Educational Tools
Kremp Florist - Crops, Plants, and More: Learn About Farming!
Click here for a fun overview of agriculture with information on agricultural history, farming around the world and careers in agriculture.
Case IH Coloring Pages
General:
Holidays:
AFBF My American Farm
Educational agricultural related games can be found here.
AFBF Educational Activities About Fruits and Vegetables
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture continues to provide resources for parents to help kids keep learning while they’re home from school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out a blog post about how fruits and veggies are a big part of a nutritious diet here. You can also sign up for weekly updates online.
Nutrients For Life Foundation E-Learning
Apple as the World E-Lesson
Can a single slice of apple feed the world? T he Nutrients for Life Team address the challenges of feeding a growing population. We will discuss the various ways people use land and make predictions about what percentage of Earth's land is needed to grow our food.
CLICK HERE to watch the video now.
CLICK HERE to download apple lesson.
Past E-Lessons
CLICK HERE to check out the new E-Lessons Page.
CLICK HERE to watch as Nutrients for Life Foundation Kansas Regional Representative Melissa Bigge and her son teach you about the layers of the soil.
CLICK HERE to watch Nutrients for Life Foundation Illinois Regional Representative Haley Siergiej and her children explore the difference between living and non-living things.
CLICK HERE to watch Florida Regional Representative Tracy Baxter introduce the H2Know interactive case study. Students will explore the science of water quality challenges in Lake Erie, and learn about agriculture's use of fertilizer with the 4R strategies to ensure safe environmental practices.
CLICK HERE to take a look of the science behind keeping baseball fields game ready. Nutrients for Life Executive Director Harriet Wegmeyer shares a virtual field trip to the Texas A & M baseball field and explains why crop nutrients are critical to not only the health of the fields, but our players too.
CLICK HERE to take a look as our Iowa Representative, Debra Kearney, does an activity from our Properties of the Soil Lesson 2 in our Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century curriculum.
Chef George Hirsch promotes Long Island food on TV series
Last season Long Island growers worked with chef George Hirsch to film his anniversary series. Each episode he blends his recipes to take advantage of the diversity of the region. The episodes have been picked up nationally on the CREATE Network. CLICK HERE for the airing schedule.
All Kids Network Farm and Animal Crafts
Educational activities for parents and teachers to do with kids -- craft ideas, worksheets, printable activities and more.
Kids farm and farm animal crafts. Lots of crafts involving farm animals including a farmer, cow, horse, pig, rooster, chicks, a barn, tractor and many more!
American Egg Board Eggucational Resources
Looking for E-Materials? Eggs in the Classroom has just what you need. We've got you covered with ready-to-use lesson plans, videos and activity sheets. There's engaging, eggucational curriculum for every grade level from K-12.
Virtual Egg Farm field trips
Join America's egg farmers in exploring their farms! Eggsplore Here
6-12th Grade Cook and Learn Videos
Learn basic and advanced egg cooking techniques along with info about the incredible nutritional benefits of eggs. Watch Here
K-12 Eggucational Lesson Plans and Activity Sheets
Reading/ Writing, Math, Science, and Nutrition. Learn More
Eggs 101 Videos
Short videos tell the story of how eggs get from the farm to our tables. Watch Videos
Other American Egg Board Lesson Resources
Pre K Click Here
Kindergarten Click Here
Grade 1 Click Here
Grade 2 Click Here
Grade 3 Click Here
Grade 4 Click Here
Grade 5 Click Here
Grade 6 Click Here
Grade 7 Click Here
Grade 8 Click Here
Grades 9-12 Click Here
New York Farm Bureau Foundation "Meet Your Farmer" Series
"Meet Your Farmer" CY Farms of Elba, NY
"Meet Your Farmer" Orbaker's Fruit Farm of Williamson, NY
"Meet Your Farmer" McCormick Farms Inc. of Bliss, NY
"Meet Your Farmer" the Yarn Shop at Foster Sheep Farm of Schuylerville, NY
"Meet Your Farmer" Mapleland Farms of Salem, NY
"Meet Your Farmer" Coon Brothers Farm of Amenia, NY
"Meet Your Farmer" Dygert Farms of Palatine Bridge, NY
American Dairy Association North East Videos
Dairy Farms Playlist
Virtual Farm Tours Playlist
Fun on the Farm Playlist
Fun and Educational At Home Activities
Week 1
Kids are at home and need fun activities that are also educational. We're making it easy for parents to keep your kids learning during this difficult time. We'll have more fun resources to share next week!
Grades K–12 English (listening and comprehension) and Science (how things grow)
Watch this video of author Lisl Detlefsen reading hear book, "Right This Very Minute"!. After reading the book, ask kids which farm was their favorite and why.
Grades K-2 English/ Literacy/ Comprehension
"A Visit to the Strawberry Patch" lesson, a line-by-line story activity, from the Right This Very Minute Educator's Guide
Grades K-2 Science
Do the "From Start to Finish" Product Matching activity, another lesson from the Right This Very Minute Educators Guide. After you finish the worksheet, take a tour of your kitchen. Where do the foods in your home come from?
Grades 3-5 Geography and Science
Play the My American Farm game: Ag Across America. After playing the game have your kids research what grows in your state! What is in season right now?
Grades 4-6 English/ Reading/ Writing
Read this sustainability blog post. After your kids read the blog, have them think of a way they can reduce food waste in your own home! Have them write a paragraph describing their idea.
Grades K-12 Science
Watch the "How do Cranberries Grow?" video. Before watching the video ask "How do you think cranberries grow?" Then watch the video to see if they were right!
Week 2
We're back with more at home learning activities!
Grades 6-8 English Reading and Writing
Have your kids read this blog on oranges. Then, have your kids write a few paragraphs summarizing what they learned about oranges.
K-12 Science
Watch the video "How Does It Grow? Oranges". Before you watch the video, ask kids, "How do you think oranges grow?" "How do you think they are harvested?" Compare answers after you watch the video.
Grades 4-6 Reading, Writing and Science
Read the Feeding Minds Press' printable book, "Berry Good Project". Rather watch a video of someone else reading? Check out this video of Ronda Hamm, Global Academic Relations Manager for Corteva Agriscience. Have your kids answer the following questions:
What is integrated pest management? Why is it useful?
What is one GOOD bug when it comes to growing strawberries?
K-2 and Grades 3-5 Math
Play the My American Farm game, Farmers Market Challenge. This game has a K-2 level and grade 3-5 level. Then, do the 3 accompanying Math Quest Problem Sets!
Grades 6-12 Science
Do this 1 hour Purple Plow Puzzler, Stop the Rot. Students will create a prototype that can delay and speed up the ripening process of fruit.
Week 3
This week's at home educational activities are all about pollinators!
K-2 Science & English Language Arts
Play My American Farm's game,The Buzz! In this game, players will travel to "Pollinatorville" and discover the important role bees and butterflies play in food production. Also, hone K-2 English Language Arts skills with the accompanying Sweet Pollination activity sheet. Act out pollination with these fun puppets and practice rhyming with bee poetry in these lessons from The Beeman Educator's Guide!
Grades 6-8 English Language Arts
Learn about honeybees and beekeeping in this blog series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Before you read: Write a few sentences about what you know about honeybees. Then, read the blog series. Compare what you learned to what you already knew. Write down the new knowledge then share with someone!
Grades 5-12 Science
Are you up to the challenge? In this Purple Plow Puzzler, build a honeycomb hive that can hold 5 pounds!
Grades 5-12 English Language Arts
Exercise your creativity with this poetry challenge from Purple Plow! Don't forget to share!
Any age! Science
"Meet" a real beekeeper in this video from America's Heartland.
Week 4
This week we are exploring activities that cover nutrition and cooking-yum!
Pre-K- K Health
In “Load the Lunchbox” from My American Farm, help Farmer Luis harvest nutritious food to fill the lunchboxes of the kids in Healthy Hollow! In the “Food from the Farm” activity, young learners identify the different food groups using MyPlate.
Pre-K K Math, Nutrition, Music, Physical Activity
Read “Using MyPlate” if you have a copy! We are now offering the whole educator guide for free! Why not try out one of the lessons like “Matching Foods”?
K-2 Nutrition
Read “How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?” or watch a read aloud version on YouTube! After reading, have your kids guess what food groups their favorite foods are part of. Further learning about healthy choices and balanced meals, with this free lesson from the “How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?” educator guide!
K-2 Math & Science
Do this activity from California Agriculture in the Classroom. Your young learners will learn about how fruits grow and their nutritional value!
Grades 3-5 Health & English Language Arts
Play the My American Farm game “Let’s Make Something Tasty,” using clues in recipes to figure out missing ingredients. Then, read the accompanying e-comic that explores food safety. Have your learners write a few sentences describing what they’ve learned.
Grades 5-12 Science
Do the “Bee-In In the Kitchen” Purple Plow Puzzler and bake your own sweet treat using honey. For more sweet science, do one of these simple science experiments on cookie ingredients!
All Ages
Check out these tips and tricks for healthy eating at home, and keeping active, from Fuel Up to Play 60!
Week 5
Let's build it up! This week's activities are all about building and innovation.
Grades K-2 English Language Arts
If you have a copy, read "John Deere, That's Who!" If not, there are many read aloud versions you can find on YouTube. This free lesson from the "John Deere, That's Who!" educator guide allows young learners to use their imagination to create a new tool or invention, while also sharpening writing skills. For more fun, check out one of these videos from John Deere that show how machines help farmers, and other workers, get their job done right! We like this one about harvesting.
Grades 3-5 English Language Arts, Science and Technology
Watch this video to learn how technology allows farmers to produce more food! Ask your kids what they were surprised to learn and have them write a couple sentences.Play My American Farm's "Equipment Engineer"! This game allows players to test their knowledge on heavy machinery that is used in agriculture around the world AND sharpen vocabulary and problem-solving skills. Then, do the accompanying "Hands, Horses and High Tech Machines!" activity. In this activity, learners discover the importance of equipment and machines in helping farmers increase productivity.
Grades 3-12 English Language Arts, Science and Engineering
The "Mason Bee Hotel Puzzler" from Purple Plow is a fun activity for students of all ages! Mason bees don't live in a hive like other bees, but instead pick crevices in trees or rocks. In this activity, kids are challenged to make their own mason bee hotel. For further learning on mason bees, check out this video all about solitary bees.Then, learners can write a few sentences or paragraphs, depending on age, about what they've learned.
Grades 3-5 English Language Arts and Math
In this lesson from National Ag in the Classroom, kids will learn about different types of barns and their functions. They will also use problem-solving skills to build their own barn! Have legos laying around? Have your kids build the best and coolest barn they can and show off their work by tagging us on Facebook or Twitter.
Bonus:
As an add on lesson, print this image and have your kids match the innovation to the agricultural product it helps.
Week 6
This is our 6th week of at home activities and it is time to get growing! Let's dig in.
K-2 Science
For this week's K-2 activities, we turned to our friends at the Nutrients for Life Foundation. They have a plethora of free activities, but 2 of our favorites are the "Be a Soil Detective" and "Root Review". You can check out all of the lessons here.
Grades 1-3 English Language Arts and Science
If you have a copy, read Seed Soil Sun or find a read aloud version on YouTube. Make sure to point out all of the pictures and discuss them. Then, do this free "Have You Seen My Seeds?" activity from the Seed Soil Sun Educator Guide! In this lesson, kids learn about different seeds and what plants they grow into. To add in some math practice, have your kids practice counting, adding and subtracting the seeds.
Grades 3-5 English Language Arts and Science
Play My American Farm's "That's Life!" game. In this game, players explore life cycles of things like soybeans and cotton. Then, do this " Garden in a Glove" activity to see seeds grow into plants! You can use a Ziploc bag instead of a glove for the same results. To sharpen their reading skills, have your 3rd-5th graders read the accompanying e-comic "The Great Crop Countdown." Another option is to read it together.
Grades 5-12 English Language Arts and Science
Read this article from NASA about the greenhouse effect for background info. Have learners summarize what they learned in a few sentences. Then, do this one hour Purple Plow Puzzler to create your own mini greenhouse.
Week 7
We all know that plants like fruits and veggies are a big part of nutritious diet, but did you know we eat stems, leaves and roots of plants, too? Let's learn more!
Grades K-2 Science and English Language Arts
If you have a copy of "Eating the Alphabet", read it with your kids. If you don't have a copy, there are many read aloud versions available on YouTube! Then, do this lesson from Utah Agriculture in the Classroom, "Edible Plant Parts," that complements the book.
Grades 3-5 Math and Science
Peanuts are actually legumes, not nuts, and the part we eat is the edible seed! Play the My American Farm game "Operation Peanut Butter" to follow peanuts from field to peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This game also helps learners practice fractions. Then, learn about the nitrogen cycle with this lesson plan and activity sheet.
K-12 Science and English Language Arts
Watch this video on how potatoes grow. Have your kids write a few sentences (or paragraphs for older kids) on what they were surprised to learn about potatoes. What part of the plant is the potato?
Grades 5-12 Science and English Language Arts
Have your kids do the "Seasonal Produce Display" Purple Plow Puzzler. In this puzzler, your learner will create a display to inform consumers on seasonal produce. While it might not be able to be used in a grocery store or farmers market right now, it is still a great way for your young learner to learn about seasonal produce!
Bonus:
This poster is for sale in the FB Store, but we wanted to share this photo to help learning go further!
Week 8 - 2020 National Ag Week ... or Any Time Calendar of Ag-tivities
National Ag Week is March 23-27, 2020. Please join the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture in celebrating this week long event. Every day of National Ag Week we encourage you to do an activity and post on social media from the comfort of your home!
Monday, March 23:
Pre-K–2nd
• Read How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? or watch it being read online, then do an activity from the Educator’s Guide.
• Play Load the Lunchbox.
3rd–5th
• Print out and read The Vibrant Variety.
• Play Thrive.
6th–12th
Complete the Water Ways Puzzler.
Social Media Post
The average American farmer feeds approximately 166 people worldwide! Their food brings everyone to the table. #AgDay20 (download image)
Tuesday, March 24:
Pre-K–2nd
• Print out and play the Farm to Cart board game.
• Play Fact or Fairytale.
3rd–5th
• Read the Interactive Beef Ag Mag.
• Play Ag Across America.
6th–12th
Complete Lesson One from the Sustainable Agriculture Lessons.
Social Media Post
Use National Ag Day to share your “why.” Post a picture of your farm or family! I am a farmer because ___________. #AgDay2020 I celebrate agriculture because _________. #AgDay2020
Wednesday, March 25
Pre-K–2nd
• Bake a Peach Cobbler.
• Complete the Sweet Pollination Activity Sheet.
3rd–5th
• Print out and read The Cow Conundrum.
• Play The Steaks are High.
6th–12th
Complete the Rube Goldberg Machine Puzzler.
Social Media Post
Did you know farmers plant buffer zones, strips of vegetation between fields and bodies of water like streams and lakes, to keep soil in place? Buffer zones also act as a filter for water that flows from the field to the waterway. #AgDay20 (download image) (Credit: USDA on Flickr)
Thursday, March 26
Pre-K–2nd
• Complete the Job Match and Evaluation Activity Sheet.
• Play In My Barn.
3rd–5th
• Read the Interactive Soybean Ag Mag.
• Play My Little Ag Me.
6th–12th
Complete an activity from the When I Grow Up: Discover Ag Careers Kit.
Social Media Post
Do you know where your food comes from? Most of it is from American agriculture, the world’s top food exporter. Home and abroad – our food brings everyone to the table. #AgDay20
Friday, March 27
Pre-K–2nd
• Cook a beef recipe for dinner.
• Complete the Animal Agriculture: A Nutritious Choice Activity Sheet.
3rd–5th
• Print out and read The Artistic Arrangement.
• Play The Buzz.
6th–12th
Complete the Photosynthesis Puzzler.
Social Media Post
Did you know that 98% of America’s farms & ranches are owned by individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations?
Week 9
Water is everywhere! Dive into these at-home educational activities that explore the wonderful world of water.
Grades 3-5 English Language Arts, Math and Science
- Play the My American Farm game "Wild Water Adventures"! Students reading at a fourth-grade level will strengthen English language arts comprehension through stories and questions on water usage.
- Then, check out this at-home activity where young learners make their own rain gauge with supplies you already have!
Grades 6-8 English Language Arts, Science and History
- Play Journey 2050! In this game, players explore world food sustainability through a virtual simulation.
- Next, this activity from National Ag in the Classroom dives into how water is used in agriculture and what sustainable practices farmers are implementing.
- For more science lessons related to water for grades 6-8, take a look at "Dive In! Exploring the Science of Water and Food Production."
Grades 5-12 Science, Math, English Language Arts
- The current Purple Plow Challenge "Go with the Flow" asks: How can we improve the quality of our runoff and, in turn, reduce dead zones in our water resources? The materials for this challenge have been updated to be easier to do at home!
- Don't have time to do a full challenge? Check out one of the puzzlers like this one on natural filtration or this one on water ways.
Grades 9-12 Science
- The "Extreme Heat: Heat Waves, Drought and Agriculture" educator's guide brings together activities developed by the education office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and resources developed by the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, to provide a comprehensive exploration of how weather and drought impact agriculture. You can check out the 5 free lessons here!
Want More?
Check out this activity from 4-H! This 4-H STEM Lab activity for grades 3-5 explores how wetlands improve water quality.
Week 10
We hope you’ve enjoyed the at-home activities over the past couple of months! With the school year winding down, this will be our last installment of “Free At Home Educational Activities about Agriculture.” Keep an eye out for some more fun stuff we will be sharing throughout the summer.
We are rounding out the series with activities about careers in agriculture!
Grades 3-5 English Language Arts
My American Farm has the perfect game to explore careers in agriculture, aptly named “My Little Ag Me.” This game explores careers from all nine of the agriculture career areas as outlined by the National FFA Organization!
Next, have your 3rd-5th grade reader read one of free “My Little Ag Me” books; they explore careers like veterinarian, florist and much more. For younger learners, you can read aloud to them instead!
Grades 3-8 Math and English Language Arts
The My American Farm game “Auction Adventures”, funded by the National Auctioneers Foundation, was created with the National Auctioneers Association to explore careers in auctioneering. Third to fifth grade players will strengthen math skills as they learn about auctions.
There is an accompanying lesson for 5th grade readers that enhance English Language Arts skills as students read about real auctioneers!
There are also 3 lessons for middle school learners that cover useful math and economics knowledge, as well as explore careers in agriculture!
Enhance learning by watching these informative videos about careers!
Grades 3-10 Science and English Language Arts
In this one-hour Purple Plow Puzzler, your young learner will create a “go fish” card game about careers in agriculture.
Once they are done, have a family game night and play together!
Grades 6-12 All Subjects
Our curriculum “When I Grow Up: Discover Ag Careers” was designed for middle school learners but is applicable for high school students too. This resource follows nine career focus areas as outlined by the National FFA Organization and the lessons cover all subject matters. Download for free here.
You can extend learning with the “Agriculture Career Posters” and “Name That Ag Career” card game. Both are for sale in the FB store.
Bonus
The Ag Explorer resource from National FFA is also a great resource for older learners wanting to explore careers in agriculture. We really like the virtual field trips section!
New York Beef Council Virtual Teaching Beef Tools
As educators are being challenged to provide lessons virtually in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, New York Beef Council has compiled a list of beef resources that may be helpful. If you have any questions regarding any of these resources please feel free to contact the New York Beef Council staff https://www.nybeef.org/
Beef Overview:
Overview of the beef production story with infographic: CLICK HERE
Masters of Beef Advocacy: CLICK HERE
This 5 hour (approximately) long online certification is designed to procide beef industry stakeholders with talking points relating to The Beef Community, Raising Cattle on Grass, Life in the Feedyard, From Cattle to Beef, Beef. It's What's For Dinner. Designed for: Upper Level Animal Science Students
Animal Care:
Overview of Animal Care: CLICK HERE
Beef Quality Assurance: CLICK HERE
This online certification will take approximately 2.5 hours and will discuss pre-harvest production decisons that impact beef quality. Designed for: Upper Level Vet Science or Animal Science Resource
Cattle Handling and Facility Design Videos: CLICK HERE
Technology:
Rethink the Ranch: CLICK HERE
Challenge students to explore the technology utilized on our farms, ranches, and feedlots.
Environmental Science:
Beef Sustainability Overview and Infographic: CLICK HERE
Beef Sustainability Tough Questions: CLICK HERE
Carbon Hoofprints: Cows and Climate Change Lesson Plan: CLICK HERE
Environmental Stewardship on the Farm Video: CLICK HERE
New York Environmental Stewardship Award Winners, Thunderview Farm, highlights their practices to protect water and resources on their farm.
American Dairy Association Northeast Facebook Education Series
The Katie Dotterer-Pyle is combining her expertise as a dairy farm and a teacher to launch a Facebook education series about cows and life on a dairy farm to educate and entertain kids while schools are closed. The online stories will be told from Dotterer-Pyle's farm, the Cow Comfort Inn Dairy in Union Bride, MD., and will focus on how dairy farmers care and provide comfort for their cows.
The series can be viewed every day March 23 through March 27 at 10am. EDT on the American Dairy Association North East Facebook page. Friday's episode will feature Katie making her favorite recipe live from her kitchen. Kids can do some pre homework by downlaoding the "What's Up With Milk" printable coloring book.
Ranch House Designs, Inc. Ag Fact Printables
This special webpage contains 15 printables deisgned for elementary and preschool age children focusing on livestock specific projects like cattle, horses, and pigs. These activity sheets are designed to help with home-based learning activities. Upon signing up, you will be directed to the private website to download the PDFs.
National Agricultural Institute Just the Facts PDFs
With the current and continuing changes associated with COVID-19, many instructors are scrambling to adjust their teaching. For those teaching introductory agriculture, animal, plant or soil science there are free PDFs of "Just the Facts" textbooks and ancillary materials available. The books are organized so that with a PDF editor they can be easily broken into lessons for online classes. These books and ancillary materials are stored on a shareable Google Drive. The links are provided below:
Just the Facts Introduction to Agriculture: CLICK HERE
Just the Facts Introduction to Animal Science: CLICK HERE
Just the Facts Introduction to Plant Science: CLICK HERE
Just the Facts Introduction to Soil Science: CLICK HERE
Nutrients for Life Foundation Toolkits
The Nutrients for Life Toolkits were originally developed to equip employees of the fertilizer industry with a ready-to-go presentations geared for classroom or local club visits. Because of today's unusual circumstances, we are allowing others to receive access to the toolkit and utilize the NFLF curriculum and resources to inform and educate the public and students about the vital role fertilizer plays in our everyday lives.
The goal is to provide lessons from NFLF's Smithsonian-approved curriculum and encourage members of the industry to share the importance of soil science, as well as company-specific information with the public. Geared at various age groups, the toolkit includes seven different lessons that have been taken from the curriculum. The lessons each come with prepared materials needed to teach the lesson as well as any hands-on visuals, along with educational resources to be gifted to a teacher in the classroom setting. Lessons and kits can be ordered on the Nutrients for Life website.
