To borrow items from the Lending Library contact Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation at info@iowaagliteracy.org
Resource Name:A Better Tasting & More Digestible Soybean
Grade:High School
Description: Explains techniques in agricultural genetics, uses & bringing new food products to marketplace.
Resource Name:A Crime, A Clue and Biotechnology-Teachers Guide
Grade:Middle School
Description:This guide is exposes students to biotechnology's complex scientific and technological issues as well as arouse students’ interest in pursuing careers in science and technology. It provides students more than 300 agricultural related careers available. Students will learn the six employment areas of agriculture and identify the careers available in each.
Resource Name:A Guide to Food & Fiber Systems Literacy
Grade:Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School
Description:This guide provides a set of standards to give ideas for agricultural literacy, as well as a variety of sample lesons at different grade levels.
Resource Name:A Hog Ate my Homework
Grade:Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description:Willie is bored-again! The second grader is about to find out how he did on his first school report. The problem is he wasn’t very inspired when he wrote it. He hoped no one would notice. But thanks in part to his fifth-grade sister Ashley, it seems like the whole world will! Can a trip to a family farm with Ashley help get him out of this mess? Will an old wagon re-ignite his creativity? Put on your work boots-we’re headed to the country! Willie has some work to do, and it could get very messy!
Resource Name:Adventures with the Mighty Egg
Grade:Lower Elementary
Description:Integrated curriculum to include math, science, language arts and other skills covering health, food, nutrition and more on eggs.
Resource Name:Agriculture and the Environment
Grade:Middle School
Description: The guide offers background information for teachers on the interrelated agricultural and environmental issues concerning pesticide use, food safety laws and regulations, water quality, wetlands, and endangered species. Each chapter has classroom activities to help bring these topics alive.
Resource Name:All About Apples
Grade:Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description:This packet includes numerous activity sheets, experiments, and other educational activities relating to apples, their varieties, development, and other facts about them.
Resource Name:All About the Farmers Market Teaching Guide
Grade:Lower Elementary Upper Elementary
Description:Designed to help youngsters discover how their food gets from the farm to the fork, this guide uses the Farmers' market as a basis to become smart consumers, stewards, cooks and citizens with a cross-curricular approach.
Resource Name:Alternative Fuels - Biodiesel
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:Information and activities to teach students about biodiesel fuel. Subject areas include Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts. Correlations to National Science Standards
Resource Name:Alternative Fuels - Biomass
Grade:Middle School, High School
Description:Hands-on approach to learning designed to supplement and reinforce your students’ preparedness for higher education goals.
Resource Name:Beef Ag Mag Teacher's Guide
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:Along with the Beef Ag Mag, this guide will help students and teachers develop a well-rounded view of beef. Students will learn about nutrition, by-products, and beef production in an exciting and language-based way.
Resource Name:Beef in Brief: How America's Cattle Serve the World
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:Educational information presented in activities of how cattle and cattle ranchers and farmers contribute and provides a clear picture of modern beef production and how it fits into todays world
Resource Name:Biomass
Grade:Middle School High School
Description:This resource guide is jam-packed with lessons and ideas on teaching about alternative fuels. From ethanol to animal waste, these lessons explore the possibilities for future energy sources in an engaging and hands-on way.
Resource Name:Biotechnology School Enrichment
Grade:Middle School
Description:Guide designed to provide students with experiential learning opportunities that promote appropriate life skill development-teaching science and technology concepts.
Resource Name:Bringing Biotechnology to Life DVD
Grade:Middle School. High School
Description:DVD -This 20-minute video for students in grades 7-12 explores biotechnology through the eyes of Julian as he creates a PowerPoint presentation for science class. When a frustrated Julian contacts his on-line friend Cora for help she enlists her uncle Vince, a farmer familiar with biotechnology. During an instant on-line message Uncle Vince refers Julian to scientists with expertise in food science, genomics, plant genetics, and crop molecular biology. Using their leads, Julian assembles video clips about biotechnology for his report. The fast paced video explores an array of biotechnologies being developed for use in medicine, fuel production, nutrition, and feeding a hungry planet. The video provides a comprehensive overview to introduce the topic of biotechnology. Available in DVD.
Resource Name:Bt Curriculum
Grade:Middle School., High School
Description: This curriculum is about how genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have been genetically engineered into crops to provide insect resistance. Each module is designed to be used independently or with the other modules. For educators, each module contains background information, lesson plans geared to the National Science Education Standards and 4-H skills, Internet resources, and overhead transparency masters. Informational handouts and activity handouts that can be photocopied for students are included. .
Resource Name:Bug Watcher Entomology Project Guide
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:Curriculum helps youth discover facts about insects while developing important life skills.
Resource Name:Building a Culture of Conservation - It all Begins with You!
Grade:High School
Description:Enhancement activities for high school or junior college students to accompany the video series "A Culture of Conservation". The Troubled Waters DVD is included in the packet, and other conservation related DVDs are available for checkout, as well.
Resource Name:Caretakers All
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:Designed to teach students the principles of good "care taking" of the environment and how farmers’ and ranchers’ livelihoods depend on a healthy environment. Teachers guide, student activity sheets and games are included. ©1992 (National Cattlemen’s Association;
Resource Name:Choose Well DVD/ CD
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description: DVD/ CD As we move into the high-tech 21st Century, there is a health epidemic on the rise for Americans--an epidemic that cannot be stopped with a vaccination or pill. A practical strategy to stop this epidemic is to help students develop healthy habits by learning the basics of good eating and the importance of physical activity. This kit will help students: 1) identify the five food groups and health benefits of each; 2) learn to read Nutrition Facts labels on food packages; 3) describe "Extra" foods and "Mixed Dishes"; 4) learn the appropriate number of servings from each food group; 5) identify appropriate serving sizes of commonly-eaten foods; 6) gain an understanding of "energy balance"; 7) create tally charts, vertical bar graphs, and stacked bar graphs; 8) read tables for pertinent information; 9) develop personal references for various serving sizes of food.
Resource Name:Clean Water Team
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:Educational comic book focusing on watersheds and agricultures contribution to watershed management. Easily integrated into science and social study.
Resource Name:Connect the Dots CD
Grade:Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description: CD An integrated educational kit designed for students in grades two and three, with portions expandable to grades one and four. As students explore their world, we need to help them realize that the food system contributes significantly to this world. The lessons in this kit will help you meet national education standards in science and social studies while reinforcing skill development in language arts and content understanding in health. The lessons can be taught in any order or can be used individually if time doesn’t permit teaching all three. The students will understand where their food comes from and how successfully America’s farmers and ranchers have provided that sustenance for generations.
Resource Name:Cows, Calcium, and Cheese CD
Grade:Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School
Description: CD An udderly fun-filled school program to teach K-9 students about life on the farm, explore varied careers in agriculture and consider nutrition concepts such as how calcium is linked to health. Two free posters, a CD-ROM and an activity guide are included both chockfull of resources. Assessment tool samples help educators address education standards.
Resource Name:Crazy About Corn
Grade:Lower Elementary
Description:A curriculum guide for lower elementary classrooms, this packet includes a CD, student activity books, and lesson plans all focusing on corn.
Resource Name:Cut the Fat-Keep the Flavor
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:Introduces students to how advances in agricultural genetics are bringing new products that are lower in saturated fat to the marketplace.
Resource Name:Cycling Back to Nature
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description: Explains the ecosystem and takes a closer look at living and nonliving organisms. It explains the basics of agriculture and food production, pesticides and the environment, minimizing exposure to pesticides, and talks about world population and food production.
Resource Name:Dive in! Exploring the Science of Water and Food Production
Grade:Middle School
Description:A water education resource for teachers and volunteer educators. This is a relevant, purposeful tool that will engage students in the science of water and food production. It is aligned to national learning standards for 6-8th grade, but the interest level may be much broader.
Resource Name:Earthworm Empire; The Living Soil
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description:A teacher's aid to linking agriculture to science, history, language arts, and mathematics
Resource Name:Eggs, Science and Technology DVD
Grade:Middle School
Description:DVD Guide provides the latest information about eggs and egg products which is very adaptable to food science and technology. CD and DVD included in information.
Resource Name:Eggspress Yourself CD
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description: (Poster & CDROM- Grades 4-6) CD Designed to promote learning through interdisciplinary problem solving and cooperative student participation. It is aimed at discovering the value of an environmentally sound agriculture and the relationship to our natural resources.
Resource Name:Energy & Agriculture High School Unit
Grade:High School
Description:Discover the power of energy education and the unique connections to agricultural literacy with these free classroom resources. Each unit provides five, comprehensive, standards-based lesson plans and supporting resources.
Resource Name:Energy & Agriculture Middle School Unit
Grade:Middle School
Description:Discover the power of energy education and the unique connections to agricultural literacy with these free classroom resources. Each unit provides five, comprehensive, standards-based lesson plans and supporting resources. on and Transmission Association.
Resource Name:Fields of Genes
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description: Children grades K-12 focus on understanding the living and nonliving parts of their world. . Grade 3 and up continue to explore and understand genetics, biotechnology, and genetic engineering and examine social and scientific issues related to new technologies as well at their personal values and those of others. Finally, older youth also define, describe, and plan environmental stewardship activities related to biotechnology and the environment.
Resource Name:Food and Farm Facts Instructors Guide
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description: Food and Farm Facts, from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, is a great set of resources that help display, frame, and inrigue students about the role of agriculture in the U.S. Included in these resources are a colorful and informative booklet, full-size U.S. map with agricultural products, a trivia card game, and activities guides for 4-6 and 7-12 grades. All materials are based off of the latest agricultural data.
Resource Name:Food Biotechnology
Grade:Middle School
Description:Communications guide to improving understanding about foods produced using biotechnology.
Resource Name:Food, Land, & People; Resources for Learning
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description: Large collection of Agriculture-related lesson plans written in Spanish and English. Meets national standards in a variety of subjects.
Resource Name:From STEM to Plate: Careers in Food Science
Grade:Middle School
Description:Set of four lessons for grades 6-8 that explores careers in food science through labs, challenges, and investigative opportunities.
Resource Name:Getting Into the Food Mood
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description: Text and photographs describe how several different crops, including pumpkins, corn, potatoes, and cranberries are picked and gathered by humans and by machine.
Resource Name:Grains of the World Journal
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School,
Description:This hands-on activity explores grains common in global agricultural production - barley, feed corn, popcorn, oats, rice, soybeans and wheat. Students create their own grain booklets that include important facts, descriptions, and samples of the grains. Students will explore grains that have contributed to the development of civilizations and world trade. Teachers can use the information to expand students' knowledge of grains as they compare and contrast what's used in their breakfast cereal, fueling their cars, and being traded on the world market. This kit contains enough seeds for a classroom of 35 students. A master copy of the grains information cards is also included.
Resource Name:Growing a Nation- Instructional Unit
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description: The presentation of significant historical events focuses on the important role agriculture has played in America’s development. Students will gain an appreciation of our agricultural history and how agricultural events have affected our lives in America today. These accounts include multimedia resources, classroom activities, and statistics that help students analyze historical subjects and project trends for the future.
Resource Name:Growing Food
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description: In this inquiry-based curriculum, you and your students embark on an exciting adventure — learning science through the study of our fascinating food production system. Students learn about cycles in nature, flow of energy, and food systems while engaging in hands-on investigations of photosynthesis, food webs, agriculture, and more. Developed by educators at Teachers College, Columbia University, Growing Food is the first module in the Linking Food and the Environment (Life) curriculum series. Includes teacher lesson plans, background information, teaching tips, and tools for assessment; student activity sheets and readings; and a matrix mapping the book to National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks for Science Literacy.
Resource Name:Growing in the Garden
Grade:Lower Elementary Upper Elementary
Description:A tool that helps grow curiosity about agriculture, natural resources, food, and people, this guide includes thematic units following a variety of different topics. Your students will learn about plants, animals, food and even outdoor classrooms.
Resource Name:Incredible Classroom Eggsperience Teacher's Guide
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:This is a cross-curricular program, including family and consumer sciences, language arts, math, social studies, business and other skill areas on the subjects of health, food and nutrition.
Resource Name:Innovations in Agriculture
Grade:Middle School
Description:This flexible and exciting teacher resource guide allows integration of agriculture into the everyday classroom through categories like math, science, and language arts. Covering agricultural topics from agribusiness to economics and careers, this guide will help introduce agriculture into the classroom in an easy and convenient way.
Resource Name:Iowa's Food Production Web VHS
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:VHS and teaching activities follow food from farm to the dinner table. Learn about natural resources, people, plants, livestock, harvesting and so much more.
Resource Name:It's All About the Food
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School
Description:It's All About Food is a resource designed by Nutrients for Life to be used for grades 5-8. Included in the guide are numerous experiments and lesson plans that frame the ideas of food production and the nutrients needed to produce those foods. The packet also contains other materials from Nutrients for Life, including magazines, posters, flash cards, magnets with key vocabulary, and a CD with additional resources.
Resource Name:Journey of Milk
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:Grades 4-6 educator guide for the video "The Journey of Milk" (included). This lesson could fit standards for science, health, and communications.
Resource Name:Kids, Crops, and Critters in the Classroom
Grade:Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description: Designed to provide teachers with ideas and materials to facilitate the integration of agricultural concepts into classroom activities. Provides many hands-on activities to encourage learning. The guide is organized into six categories: Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Fine Arts, and Health/nutrition/safety.
Resource Name:Listening to the Prairie-Farming in Nature's Image
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description:These activities serve as educational supplements to engage students and families about daily issues of agriculture and the food and fiber industry. Learn to explore natural resources in agriculture.
Resource Name:Livestock Safety for Kids
Grade:Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary
Description:In this appealing and heartwarming story that’s reminiscent of James Herriot’s books, Eli comes to terms with some of the realities of life on his family’s farm, and in the outside world, as he raises his first bull calf for competition. Told in a straightforward and appealing text, brimming with lush details about the natural world of the farm, and with characters that are sure to appeal to readers, Eli’s story is one that may not be familiar to every kid, but the themes of growing up and learning some difficult lessons will appeal to kids and adults alike.
Resource Name:Mud, Muck and Other Wonderful Things
Grade:Lower Elementary,
Description: Develops a sense of stewardship of the land and address basic ecology and critical thinking skill development. There are many outdoor and indoor activities for you to use.
Resource Name:National Agricultural Aviation Association
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:Introduce the importance of the industry of agricultural aviation and the concern it has for the safe application of approved products and the environment.
Resource Name:Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:Standards-based curriculum program. Provides hands-on classroom applications to help tomorrow's generation realize the challenge of feeding our growing population can be solved with science. Each lesson addresses key objectives from the National Science Education Standards. Different guides are available for different grade bands. Please specify upon request.
Resource Name:Our Mississippi
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School
Description:Educational Activities about the upper Mississippi River based on national education standards. A teacher guide with a mix of classroom, self directed and collaborative lessons and activities.
Resource Name:Producers, Pigs and Pork
Grade:Upper Elementary,
Description:Teacher Resource: Illinois Pork Producers and the National Pork Board joined forces to develop Producers, Pigs & Pork, a national standards-based curriculum developed for 3rd through 6th grade students. Producers, Pigs & Pork is a set of five lessons and teaching tools that addresses our food supply system and highlights pork production. Students are introduced to several topics through five easy-to-implement lesson plans on our food supply chain, agriculture and pork. Each lesson includes a variety of activities that enhance skills like listing, sequencing, following directions, summarizing, illustrating and writing.
Resource Name:Science In Your Shopping Cart DVD
Grade:Middle School, High School
Description:DVD- We pay less for food than citizens of other nations; the United States enjoys the cheapest food in the world. Each year, dozens of improved products and new varieties of fruits, nuts, and vegetables emerge from the laboratories and greenhouses of the Agricultural Research Service. Learn about ARS research affecting your food in this DVD and accompanying Science in Your Shopping Cart booklet. DVD is approximately 14 minutes long.(Book- Grades 6-12)
Resource Name:Serve it Up! Food Safety Curriculum
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description:Through the introduction of this curriculum on food safety, children will begin to form habits that will be lifelong and reduce their risk of illness due to food. Teaching students how they are exposed to diseases and what they can do to prevent some illnesses is warranted and could reduce the number of illnesses they may contract.
Resource Name:Smart Mouth Game
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:A word game that is adaptable to many different ages. Slide the dispenser ahead and two letters appear. Now think of a word that begins with the first letter and ends with the last. Smart Mouth is a simple, but challenging game for one or for a room full of players.
Resource Name:Soy Sleuth
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:Consists of lesson plans, worksheets and experiments that incorporate soybeans into Health, Science and Social Studies. Included CD-ROM provides a backup of all lesson plans and activities.
Resource Name:Soybean Science Kit
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:The Soybean Science Kit is an engaging, interesting hands-on approach that teaches 4th to 9th graders the physical properties of polymers and oil, while instilling an appreciation for the use of biological, renewable resources in industrial manufacturing.
Resource Name:Stop the Invasion
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:Invasive species are a growing concern, costing California more than $3 billion annually in damages to fruits, nuts, vegetables and more. With the Stop the Invasion Fact Sheet Set, students will read about six different invasive species, the damage they cause and how to stop their spread. The accompanying lessons and activities are aligned to California Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. This resource was funded through a Specialty Crop Block grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
Resource Name:T.C. Cob and the Cornstalk Riddles
Grade:Middle School
Description:T.C. Cob needs your help working through a very special book found in the attic. It is full of mysteries and riddles. Join T.C> and his friends to help solve the riddles.
Resource Name:Teach Me about Soybeans
Grade:Lower Elementary
Description:Complete language arts lesson for use with book "Why the Brown Egg was Blue. Suggested lessons and activities .
Resource Name:Terra Nova Test Prep
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:10 minutes a day the Ag in the Classroom way. Leaning about apples, beef, corn, cotton, dairy, pizza, pork, poultry, pumpkins, sheep, soybeans and wheat.
Resource Name:Terrific Topics; Farm
Grade:Lower Elementary
Description:Activity book full of creative activities that link the study of farm animals to all areas of curriculum. Learning through Language Arts, Math, Science, Music and Movement.
Resource Name:The Munchsters Talk About Food
Grade:Lower Elementary
Description: Through the use of hungry critters called the Munchsters, this kit offers lessons for developing the language skills of young children as well as introducing them to new foods and importance of developing good eating habits.
Resource Name:The NEED Project
Grade:All Grade Levels
Description:(Teacher’s Guide - Grades K-12) The National Energy Education Development (NEED) Program includes innovative educational materials, teacher and student training programs, evaluation, and recognition. This program provides a comprehensive and objective information about energy production and consumption and the major energy sources - how they are used and their impact on the environment, economy and society. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills using hands-on activities that encourage students to consider the trade-offs inherent in energy use.
Resource Name:Things We Can Learn From a Cow & a Worm
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:A poster and accompanying activities designed to encourage students to emulate nature's models for conserving the earth's resources.
Resource Name:Transportation Fuels - Ethanol
Grade:Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School
Description:To teach students about ethanol and encourage them to evaluate tits economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages as a transportation fuel.
Resource Name:Tug of War with Grain
Grade:Middle School High School
Description:Allows students to explore science and math applications while learning about farm safety issues and grain entrapment- integrated learning with practical applications of science and math.
Resource Name:Turkey Time; Turkeys and Turkey Farmers
Grade:Lower Elementary
Description:Ready to reproduce newspaper , activities and lively learning about turkeys and turkey farms. Step by step teaching suggestions, resources and glossary.
Resource Name:Using STEM to Investigate Issues in Food Production
Grade:Upper Elementary Middle School High School
Description:The STEMs of Learning: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is an initiative designed to get students interested in these career fields. By using science inquiry and integrated activities, students will solve real-world problems and be encouraged to explore careers in the alternative energy fields. Meets NSE, NCTM, and ITEA standards, and is correlated to state, national, and Canadian provincial standards.
Resource Name:Where We Live
Grade:Upper Elementary
Description:Full of fun, hands-on activities, this guide will help teach about agriculture, natural resources, food systems and health where we live! Using benchmarks in the core areas, this guide is sure to help students understand the connection between themselves and where they live.
Resource Name:Why the Brown Bean Was Blue
Grade:Lower Elementary
Description:Why the Brown Bean was Blue: The story of a soybean frown turned upside down is a nonfiction picture book that details the all the ways in which a soybean can be used. It can be used in food, paint, oil, animal feed and many other things. It also describes how the bean is harvested so that it can be used in so many products.