AgMag Winter 2016-2017 Lesson and Activity Ideas
AgMag Lesson & Activity Ideas
Lesson Ideas
Journey 2050 Lesson 4: Economy
Students will explain why economics are important to sustainability, describe the relationship between a sustainable economy and the environment, develop a model demonstrating how agricultural production creates a ripple effect that impacts local and global economies and social stability, and discuss how investments build an economy.
Students will explore the connection between geography, climate, and the type of agriculture in an area by reading background information and census data about the agricultural commodities beef, potatoes, apples, wheat, corn, and milk.
Where Does Your Food Come From?: An Augmented Reality Lesson
Using an interest-based approach, students will create an augmented reality video using a smart phone application (app) to educate consumers about where their food comes from.
In this lesson, students will create, read, and interpret graphs relating to the economic importance of the dairy industry and be challenged to understand the economic consequences of a day without dairy.
Cowabunga: All about Dairy Breeds
In this lesson, students will understand breed characteristics and countries of origin for five different breeds of dairy cattle. Students will discover why dairy farmers choose individual breeds for specific purposes.
Students will taste test four different milks while comparing color, texture, taste and cost. In addition, students will read the four milk food labels and complete a table comparing calories, fat and calcium found in the milks. The class will make cottage cheese by heating milk to the proper temperature and adding an acid (vinegar) to speed up the separation of curds and whey.
Students explore global trade by assuming the role of an exporter and importer. True-to-life scenarios are given to students to research.
Activity Ideas
- Identify students' favorite foods and research how each food or ingredient moves through the steps of the agricultural system (production, processing, distributing, marketing, consuming and disposing.)
- Investigate how the agricultural changes listed on page 7 such as new technology, hybrid seeds, commercial fertilizers and crop protection chemicals have impacted corn and soybean production in Minnesota. The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (link: http://www.mncorn.org/) and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (https://mnsoybean.org/ ) might be helpful in this investigation.
- Use Minnesota's Global Trading Partners (link: http://minnesota.agclassroom.org/educator/materials_global.cfm) information from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to learn more about the importance of exporting and importing and identify the agricultural goods that Minnesota exports to countries around the world as well as the products that we eat and use that are imported from other countries.
Additional MAITC Resources
- Minnesota School Garden
- Food For Thought
- Commodity Cards
- Ag Products Posters
- History of Minnesota Ag
- Where Does Your Pizza Come From