Soil Biological Communities

www.blm.gov/nstc/soil/Kids/index.html

What is soil? Soil is made from rocks that are broken up into tiny pieces, as well as dead leaves, roots, twigs, dead bugs, and stuff like that. It also has water and air in it. 

Awesome Ag In the Afternoon at NDSU

NDSU Ag, Food Systems, and Natural Resources Field Trip

Our class hopped on the bus upon arriving at school today to begin a day of fun at North Dakota State University.  We began our learning experience in the Food Science program, engaged in product development tests on new food products, and then moved on to Texas Roadhouse. As part of our studies on food and farming, we learn about farm to table aspects, whether it's to our table at home or at a restaurant.  We had a tour of the restaurant, made our own creation of a doughnut, (flour, water, sugar, and yeast)  They treated us to wonderful lunch of food from the farm, beef hot dogs and  potato wedges, grown from the earth. 

Then back to NDSU for a list of great events to learn about.  Thank you to Dr. Jim Venette setting up the many diversified visits to the ND State Insect Reference Collection, The NDSU Meat Lab, the greenhouse where new crop varieties are being developed, and the NDSU Soil Testing Laboratory.  We also appreciated that you provided us with H20 and treats. Math and the sciences were stressed by the scientists for our future scientists.  Your choices today, effect your future tomorrow.                   It was a great day.

Note: I'm currently having trouble producing the video in its entirety.  Over half of it is cut off.  I will keep trying, but our afternoon at NDSU is omitted due to unexplained circumstances.

Students Write and Illustrate Ag Books

We published our own books.  They're beautiful hard cover books. They're keepsakes to treasure, and we learned a lot about writing and about agriculture.  We shared our books with other students to teach them about agriculture.  We spent an afternoon singing to residents at a nursing home and reading our stories to them.  We also brought an object with to jar a memory, so we could hear some stories about the agricultural world that they lived in long ago.      Other educators who are interested in writing and publishing books with your students, check out the company "Studentreasures."   They are great to work.  Tell them Mrs. B. from Holy Spirit School from Fargo referred you and we'll get $50 for the referral. ...and we thank you.

Students Write About Ag On Their Own Educational Blog

http://agkids.blogspot.com/

Food Pyramid Fun

http://www.abcya.com/trip_food_pyramid.htm

Make A Pizza Interactive Game

http://www.abcya.com/pizza.htm

We discuss where all the parts of a pizza come from....an animal raised on a farm, or something grown as a crop or a vegetable.

Fruit or vegetable pizzas are great snacks to discuss with your class also. Natalie's mom made us a delicious veggie pizza that helped us discuss "where does it come from?"

We also sing a song that assists us in learning the details.

As a project, students use a pizza box and create projects to show the different aspects. One group used cards to state each food group...."Grains and Breads": the crust, etc..

The made a pretend pizza to show us their creativity...I liked the blonde yarn that represented cheese....along with a picture of a cow to show where cheese comes from.