|
WHAT IS AG IN THE CLASSROOM?
In
1985, then Secretary of Agriculture John Block asked a group of elementary
students where food came from. Without hesitation, the students replied that
food came from grocery stores. Secretary Block went back to USDA in Washington
D.C. and initiated the AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM project to help our nation’s
young people understand the real source of their food and fiber, and the system
that brings it to their tables.
Since then, agricultural groups in
each state have launched programs to help students increase their knowledge of
the food and fiber system of their state, thus enabling them to make intelligent
decisions as consumers, voters, and eventually, as public leaders.
IDAHO AG IN THE CLASSROOM
In 1986, the Idaho Ag in the
Classroom Association was founded to plan, develop and disseminate a quality,
easy to use curriculum supplement for Idaho teachers. The original goal was to
have an AITC guidebook in every 4th grade classroom in Idaho.
In
1987, the Association contracted with the University of Idaho to research and
develop a curriculum guide that would enable teachers to use examples from Idaho
agriculture to teach language, science, social studies, mathematics and
health/nutrition. The guide was tested across the state and approved by the
State Board of Education.
In 1998, the process began to
rewrite the original 4th curriculum. By 1998, nearly 2000 teachers
had participated in summer workshops across the state. The demand for the
curriculum was beyond 4th grade and instructors in public, private
and home schooling were asking for materials Pre K – 12th grade. A
new series of educational materials were developed. A resource guide book for
teachers that provided a wealth of background materials about production of food
and fiber and a series of four activity books, Pre K – 2nd, 3rd
– 6th, 7th-8th, and 9th-12th.
Idaho Ag in the Classroom is a
cooperative effort between the USDA, Idaho State Department of Agriculture,
University of Idaho, agribusiness, commodity groups, farm organizations,
farmers, ranchers, and educators across the state.
AITC Advisory
Committee
For Additional Information
Rick Waitley, State Director
55 SW 5th Avenue, Suite 100
Meridian ID 83642
Ph: 208-888-0988
FX: 208-888-4586
Email - rcwaitley@spro.net
|
