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Our Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) team is celebrating the 2024-25 school year by selecting a focus area for each month. Lessons, virtual field trips, AgMag connections, and more will be shared each month! We're kicking off the fun with our September focus area as "All About Agriculture." The resources featured this month will introduce K-12 students to the many ways that agriculture impacts their daily lives. Can you have a day without agriculture? There's no way!
Visit our new webpage featuring these monthly focus areas for more details.
Did you know that there’s a free, custom magazine for grades K-6 available to all teachers and students? Each AgMag issue aligns with Minnesota academic standards, and there are also free lesson plans for each edition to seamlessly integrate into your curricula! AgMags provide a unique piece for students to engage with beyond their typical textbooks and materials. The print magazine and digital content feature real-life Minnesota farmers and businesses, highlighting people and organizations that kids can feel a connection to.
Hey Teachers - we need your help! MAITC wants to make sure every K-6 teacher in Minnesota has heard of the AgMag series. We want you to share with your networks about the AgMag, so we are hosting a giveaway for a chance to win $200!
Here are the details:
- Post the AgMag Graphic above (or your own photo/video/reel highlighting the materials) to your Facebook and/or Instagram page.
- Include: Sign-up for the 2024-2025 AgMags at https://bit.ly/3YqIytA
- Use #mnagmag.
- Tag us on Facebook (@Minnesota Ag in the Classroom) or Instagram (@mnagclassroom).
- Make it a public post or DM us a screenshot of your post so we get your entry.
- Post between August 13 and September 15, 2024.
A random drawing will be held on September 20, 2024, to select three winners. These winners will be announced on the MAITC Facebook and Instagram pages.
*MAITC will never ask you to click a link for a giveaway or fill out a form with your credit card information.
**Winners must be Minnesota teachers.
**Giveaway is hosted by the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation.
When: Friday, September 13, 2024, 1:30 p.m.
What: MAITC is kicking of the 2024-25 school year with a Virtual Field Trip to the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Farm at the Arb. Join us to meet Julie Weisenhorn, a University of Minnesota Extension horticulture educator at the Farm at the Arb in Chanhassen, MN. Julie will show us around the Foodscape, a brand-new landscape designed to show people how their gardens can be beautiful AND feed people, and she'll share some ideas for how you can do the same in your garden!
This 30-minute virtual field trip is targeted to K-5 students.
This virtual field trip will also be streamed live on YouTube and a recording will be available for later viewing.
The MAITC Foundation is excited to provide cash awards to K-12 educators through the Agricultural Literacy Grant Program. These grants encourage educators to bring agriculture and food systems education "to life" by integrating related content into their classroom. Grants are available for new ideas as well as enhancements to current events/activities. MAITC aims to fund projects that provide students the opportunity to experience agriculture in a cross-curricular manner.
FFA Chapters and 4-H programs are also eligible for grant funds to promote agricultural literacy with students in their community.
Apply by September 17, 2024.
MAITC has worked with MANY amazing teachers across our state! We would like to recognize one of these awesome educators with the MAITC Outstanding Teacher Award. This award is presented annually to an educator currently engaged in classroom instruction at the K-12 grade level and recognizes the teacher for their creative efforts to teach students about the importance of agriculture. The winning Minnesota teacher will receive $500 and have up to $1,500 of related expenses paid to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, June 23-26, 2025, in Minneapolis.
Applications are due October 1, 2024.
As you get back into the routine of the school year, don't forget what an amazing opportunity Farm Camp can be for your students. We do all the work - planning a hands-on, immersive learning experience for your students to match what you are learning in class! We even have scholarships to help pay for busing costs. Start planning a Farm Camp experience for your students by contacting our Farm Camp Minnesota Director at director@farmcampminnesota.org.
September Trivia Question: The University of Minnesota apple breeding program released its first apple variety in 1920. What was its name?
Send your answer to sue.knott@state.mn.us. The first two people to respond with the correct answer will win an MAITC travel mug.
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