Middle school agricultural education students have a variety of topics they can learn about- from environmental sciences and animal science to learning about a career in agriculture - there is so much to cover! Below are resources for agriculture teachers on classroom activities for middle school students.
1. Sweet Potato Slips
Hands-on learning that includes an activity guide, this experiment will teach students about the biology and life cycle of plants by sprouting potatoes.
Learn more: Science Buddies
2. Precision Agriculture Activity
This activity teaches students about how farmers will need to produce more food with the same resources as the years pass by. There are links to videos that students will watch to introduce them to the food crisis, then they will work on an experiment focusing on the efficiency of farming.
Learn more: National Agriculture in the Classroom
3. Pen Pal Program
A great way to introduce students who live in areas with few farms is by doing this pen pal activity. Students will write a letter to students who live on farms. They can ask questions like what daily life is like and learn about farming through a peer.
Learn more: Cabot Farmer
4. Farm Tour or Virtual Farm
Make arrangements for students to visit a farm or hold a farm tour students attend virtually. They can learn more about the different types of agriculture and career paths.
Learn more: Virtual Farm Trips
5. Labels for Animal Science - Organ Study
Gain some knowledge of animal science with this fun playdoh activity! Students will learn about the systems of different animals and label the parts.
6. Soil Study
In this lesson, students learn soil science concepts specifically looking at pH and how it affects soil and plant growth. It is a lab for students that uses a variety of soils and pH strips.
Learn more: Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
7. Plant Foldable
For this foldable activity, students will learn about the basic plant nutrients. It helps to answer why each is important and how deficiencies affect plants.
Learn more: Nutrients for Life Foundation
8. Basics of Plant Taxonomy
Downloadable activities to work on plant identification skills and how to classify them. It is an easy download game board that you can print and play.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
9. Soil Composition
Natural resources, like soil, are important in ag sci. Students must understand the components of soil and what that means for growing plants. This activity is an easy introduction to observing soil parts.
Learn more: Education
10. Plants and Light Experiment
Guide students through this experiment to teach them about how the agriculture industry can be affected by light.
Learn more: Ecosystem for Kids
11. Cow Sim
Looking for fun games for animal science? In Cow Sim there is a virtual farm for students to tend to. It is not always easy to find games students enjoy, but this game is similar to the Sims so it's sure to be a hit!
Learn more: Texas A&M Today
12. Chicken Life Cycle
Agriculture students need to learn all about the different animals, which includes reproduction. Use this activity to teach about the incubation of a chicken and what each day looks like.
Learn more: Teach With Me
13. Soil Erosion
A soil science resource that is fun and teaches about erosion. Students will experiment with different types of soil by pouring water and see which have poor drainage or lead to erosion.
Learn more: Orlando Science Center
14. Science and Our Food Supply
For this activity, students will learn about the chain of agriculture. Specifically, they will look at the question "Where does our food come from?" Using everyday food items they will research and write about food sourcing and food production.
Learn more: Education
15. Exploring Careers Jigsaw
Agricultural educators want students to know their options! Have students use computers to explore employment in agriculture or animal science careers. Do a jigsaw for each category so students can share with their peers about the many types of jobs!
Learn more: AG Careers
16. World Food Crisis Activity
This is an agriculture worksheet activity packet where students try to solve the world food crisis that is predicted to occur in a few decades. It is not a classic agriculture lesson, but it focuses on students using critical thinking skills and also includes animal science terms.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
17. Farm to Fork Game
Food safety is important to any agriculture program. Students will play a board game about food safety where they will learn about facts and opinions, as well as the causes and effects of food safety. After they will write an essay on what they have learned.
Learn more: Lesson Planet
18. 4H Animal Science
In this choice activity, students get to choose what animal science content they want to learn about - goats bred for clothing, dairy cattle showmanship, and more. Through articles and videos, they learn about an animal and then answer a set of online questions.
Learn more: 4-H Animal Science Resource Blog
19. Impacts of Agriculture
In this activity, they will design houses for students and trace all the products back to agriculture. They will look at how what they use daily is impacted by it. The lesson follows national learning standards.
Learn more: Teachers Pay Teachers
20. Current Events in Agriculture
As an agriculture teacher, it is important students are well informed. Just like in any other field, you must keep up with current events. For this activity, students will choose different current events to write a short report on.
Learn more: Yumpu
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