A Bushel of Stories
Inspiring Young Authors...Writing About Agriculture!
2023-2024 Theme: Innovation in Agriculture
Begin planning your agriculture story today!
Iowa students in grades 3-8 are welcome to participate in this competition.
Thank you for your interest in A Bushel of Stories! If you are interested in submitting, please review the updated programming.
A Bushel of Stories submissions will not be juried; however, stories may still be submitted. Educators that submit qualifying stories that fit this year's theme, Innovation in Agriculture, will be eligible to be entered into a drawing to receive an agricultural themed gift that can be used in the classroom. Stories must be submitted by March 22 to be entered. The drawing will take place no later than April 15.
Rules Rubric Submit Entries Previous Year's Books
Student Resources
- Innovation in Agriculture Writing Ideas
- State Historical Museum of Iowa Digital Education Catalog
- Nonfiction Writing Organizer
- Nonfiction Writing Checklist
- Fiction Writing Checklist
- Video interview with an author (Katie Olthoff)
- Video interview with an author (Jacqueline Briggs Martin)
Teacher Resources
Teachers can use these lessons to help teach the writing process and prepare students to enter the contest. Each lesson includes instructions for in-person learning as well as a virtual adaptation.
Grades 3-5
- Lesson 1 - Book Basics: Students will learn features of books including authors, illustrators, fiction vs nonfiction, writing perspectives, the purpose of a story, and will analyze these features in agricultural books.
- Lesson 2 - Publication Production: Students will learn about how books are written and produced, from the author’s idea to the library.
- Lesson 3 - Real Writing: Students will learn writing skills and practice them by creating their own fiction or non-fiction story about agriculture or food production.
Grades 6-8
- Lesson 1 - Book Basics: Students will learn features of books including authors, illustrators, fiction vs nonfiction, writing perspectives, the purpose of a story, and will analyze these features in agricultural books.
- Lesson 2 - Publication Production: Students will learn about how books are written and produced, from the author’s idea to the library.
- Lesson 3 - Real Writing: Students will learn writing skills and practice them by creating their own fiction or non-fiction story about agriculture or food production.
A Bushel of Stories has been made possible with cooperation between the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization.
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