This hybrid professional development course is designed for educators and extension personnel who work with youth in grades pre-K–12. The program combines two in-person learning days with online coursework to help participants incorporate agriculture into instruction while supporting Iowa Academic Standards.
Through interactive sessions, real-world examples, and industry visits, participants will explore how agriculture can serve as a powerful context for teaching STEM, science, social studies, literacy, and mathematics. Educators will examine practical classroom applications and gain access to classroom-ready activities and instructional resources that can be implemented with minimal preparation.
Course Highlights:
Face-to-Face Location: Knoxville, IA
Day 1: Agriculture as a Context for Learning
- Explore strategies for integrating agricultural topics into STEM, science, literacy, and social studies instruction.
- Design and adapt hands-on lessons and activities that connect agricultural concepts to core academic content.
- Learn from agriculture community experts and identify ways to incorporate local agriculture and food systems into classroom learning to help students better understand agriculture’s role in their communities.
Day 2: Agriculture, Innovation, and Industry
- Participate in guided visits to regional agricultural businesses and farms, including sheep, goat, and cattle operations to observe agricultural production and innovation in action.
- Examine how agriculture intersects with manufacturing, technology, and product development.
- Learn about agricultural careers, emerging technologies, and real-world applications that can help students connect classroom concepts to industry practices.
By the end of the course, participants will have practical strategies, engaging activities, and ready-to-use resources to help students make meaningful connections between agriculture, academic content, and the world around them.