Lessons

Students explore the process of genetic engineering and discover the eleven bioengineered crops and two animals approved in the United States.

Students will investigate sorghum, including the stages of plant growth, production in the United States, health benefits, geography, and positive environmental impacts.

Students examine how cows help conserve natural resources by identifying the important role dairy cattle have in reducing, reusing, and recycling food processing by-products. Students identify each stage of the ecological cycle and the important role of decomposers.

Students explore the benefits and functions of different types of barns and use problem-solving skills to build a model of a hay barn that meets specific requirements.

Students explore the sources of a variety of agricultural products and discover that farms can be diverse in size and in products that are grown and raised.

Students read Right This Very Minute—a table-to-farm book about food production and farming—and diagram the path of production for a processed product, study a map to discover where different commodities are grown, and write a thank-you letter to farmers in their local community.

Students investigate the transfer of energy in the process of making milk, discover that there are different forms of energy, determine that living things need energy to survive, and identify the sun as the primary source of energy.

Students explore pecan production from farm to fork, simulate the process of grafting, and create a nutritious snack.

Students explore the complexity of heredity by studying horses and creating a horse’s family tree.

Students explore the importance of protein to a healthy diet and discover that eggs are a nutritious food and a good source of protein.