learn all about how pigs are cared for, what they eat, where they live, and how farmers keep them healthy.

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Voluntary Milking System - Virtual Farm Tour

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This Canadian family dairy farm uses a Voluntary Milking System which enables their cows to decide when they would like to be milked. Watch this 360 video to see how it works. facilities.

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Family Farm - 250 Jersey Cows, Freestall

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Family Farm - 250 Jersey Cows, Freestall

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Live Virtual Tours & Mobile Dairy Classroom

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Live Virtual Tours & Mobile Dairy Classroom

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Free Farm to You Virtual Field Trips

Take your students on a California dairy farm tour by signing up for a virtual field trip today!

Choose a day of the week and the session time from the corresponding drop down list to sign up for a live virtual field trip. Please note: You may need to disable your pop-up blocker and refresh this page if you don't notice the registration page load in a new tab of your browser.

Select Day of the Week:

Dairy Council of California's Mobile Dairy Classroom is the original "farm to school" program in California, bringing the farm experience to students to teach agricultural literacy since the 1930s.

The virtual tours are guided by a Mobile Dairy Classroom instructor and are 45-minutes, teaching students about farm life while covering a variety of lessons. Each tour provides an introduction to dairy cows to teach students the anatomy of a cow, the journey of milk, milk production and more. Each lesson also takes students on a virtual tour of a working California dairy farm where students have an opportunity to engage with a dairy farmer. As they explore the farm, student will see how dairy cows are fed and milked, learn how farmers care for their herds, and discover the numerous sustainability measures farms utilize in addition to traditional upcycling practices. Each farm tour concludes with an interactive Q&A session, which provides students with the opportunity to ask questions.

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many students and school communities to continue distance learning, our virtual field trips are an amazing opportunity for students to experience an unforgettable farm tour field trip. And best of all, they're free!

THIS WAS AMAZING!! The field trip was absolutely incredible. My students' families work mostly on farms, like strawberries, lemons, and avocados. It was exciting to see a dairy farm--something we would have never experienced had it not been for Zoom and Covid. Talk about making lemonade from lemons! The parents, students, and I are very thankful for everyone's work on your field trip and we cannot express how thankful we are that you all chose to share this experience with us.
Mrs. Maya Myers, Somis School, 2nd Grade Teacher

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Take your students on a California dairy farm tour by signing up for a virtual field trip today! Choose a day of the week and the session time from the corresponding drop down list to sign up for a live virtual field trip.

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Various topics and farms

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Sign up for an upcoming virtual farm tour below or check out the prerecorded virtual farm tour videos from farms across the country! American Dairy...

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Sustainability, dairy breeds, milking parlor, the barn, milk transport, bulk tank, family, feed barn, Nursery, sustainability/recycling, dry cows

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Visit Our Farms

Take a virtual tour of a dairy farm

From the professional nutritionists who develop balanced diets for cows, the farm workers who ensure cows are safe and comfortable, to the technicians who ensure milk is safe, nutritious and pasteurized, dairy farms are often complex operations. One of the most common questions about dairy is, " What actually happens on a dairy farm?" For this reason, The Dairy Alliance has developed a Virtual Dairy Farm Tour. The tour is suitable for learning in individual or classroom settings.

View the videos below to learn about each section of a dairy farm.

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From the professional nutritionists who develop balanced diets for cows, the farm workers who ensure cows are safe and comfortable, to the technicians who ensure milk is safe, nutritious and pasteurized, dairy farms are often complex operations. One of the most common questions about dairy is, " What actually happens on a dairy farm?"

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Focus on engineering to solve problems. Also introduces breeds, housing, connected careers.

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You'll get a moo perspective of what dairy farms are actually like with our virtual field trip. Scroll below to view the on-demand video.

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Ages 5-8

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Index Catalog // USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System

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The USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System (ESMIS) contains over 2,100 publications from five agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These materials cover U.S. and international agriculture and related topics. Mann Library at Cornell University developed and maintains this site.

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Index Catalog // USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System

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The USDA Economics, Statistics and Market Information System (ESMIS) contains over 2,100 publications from five agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These materials cover U.S. and international agriculture and related topics. Mann Library at Cornell University developed and maintains this site.

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In an effort to improve the accessibility of our information to you our users, information on commodities, e.g. Almonds, Grapes, Tomatoes, Walnuts, etc., is included on a single page. As an example, acreage, forecast, nursery sales, and objective measurement reports for Almonds are on one page. These reports along with the Annual Statistical Reviews and the California Ag Commissioner's Data Summary Reports & Data are located in the Specialty and Other Release section of this website.

Last Modified: 11/26/2019

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USDA - National Agricultural Statistics Service - California

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USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Information. NASS publications cover a wide range of subjects, from traditional crops, such as corn and wheat, to specialties, such as mushrooms and flowers; from calves born to hogs slaughtered; from agricultural prices to land in farms. The agency has the distinction of being known as The Fact Finders of U.S.

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This report provides the latest statistics on U.S. farms, including production, financial performance, and farm household characteristics by farm size. Among the findings, 98 percent of U.S. farms are family farms and they accounted for 86 percent of farm production in 2019. Most (90 percent) farms are small (gross cash farm income less than $350,000) and account for 22 percent of production.

Errata: On December 11, 2020, the landing page for the report America's Diverse Family Farms: 2020 Edition was revised to correct the share of production attributed to family farms in 2019 cited in the abstract. Family farms accounted for 86 percent of farm production in 2019. The report itself is unaffected by this change.

See related webinar: Webinar - Friday, December 11, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET

Keywords: family farms, agricultural production, farm typology, small farms, midsize farms, large farms, farm household income, Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), principal farm operator, spouse, farm financial performance, operating profit margin (OPM), off-farm income, self-employment, farm ownership, Government payments, commodity specializations, farm succession, direct sales, women in agriculture, value of production, 2019
In this publication...

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agricultural resource management survey (arms)

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America's Diverse Family Farms: 2020 Edition

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This report provides the latest statistics on U.S. farms, including production, financial performance, and farm household characteristics by farm size. Among the findings, 98 percent of U.S. farms are family farms and they accounted for 86 percent of farm production in 2019.

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Click below to download the PDF files for each part of the community research guide. Follow the instructions in the research guide for each task. The guide will tell you when to go to the additional resources for that task.

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Food! How Do We Ensure Good Nutrition for All?

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Click below to download the PDF files for each part of the community research guide. Follow the instructions in the research guide for each task. The guide will tell you when to go to the additional resources for that task.

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Get the best gardening ideas for kids right in your inbox.

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Welcome to the Plant Growing Guide library. Take a look at all the common crops that you can grow this season! Our guides tell you how to plant, care for, and harvest vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers, and more.

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The Old Farmer's Almanac is your trusted source for long range weather forecasts, moon phases, full moon dates and times, gardening tips, sunrise and sunset times, Best Days, tide charts, home remedies, folklore, and more. All from the oldest continuously-published and best-selling farmers' almanac in North America.

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November 11 - Veteran's Day

Originally called Armistice Day, today commemorates the signing of the agreement that ended World War I at 11:00 A.M., on November 11, 1918. This federal holiday was changed to be called Veterans Day in 1954. Each year, special ceremonies are held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Consider spending some time online learning more about our nation's veterans.

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Originally called Armistice Day, today commemorates the signing of the agreement that ended World War I at 11:00 A.M., on November 11, 1918. This federal holiday was changed to be called Veterans Day in 1954. Each year, special ceremonies are held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

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Apply before 10/15 each year

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Forget the guinea pig. How about adopting a 1,500-pound dairy cow for your classroom mascot? Don't worry about finding a pen big enough to hold her. The photos and stories we'll send you about her life on the farm will make her "come alive" for your students!

Important Adopt A Cow Program Details:

This program is completely FREE! No costs from beginning to end.

No approval process! Once you complete and submit the enrollment form below, your classroom will be registered to adopt a cow for the current school year.

Registration for each academic year is from August 1 to October 15.

No information will be sent out until the calves are born and registration is closed (by November).

Timeline of Events:

1. November: Introductory video (sent via email) and kit with details about the host farm and calf (sent via snail mail) are sent.

2. January: Update #2 is emailed.

3. March: Update #3 is emailed.

4. April/May: An opportunity to live chat your calf and host farm via YouTube.

You are eligible to sign up if...

You teach in a traditional classroom setting.

You are homeschooling your kids/family members/friends.

You run an after school program.

You facilitate a library program.

You have an agriculture program at your museum or kid's center.

You are one of the above and are teaching/leading from in or outside of the United States (yes, anyone can join the program, even from New Zealand!)

What kind of information can I expect?

Throughout the program, you'll find out what her name is, when her birthday is, where she lives and how the farmer takes care of her. We'll also send photos of the cow, activity sheets for the students, a PowerPoint full of information and photos and a suggested lesson that follows Common CORE standards.

We encourage classes to fully engage in this program and even write letters to their calf and host farm family, not only to practice their writing skills but also to show their love for their calf. In the end, we keep you posted on her progress while you and your students enjoy the cuteness of your adorable calf. The Adopt A Cow Program is just one of many ways to Discover Dairy in your classroom!
See sample introductory packet.

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Forget the guinea pig. How about adopting a 1,500-pound dairy cow for your classroom mascot? Don't worry about finding a pen big enough to hold her. The photos and stories we'll send you about her life on the farm will make her "come alive" for your students!

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National Science Teachers Association - NSTA

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Register your School

Please fill out the form below to register your school and your 3rd Grade classes for Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program. Only teachers can register for this program. If you are a parent, contact your child's 3rd Grade teacher.

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Register Your Class - Bonnie Cabbage Program

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Please fill out the form below to register your school and your 3rd Grade classes for Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program. Only teachers can register for this program. If you are a parent, contact your child's 3rd Grade teacher.

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Schools and Organizations that have joined the Teaching Gardens Network: Moss Haven Farm.

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CAST is a nonprofit organization responsible for the publication of Task Force Reports, Commentaries, Special Publications, and Issue Papers written by scientists from many disciplines. CAST addresses issues of animal sciences, food sciences and agricultural technology, plant and soil sciences, and plant protection sciences with inputs from economists, social scientists, toxicologists or plant pathologists and entomologists, weed scientists, nematologists, and legal experts.

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This curriculum covers numerous topics relating to plants, including genetic diversity, genetic codes, genomes, DNA, and biotechnology. Each lesson includes background, hands-on activities, math puzzles, suggestions for discussion and leads to find more information. The curriculum is broken up into five lessons, all available for free!

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ca foundation for agriculture in the classroom

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Judy Culbertson, Administrator and Yasuko Mitsuoka Grow, Designer

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Agriculture in the Classroom website provides a network and resources for educators that seek to engage K-12 audiences and improve agricultural literacy.

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Upper Elementary Lesson Plans

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...but your activity and behavior on this site made us think that you are a bot.

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Great lesson plans make any new classroom project a cinch! Over the years, Growing Minds has developed farm to school activities that incorporate state and national curriculum. Teachers are currently using these plans throughout Southern Appalachia and beyond. Find lesson plans in the list below or take a look at our Get Local @ School section to find lesson plans, recipes, books, and other resources for each month of the school year.

All Growing Minds lesson plans have connections to the Common Core State Standards, NC Essential Standards, and age-appropriate literature.

Have a farm to school lesson plan that you want to share with us? Enter your lesson into our Growing Minds Lesson Plan Template and email it to growingminds@nullasapconnections.org.
Preschool
Preschool Lesson Plans - Exploring local food and farms with your young learners doesn't have to be challenging! Our preschool lesson plans are an easy way to build connections between the outdoor environment and the classroom while introducing children to new fruits and vegetables.

Our Growing Minds Farm to Preschool Toolkit contains all of our preschool lesson plans, This Week in the Garden Preschool weekly activity guides, and Farm to School Goes Home weekly newsletter for families.
K-2 Curriculum alignment (Common Core State Standards & NC Essential Standards) for all K-2 lesson plans.
Recipe Lesson Plans - Kid tested and teacher approved recipes for each month of the school year. These lesson plans include full step-by-step instructions for cooking in the classroom and include literature connections and other activities to complete the lesson.

Garden Lesson Plans - School gardens provide students of all ages with opportunities for hands-on learning activities. Our garden lesson plans provide a framework for outdoor exploration regardless of the color of your thumb.

Food and Farm Lesson Plans - Our lesson plans provide students with opportunities to learn about seasonal foods and local farms while meeting Common Core and NC Essential Standards.
3-5 Curriculum alignment (Common Core State Standards & NC Essential Standards) for all 3-5 lesson plans.
3-5 Grade Lesson Plans - Students explore the science of food with these inquiry-based lesson plans. Each lesson plan includes student worksheets and literature connections.
6-12
Middle and High School Resources - For these grades farm to school lends itself to looking at a broader view of agriculture. It often includes topics such as industrial vs. small scale food systems, public health, environmental impacts of agriculture, and food equity issues. The resources linked on this page were curated by a member of our team who is a former high school science teacher.

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Great lesson plans make any new classroom project a cinch! Over the years, Growing Minds has developed farm to school activities that incorporate state and national curriculum. Teachers are currently using these plans throughout Southern Appalachia and beyond. Find lesson [...]

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Register for School Gardens Lesson Plans

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This guide contains 35 lesson plans with activities to engage your students in a fun and educational exploration of fruits, vegetables and healthy eating. The lessons are cross-curricular and support curriculum for Pre-K-5th grade.

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The 8 NGSS Science and Engineering Practices Posters plus one poster listing all the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices in a Zipped folder.

Guía para crear jardines escolares como salón de clases al aire libre

Science Exploration Units

Created with lessons from the K-5 Life Lab Science Curriculum and The Growing Classroom.

These units have 6 lessons each and are available as a free PDF download or purchased as a set of four from our store

Download the following units:
Pondering Plants Science Exploration Unit - 1st Grade
Examining the jobs of three different plant parts - roots, stems, and leaves - helps students to understand that all plants need the same fundamental resources: sun, soil, water, and air.
Soil Stories Science Exploration Unit - 2nd Grade
Students dig into dirt and discover the secrets of the intricate ecosystem living beneath their feet. After discovering soil's components, students take the next steps to become stewards of the soil.
Garden Pollinators Science Exploration Unit - 3rd Grade
Examining the diversity of pollinators in the garden and their role in the ecosystem provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the mechanisms of adaptation.
Garden Habitats Science Exploration Unit - 4th Grade
Exploring plant and animal habitats helps students learn more about the diversity of life in the garden.

A toolkit for School Districts, School Garden Support Organizations and Universities

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The 8 NGSS Science and Engineering Practices Posters plus one poster listing all the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices in a Zipped folder. Guía para crear jardines escolares como salón de clases al aire libre Created with lessons from the K-5 Life Lab Science Curriculum and The Growing Classroom.

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gardens "kids gardens" "school gardens" science kids children school gardening

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Videos from www.lifelab.org Drawing on over forty years of work with young people in gardens, Life Lab, is a national leader in the garden-based learning movement.

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K-8

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Home Getting Started Tending Your Garden Theme Gardens Grant Opportunities Sustainability Curriculum Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Classroom Cookbook Evaluation Organizations Supporting School Gardens Research & Publications Tips From Teachers Feedback & Suggestions

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Home Getting Started Tending Your Garden Theme Gardens Grant Opportunities Sustainability Curriculum Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Classroom Cookbook Evaluation Organizations Supporting School Gardens Research & Publications Tips From Teachers Feedback & Suggestions

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Info on several CA crops with suggested activities.

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ca foundation for agriculture in the classroom

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Agriculture in the Classroom website provides a network and resources for educators that seek to engage K-12 audiences and improve agricultural literacy.

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K-LS1-1 (Kindergarten) Plants needing water and sunlight. (SEP use observations to describe)
1-LS-1 (1st) Plants have parts that help them survive. (SEP Construct explanations and design solutions)
2-LS2-1 (2nd) Plants need water and sunlight (SEP conduct and investigation).

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Students will use the five senses to investigate apples, identify and model the parts of an apple, make applesauce, and learn how apples are grown.

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Ag In The Classroom | Providing Ag. Resources for Teachers, Students and Volunteers.

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The International Year of Soils | Soil Science Society of America

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The 2015 International Year of Soils was a resounding success! And, the Soil Science Society of America played an integral part in raising awareness of and promoting the sustainability of our limited soil resources.

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Most Recent Episode

In an interview from 2002, Jane Goodall gave Ira a lesson in how to speak with chimps. Plus, highlights from the 33rd First Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony, which celebrate the silly side of science. And, stories that share the research of a few Ig Nobel winners.

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Science Friday is your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science. It's brain fun for curious people

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Free classroom curriculum resources: lessons, activities, and more.

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Explore, download and share these proven real-world educational tools and resources to help you bring science and agriculture to life in your classroom. Relevant and engaging, you'll find GrowNextGen curriculum a useful addition to your lesson plans.

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Lesson Plans-National Ag in the Classroom

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Lesson Plans-National Ag in the Classroom

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Free lesson plans and MUCH more!

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The National Agriculture in the Classroom website provides K-12 educators with engaging resources to increase agricultural literacy among their students.

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LEARN | Education Resources for Teachers from Ohio Pork

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Looking for teaching tools about farming and where food comes from? OhioPork.org offers a variety of educational materials for several grade levels.

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Free lesson plans

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Educational resources from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

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Resources sheets by food, sorted by season

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Free lesson plans and MUCH more!

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ca foundation for agriculture in the classroom

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Agriculture in the Classroom website provides a network and resources for educators that seek to engage K-12 audiences and improve agricultural literacy.