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Summer Teacher Tours

The Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Program (MAITC) offers unique annual summer tours that allows educators to get a first-hand look into the world of agriculture. Resources, hands-on activities and interactive ideas for integrating agriculture as a context for achieving academic standards at all levels will be discussed and shared. CEUs and graduate credits available. This year, teachers can choose from three options. The Specialty Crop tour is July 17th and 18th and will leave from Maple Grove. The Many Faces of Agriculture Tour will depart from Bloomington on July 24th and includes overnight accommodations, tour stops in the Mankato area, the MAITC Annual Meeting dinner event and will return to Bloomington July 25th. The Northern MN tour is a one day tour on July 7th focused on the Bemidji area that will be capped off with a farm dinner. Registration is open for all three tours. Register early so you don't miss out on these great tours!

Teacher Feature- Dina Berray, Upper Mississippi Academy

Where and what level do you currently teach and why did you choose to become an educator? I teach 6th - 9th grades. I became a teacher because I am passionate about raising kid’s curiosity about where food comes from and experiencing what whole foods tastes like. How has agriculture and the MAITC Program impacted your students and instruction? In the culinary classroom, students are learning about corn and the many uses; food vs. commodity and how it is transported around the world. In my student’s science, Bryon Adams also uses Ag in the Classroom to investigate where and why different crops are grown in the state.  This has a dual purpose of teaching students about geography and map reading.

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Minnesota Youth Institute

The Minnesota Youth Institute engages high school students in solving local and global hunger issues. The interactive, day-long program brings teens from across the state to the University of Minnesota for an immersive science experience and an opportunity to connect with research and industry leaders. MNYI serves as a gateway to the World Food Prize Symposium and global travel, paid internships while still in high school, and a scholarship to the University of Minnesota.

Fantastic Resource

MAITC Book Bundles The Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom program has developed two children's literature book bundles. Each bundle includes ten books that are targeted to a specific student grade range – K-2 and 3-5. These fiction and nonfiction books focus on a wide variety of topics that represent agricultural plants and animals, food, and natural resources. Each bundle also has an accompanying Educator Guide. These guides are designed to stimulate appropriate discussion and to extend student learning beyond the book content itself. The books and suggested activities, lessons, and resources offer easy connections to many curricular areas.

March Trivia

In honor of National Ag Day on March 21st, this month's trivia question is about Minnesota agriculture. Minnesota ranks #1 in the nation for what  two commodities? Please email Keri Sidle with your answer to win a mystery prize!