Ag in the Classroom Hosts Coordinator Workshops

Agriculture is continually changing. Teaching it has to change, too. That's why Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) conducted mid-school-year workshops for the people who bring farm lessons to local schools.

Called "ag lit coordinators," these men and women were given new materials and ideas during a workshop in Bloomington yesterday. A second workshop will be held today in DeKalb, and another will be held in Marion tomorrow. 

"I'm walking away with so many new ideas," said Susie Willard, retired teacher, farmer, and brand new ag lit coordinator from Vermilion County. "My favorites were the mAGic Kits. I'll probably do the wheat one first."

The "mAGic Kits" are self-packaged lessons and hands-on activities that range in topics from cherries to pork to water conservation. The wheat kit that Willard talked about contains a real stalk of wheat that students dissect, wheat grinder, toy combine, book about bread, and math lessons based on the number of kernels on a stalk.

Willard's fellow coordinator, Eileen Huckstadt, is also new to teaching IAITC lessons and has a different favorite. "I loved the book program they gave us today. It shows how to use farm books for a summer reading program." (Download Have Book, Will Travel)

The attendees also walked home with new beef lessons and ways to link container gardens with agriculture. (Download Once Upon A Garden)

"It's a full day of learning and networking," said Kevin Daugherty, Illinois Farm Bureau Education Director. "I'm glad that we can offer new ideas to promote agriculture and benefit local schools throughout Illinois."

ABOUT IAITC
Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom is a program dedicated to improving agricultural literacy (awareness, knowledge, and appreciation) among pre-school thru high school teachers and students. Last year, IAITC reached more than 484,000 students in Illinois.