Two-day professional development workshops for teachers will be offered throughout the summer and around the state by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation and partner organizations.

The workshops will help teachers apply Iowa Core standards including science and language arts in the context of agriculture. The workshops will also use agriculture to teach other core concepts and skills like social studies and math. The workshops will be hands on and interactive with one day of site visits and tours and one day of practical classroom application. Many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts will be integrated throughout.

“The tours were great. They really exposed me to strategies I can use in my classroom that I can use with my students," said Kathy Kleen, a workshop participant in 2016.

The dates of the workshops are June 5-6 in Clarinda, IA; June 8-9 in Oskaloosa, IA; June 12-13 in Moville, IA; June 29-30 in Donnellson, IA; July 11-12 in La Porte City, IA; August 1-2 in Spencer, IA; August 7-8 in Peosta, IA; and August 7-8 in Sioux City, IA. The workshops will include lesson demonstration, hands on implementation of concepts, tours of farms and agribusinesses, and technical skills in agriculture. The workshops will be available for teacher recertification credit and graduate level credit.

“The format was great. Tours, hands on and received information. Nice mix,” said 2016 workshop teacher participant Doug James. Molly Crom said, “I really enjoyed the tours...I am a true hands-on, visual learner!"

Workshops are made possible by supporters of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation including the Iowa Energy Center, the REAP Conservation Education Program, and Hy-Vee with additional support from Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, DuPont Pioneer, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. To find out more about workshops in your area visit www.IowaAgLiteracy.org, email info@iowaagliteracy.org or call 515-331-4182.

 

Date: June 5-6, 2017

Location: IWCC Campus, Clarinda , IA

Title: Discovering the Science of Agriculture

Description: This fast-paced professional development will give teachers, extension personnel, and others who educate youth the skills they need to implement many of the new Iowa Core science standards. Participants will leave the workshop with instructional strategies, lessons, and activities that can be immediately implemented into their classroom with little or no additional effort. During one day of the course participants will see conservation and science applied as they tour a beef feedlot, an ethanol plant, and learn about the new Iowa Core Science Standards. Producers, scientists and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and management practices to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. The second day of the course will focus on implementing lessons learned and making them relevant to student learners.

Register to attend: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22040299991801INV&True*  

 

Date: June 8-9, 2017

Location: Oskaloosa, Iowa and Eddyville, Iowa

Title: The Science of Agriculture!

Description:    Using agriculture as the context to teach Next Generation Science Standards, course participants will integrate agriculture into science, social studies, language arts and math to make learning real and relevant for students. Student engagement and impact will be high with hands-on learning. During one day of the course participants will see conservation and science applied as they tour a row crop farm, an alpaca farm, a brewery, and learn about the new Iowa Core Science Standards. Producers, scientists and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and management practices to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. The second day of the course will focus on implementing lessons learned and making them relevant to student learners.

Register to attend:   https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22040499991801INV&True*  

 

Date: June 12-13, 2017

Location: Moville Community Center, Moville, Iowa

Title: Beyond the Book: Exploring the Farm to You Journey with Digital Resources

Description:   This professional development workshop will connect educators with the tools they need to use agriculture themes and digital resources to enhance learning and make real-world connections to Iowa Core standards. Using agriculture as the context, participants will create lessons that use digital resources to make learning engaging and relevant. Participants will leave the two-day workshop with instructional strategies, lessons, and activities that can be immediately implemented into their classroom. During the first day, participants will experience the “farm to you” journey first-hand as they tour a corn and soybean farm, ethanol plant, and grain processing mill. Producers, scientists and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and technology to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. The second day will focus on techniques, resources and ideas for using agriculture to teach across the curriculum. Participants will work with AEA staff, a Sioux City Schools Teacher Librarian and others as they explore digital resources and develop lesson ideas relevant to their classroom.

Register to attend:   https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22040999991801INV&True*  

 

Date: June 29-30, 2017

Location: Donnellson Community Center, Donnellson, Iowa

Title: Applying STEM through Agriculture

Description: This fast-paced workshop will give those who educate youth the skills they need to implement STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering and math). Course participants will integrate agriculture into science, social studies, language arts and math to make learning real and relevant for students. During one day of the course participants will see STEM applied as they tour multiple farms and a wind turbine plant. Producers, scientists and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and management practices to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. The second day of the course will focus on implementing lessons learned and making them relevant to student learners.

Register to attend: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22040899991801INV&True*

 

Date: July 11-12, 2017

Location: FFA Museum, La Porte City, Iowa

Title: Higher Yields: The Science and Social Studies of Agriculture

Description: This professional development will give teachers, extension personnel, and others who educate youth the skills they need to implement many of the new Iowa Core science standards. Participants will leave the workshop with instructional strategies, lessons, and activities that can be immediately implemented into their classroom with little or no additional effort. During one day of the course participants will see conservation and science applied as they tour a wetlands area, an ethanol plant, a farm research station, and an orchard. Producers, scientists and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and management

practices to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. The second day of the course will focus on implementing lessons learned, connecting learning to social studies, and making them relevant to student learners.

Register to attend:   https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22040199991801INV&True*

Date: August 1-2, 2017

Location: Clay County Fairgrounds, Spencer, Iowa

Title: STEM in Context: Agriculture, Conservation and Energy

Description: This fast-paced workshop will give educators the skills they need to implement many of the new Iowa Core science standards. Using agriculture as the context to teach STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering and math), course participants will integrate agriculture into lessons to make learning real and relevant for students. During the educational tours, course participants will see STEM applied as they visit beef cattle farm, agricultural equipment dealership, and agronomy research station. Producers, scientists and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and management practices to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. Participants will get the rare-opportunity to see how a wind turbine works ask questions as technician's give them a virtual tour of the inside and top of a wind turbine. The second day of the course will focus on implementing lessons learned and making them relevant to student learners.

Register to attend: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22040699991801INV&True*

 
Date: August 7-8, 2017

Location: Dubuque County Farm Bureau, Peosta, Iowa

Title: Agriculture is STEM

Description: Using agriculture as the context to teach STEM concepts (science, technology,

engineering and math), course participants will integrate agriculture into science, social studies, language arts and math to make learning real and relevant for students. Participants will leave the workshop with instructional strategies, lessons, and activities that can be immediately implemented into their classroom with little or no additional effort. During one day of the course participants will see STEM applied as they tour an agriculture machinery factory, tour a dairy farm, tour Farm Tek, tour a grocery store, seeing the vast array of careers in agriculture available to students. Producers, scientists and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and management practices to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. The second day of the course will focus on implementing lessons learned and making them relevant to student learners.

Register to attend:   https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22040399991801INV&True*  

 

Date: August 7-8, 2017

Location: Spalding Park Elementary, Sioux City, Iowa

Title: Build a Strong Science Classroom with Agriculture

Description: This professional development will give educators the tools they need to implement many of the new Iowa Core science standards. Using agriculture as the context to teach science, participants will integrate agriculture into lessons to make learning real and relevant for students. Student engagement and impact will be high. During one day of the course participants will see new technologies applied as they tour an equipment dealership, dairy, and a beef, corn & soybean farm. Farmers, a technology specialist and other experts will showcase how agriculture uses science and management practices to ensure environmental and economic sustainability. The second day of the course will focus on implementing lessons learned and making them relevant to student learners. Most of the lessons and activities are aligned to K-5 Iowa Core standards, but the course is open to all educators.  

Register to attend: https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4DCGI/22041099991801INV&True*

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About the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
IALF serves as a central resource for educators and volunteers who want to teach Iowa’s students about agriculture. The mission is to educate Iowans, with a focus on youth, regarding the breadth and global significance of agriculture. Iowa is a leading producer of agricultural products that are essential to feed a growing world population, estimated to reach more than 9 billion by 2050. IALF believes it is important for all Iowans to understand the essential role agriculture has in their lives. IALF will support existing agriculture education efforts such as FFA, 4-H and Ag in the Classroom. IALF was created through a joint effort of agricultural stakeholders, including the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Silos and Smokestacks Foundation, DuPont Pioneer, GROWMARK, and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. For more information visit IALF online at IowaAgLiteracy.org, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Source:
Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation

Contact:
Will Fett, Executive Director
Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
WFett@IowaAgLiteracy.org
515-331-4182