By Andi Anderson
The Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation (IALF) has recently granted 175 awards to schools across Iowa as part of the Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher Supplement Grants initiative. These grants aim to enhance the integration of agricultural concepts into classroom instruction and after-school programs with an academic focus.
Designed to support teachers in initiating new projects or expanding existing programs that promote agriculture literacy, the grants can be used for a variety of purposes, including funding innovative lessons, activities, classroom resources, guest speakers, outreach programs, field trips, and other projects. Each teacher received up to $250 to fund their chosen projects.
Christy Ayers of Corning Elementary in Corning, Iowa, expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing the importance of projects like using a hydroponics system to teach students about agriculture. She highlighted the significance of helping students understand that food doesn't solely come from grocery stores but is grown by farmers.
The projects funded by these grants cover a range of topics, including farm robotics, culinary and nutrition programs, crop and animal lifecycles, tree propagation, pollinators, ecosystems, renewable energy, aquaponics, farm-to-fork initiatives, dairy field trips, egg hatching, and agricultural history tours. Teachers plan to incorporate these agricultural experiences into various subjects, such as language arts, social studies, math, and career and technical education.
IALF Executive Director, Kelly Foss, commended the quality and diversity of the applications, noting the emphasis on incorporating agriculture into different aspects of the curriculum. The grants, made possible through the support of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), aim to strengthen agricultural literacy and connect students to real-world applications.
The funded projects are expected to be completed before the end of the school year, with final reports due by June 9, 2024. The grants play a crucial role in supporting teachers and enhancing agricultural education in Iowa schools. For more information, visit www.iowaagliteracy.org.
The IALF, supported by various organizations, focuses on promoting agriculture literacy among pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers and students. It plays a vital role in helping Iowans understand the essential role agriculture plays in their lives.
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Categories: Iowa, Education