Professional Development
Planter to Pizza Pan: Exploring Farm-to-Table
This online course explores farm-to-table concepts. Through videos, readings, and discussion forums educators will learn about the production of pork, dairy, and vegetable products. They will explore agriculture concepts to gain awareness of food production through engaging with activities centered pizza. The course aims to provide educators with tools to link science, social studies, health, and math to Iowa Core standards. Educators will engage in activities to gather resources to help their students think critically as they explore where their food comes from.
This professional development course will also introduce educators to agriculture and cross-curricular lessons that are aligned to K-5 Iowa Core Standards. Using agriculture as the context for learning, participants will create a unit outline that is relevant to the grade and subjects they teach. Participants will leave the course with instructional strategies, lessons, and activities that can be immediately implemented into their classroom.
This is a one-credit course that requires a minimum of 15 hours online, plus an additional 30 hours of reading, research/discovery, and curriculum development. The course will run from March 7 to April 11. Registration for this course can be found HERE.
Other Professional Development Opportunities
Nourishing Our Soil and Water Through Sustainable Agriculture Workshop
Environmental Issues Instruction and Upper Iowa University will offer Nourishing Our Soil and Water Through Sustainable Agriculture at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Marshalltown, Iowa, Friday, April 14 (5:00-8:30), Saturday April 15 (8:30-6:30), and Sunday, April 16, 2023 (8:30-2:00). The update session will be a virtual Zoom session on June 6, 2023 (9:00am-12:00pm). This interdisciplinary hands-on workshop spans all levels and content areas, PreK-14.
Registration fee is $275 and includes food, lodging, teaching materials, 2 graduate credits and sub-grants for classroom projects. Learn more about the workshop on the Upper Iowa University EII webpage or by contacting Dr. Barbara Ehlers at ehlersb@uiu.edu for more information. The professional development is open to all educators PreK-14.