April Highlights from MN Ag in the Classroom

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MAITC Newsletter Banner 6.2.2017
2017 Teacher Tour
2017 MAITC Summer Teacher Tour at Wingard Potato Farm.

Join Us on a Summer Teacher Tour!

The Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Program (MAITC) is offering three summer tours that allow educators to get a first-hand look into the world of agriculture. Resources, hands-on activities and interactive ideas for integrating agriculture in your curriculum will be discussed and shared. CEUs and graduate credits available.

Buzzing with Agriculture Literacy Tour

  • June 20, 2018, Chanhassen, MN
  • Tour stops include: U of M Landscape Arboretum Tashjian Bee Center, Gale Woods Farm, Roots Return Heritage Farm

Agriculture Research and Innovation: Northern MN Tour

  • July 12, 2018, Grand Rapids, MN
  • Tour stops include: North Central Research and Outreach Center, Little Timber Farms

Many Faces of Agriculture: Southwest MN Tour

  • July 26-27, 2018, Fairmont, MN
  • Tour stops include: Round Lake Winery, AgCo – Ag Equipment Manufacturer, Minnesota Soybean Processors, family operated hog farm, corn and soybean farm, Center Creek Orchard

Farmamerica Teacher Day Camp

  • July 31, 2018, Waseca, MN
  • Agenda includes: tour of Farmamerica, visit with beekeeper, tractor experience with latest technology in agriculture, MN Ag in the classroom take-home lesson kits, farm-to-table dinner
  • Partnership between Farmamerica and MAITC

For additional details and to register visit: https://minnesota.agclassroom.org/programs/tour.cfm


Teacher Feature: Ms. Liz Alsworth

1st grade teacher, Martin County West Elementary School

Liz Alsworth headshot

How has agriculture and the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Program impacted your students and instruction? Some of the most meaningful conversations we have in our classroom are centered around agriculture and science. It’s amazing the kinds of connections students can make when they are given the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and talk about their experiences.

Ms. Alsworth's class

Describe any agriculture based projects you have been involved in lately. Life cycles is a Minnesota Academic State Standard for first grade. We have begun our life cycle study by incubating chicken eggs. Through this process students are able to have a hands on experience in learning about chickens, their life cycle and making the farm-to-food connection. It has become more of a whole school project with classes stopping in and a hallway display that keeps everyone updated on what is happening inside the egg.

Read More


Try Journey 2050, Win $100

Journey 2050 image

Journey 2050 takes students on a virtual farm simulation that explores world food sustainability through the lives of three farm families in Kenya, India and Canada. As students interact with each family, they make decisions and adjust them as they see their impact on society, the environment and the economy at a local and global scale.

Journey 2050 game for students

Lesson plans and supporting PowerPoints

Use Journey 2050 with your 7th-12th grade students and provide feedback by April 15th to be eligible to win one of five, $100 prizes!


It's Spring! Let's Grow with Agriculture

These resources provide ideas and inspiration on how to use this season of planting seeds, budding plants, and warmer weather as fantastic learning opportunities.

Minnesota Garden Guide

Minnesota School Garden Guide

This guide contains 31 plant–science based lessons that are correlated to core curriculum concepts and Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in science, social studies, language arts, math and nutrition.

Specialty Crop AgMag

Specialty Crop AgMag

This 8-page AgMag, designed for 3rd graders, uses specialty crops such as fruits, veggies, flowers and herbs, to connect agriculture with social studies, science, health and language arts curricula.

Image from Follow Your Food video

Follow Your Food Videos

Expose students to the farm-to-table process as they meet farmers in Minnesota and follow the food they grow from the field to their plate.


Ag Trivia

Congratulations to our February Trivia winner Brigid Sandager.  Brigid knew that corn, beans and squash/pumpkins are known as the Three Sisters.  Congratulations to our other top five responders Katie Cordes, Kyle Blomgren, Al Withers and Joe Jore.  

April Trivia Question: What is Minnesota's official state soil?

Send your answer to sue.knott@state.mn.us  The first person to reply with the correct answer will win a MAITC reusable bag!