Department/Grade:  Agriculture/8          Course: 8th Grade Exploratory  Revision Date:  4/2008

 

Required/Elective:  Required                 Course Length:  9 Weeks         Prerequisite: None

 

Course Description:  This is a nine week course that allows the students to explore the broad industry of agriculture.  Students will study everything from animals and plants to ag technology and public speaking.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

CONTENT OUTLINE

Explore the History of Agriculture

·          Describe the importance of agriculture

·          Discuss how agriculture was necessary to the development of society

·          List inventions that made an impact on agriculture

·          Define the Land Grant conception of education and how these institutions have helped shape agriculture

Explore Various Types of Wildlife

·          Identify the impact of wildlife on humans

·          Identify the impact of humans on wildlife

·          Explore endangered species of wildlife

·          Discuss wildlife management practices in the United States.

 

Define the use of soil and its properties

·          Explain how and why all life depends on soil

·          Explain the difference in organic and inorganic soils

·          Discuss the carbon cycle

·          Explore how soils are formed

·          Identify the various types of soils

·          Describe how soil type effects the use of land

Explore the Livestock Industry

·          Discuss the extent of the US meat industry

·          Discuss the production and impact of sheep, swine, and beef production

·          Describe the types of and uses for horses

·          Explore animal by-products

Explore the Aquaculture Industry

·          Discuss the recent growth of the aquaculture industry

·          Explain why fish are efficient agricultural animals

·          Explain the steps involved in the production of catfish and cool-water fish

·          Discuss the production and consumption of crustaceans

·          Describe the non food segments of aquaculture

Explore the Dairy Industry

·          Explain the importance of the dairy industry

·          Identify the major dairy breeds in the US

·          Discuss the controversy surrounding the use of BST

·          Explain how milk is produced

·          Describe how milk is processed and graded

·          Discuss the cheese making process

·          Describe how yogurt is made

Explore the Floriculture Industry

·          Define the term floriculture

·          Recognize the impact of flowers on our daily lives

·          Describe national aspects of floriculture

·          Identify common flowers

·          Describe the 3 basic types of plants that florists sell

·          List and describe the four principals of flower arranging

Explore Companion Animals

·          Discuss uses of companion animals for humans

·          Explain the benefits of hippotherapy

·          Define zoonoses and list several types

·          Describe the responsibilities of companion animal ownership

·          List several careers that deal with companion animals

·          Hold a community service drive for the Humane Society

 

Explore the Poultry Industry

·          Explain the importance of the poultry industry to humans

·          List the different segments of the poultry industry

·          Explain how eggs are hatched commercially

·          Describe how broilers are produced.

·          Explain how eggs are produced

·          Discuss the growing of turkey and other poultry

RESOURCE MATERIALS

ASSESSMENT

·           

·          Unit Tests

·          Cumulative Tests

·          Midterm Exam

·          Final Exam

·          Standardized Tests

·          Open-Ended Assessments

·          Quizzes

·          Projects

·          Math Journal

·          Oral Presentations

·          Observation

·          Evaluate written work

·          Performance assessments

·          Tests, quizzes

·          Problem solving journal/activity

·          Evaluate oral response

·          Anecdotal records

·          Performance tasks