Intro to Agriculture Course Description:
This course is designed to introduce students to agriculture and illustrate applied principals of biological systems as they relate to agriculture. This course will present a broad spectrum of different topics exploring agriculture and agriscience. Topics presented include the development and impact of agriculture in today’s society. Fields of agriculture that will be presented include; biological systems in the environment, plant science, animal science, food science, genetics, and relationships among living systems. Instruction in Leadership through the FFA and Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) programs are an integral part of instruction. For that reason, FFA and SAE activities are considered co-curricular and students will be required to participate on a structured and ongoing basis. **Prerequisites: None Class Structure: This course receives .5 science credits per semester, and is designed as a year-long class that will meet Monday through Thursday for 55 minutes. Students will also be asked to participate outside of class in the following ways and will be a mandatory portion of the class structure: SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) instruction, FFA meetings and events, and Career Development Events (CDE’s). The class will consist primarily of lecture format and discussion. Labs will be held one day a week. Several projects will be assigned to help reinforce the material presented in lecture. Some projects will require students to give oral presentations. Students will be expected to work both on their own and in groups for various assignments. Students are also expected to develop good methods of taking notes from class lectures. Class notes will serve as the primary source for reference and study material for exams. Notes are to be taken on college-ruled loose-leaf paper and kept organized in their “Ag Notebook” (three-ring binder) under the appropriate divider tab. Materials Needed for this Course: Students should have the following materials for this course: · One three-ring binder (2”) with a plastic cover which will be kept in the Ag Room. · 5 Subject dividers labeled: Plant Science, Animal Science, Leadership Development, Ag Economics, and Equine Science · Writing utensils (pen AND pencil) · Lined notebook paper · Closed toe shoes acceptable for getting dirty and/or working in a shop or garden. · Safety glasses/protective eyewear. (Available at Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight, or Walmart). Students will be required to occasionally work in areas of the school such as the greenhouse, science laboratory and gardens. Students may also have the opportunity to work with hand tools, power tools, concrete and chemicals. All safety procedures will be followed with no exceptions. 3 Basic Class Components: There are three (3) basic components to a Vocational Agriculture program set forth by the U.S. Department of Education: Agriculture Instruction/Curriculum, Supervised Agriculture Experience, and the FFA. 1. Agriculture Instruction/Curriculum: Grades are not given, they are earned. Grades will be determined by the degree to which objectives are met, success is achieved, timeliness, neatness, and based on a student’s original work. 2. Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) Project: Students will be required to have a Supervised Agricultural Experience program (SAE) as mandated by the state department of education. This is a project done outside of class time. A record book will be used and regularly updated with the SAE and will also be graded. Students must maintain and submit a record book to get full credit. Students will use the website: http://www.theaet.com/. Students will be required to design an SAE plan in the 1st quarter and implement it by the 2nd quarter. Students will keep both a hard copy record book and an electronic record of this project and are expected to take photos of their project throughout the school year. It will be the responsibility of the student to keep accurate records each week and submit these records periodically to the instructor when asked. This will count for 15% of the semester’s grade. 3. FFA Leadership Grade: A major aspect to this course is the development of leadership skills, speaking abilities, teamwork and other various skills that will play a major role in every individual’s career choice. Students are required to participate in the local FFA activities and have the opportunity to participate in the district, state and national FFA activities. Students will be required to participate and/or compete in at least 2 Career Development Events (CDE’s) each year. One CDE must be a “field” CDE meaning something “hands on” with plants, animals, soils, mechanics, or food. The 2nd must be considered a “leadership” CDE. These generally involve public speaking, business plans, or conducting mock meetings. This will count for 15% of the semester’s grade. Oftentimes students choose to participate in multiple CDE events based on their interests and are encouraged to do so. In this case, students can earn extra credit of up to 5 percentage (5%) points to count towards their class grade. For a complete list of CDE’s, please see your instructor. Tests will typically be given at the end of each unit as well as cumulative mid-terms and semester final exams. There will also be quizzes throughout the semester, which may be announced or unannounced. Projects may be used in the place of a written exam. FFA is a co-curricular part of agricultural education. As such, students will receive leadership points towards the class based on their participation in FFA events and activities. Points can be earned by attending FFA meetings and activities, competing on a Career Development Event (CDE) team, participation in National FFA week, and many other events throughout the year. Students will be required to keep a classroom notebook for their ag class. Notebooks should be kept neat and orderly and will be graded throughout the course. Class Expectations: I expect you to come to class everyday and to be prepared. While in class you should respect yourself, classmates, teachers, and the school. You should always try your best and ask for help when you need it. Participation is also a must. Attendance will be taken daily and is very important. Students should come to class daily and on time. Missing class may affect your grade. Students must adhere to AAEC policy. Failure to follow school rules and procedures will result in detention or a referral to the office. Consequences for Inappropriate Behavior (All decisions will be at the discretion of the instructor) · 1st time – Warning · 2nd time – Parent Contact · 3rd time – Detention · 4th time – Removal from class and a referral submitted to administration. Due to the nature of our class we are often engaged in many different activities. Regardless of where we are or what we are doing, I expect each of you to respect yourself and your own possessions, other people, and school property. The following expectations shall apply at all times. Participation: Success is 90% attitude, 10% aptitude. Students are expected to arrive to class on time, prepared with paper and writing utensil, and willing to participate. Students are expected to ask questions whenever anything is unclear or need help in understanding a concept. The only bad question is one you already know the answer to. Attendance: Students are expected to attend class daily. Students are also expected to arrive to class on time. Three tardies will result in a lunch time detention. Students having 10 absences are dropped from a class and will receive a failing grade. Special consideration will be given to absences resulting from extended illness, and will require parental and/or medical notification. In extenuating circumstances, a final determination of t he grade will be made at the discretion of the teacher and administration. Come to class and be ready to learn! Adherence to AAEC policy: Students are expected to know and follow AAEC rules concerning appropriate dress and conduct. No hats or sunglasses will be worn during class. Students not complying with the dress code will be sent to the administration office. Cell phones, iPods and other electronic devices are not to be used during class; and may be confiscated if they disrupt class. Cell phones/iPods or other electronic devices that are confiscated will be turned in to the administration office to be picked up after school ends. No gum is allowed in the classroom. Respect: Students are expected to show respect for the learning environment, their instructor, themselves, property of the school and that of others, and fellow students. This respect includes courtesy, kindness, compliance, and tolerance. Language and Etiquette: At no time will swearing be tolerated in the classroom, learning environment, or during after-school activities. Students violating this rule will be asked to make a $0.25 donation or other item of value (such as an iPod or cell phone which they can have back at the end of the day) to the FFA Fundraising “Swear Jar” and counts as a student’s “1st warning”. Students who cannot or do not “pay the fine” will “do the time”. In other words, failure to be responsible for your inappropriate actions will result in an automatic detention. The same consequence will be given to students attempting to use the Swear Jar as an excuse to use foul language. Students who attempt to use this method to make up for what should be accidental occurrences will lose the privilege and the ability to use the Swear Jar for the rest of the semester and swearing will result in detention each time there after. Agricultural students and/or FFA members and chapters are routinely asked to participate in and/or host a variety of functions such as banquets, competitions, and guest speakers. It is incumbent upon agricultural students and FFA members to be a credit to themselves, their families, friends, school, and communities and act as such. Basic manners and etiquette acceptable for polite society will be demonstrated at all times. This includes but is not limited to the following: treating others in a courteous manner, being respectful of women (and men), assisting women and children with doors, chairs, and rising (for young men) to acknowledge the entrance of women and young ladies into the room or arrival/departure to and from the table. Students are asked to help each other remember and to follow through. Good manners make good habits which makes even better leaders. Evaluation Procedures and Grading: The grading scale is as follows: A = 90%-100% B = 80%-89% C = 70%-79% Failing = 69% and below A grade below a 70% on assignments or test will not be accepted. Student will be given the opportunity to make up or redo the assignment, test, quiz, or project until they receive at least a 70% on it. If the assignment is not made up by the end of the semester then students will receive a 0% for the assignment. Late Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted with the following conditions: · Students who wish to make up a missing or late assignment must attend a 20 minute period of tutoring after school and make up the assignment during that time. · Each assignment to be made up will require 20 minutes of tutoring after school. · Late assignments will only be worth a possible 70% of the original grade. Instruction: The following course outline will be adhered to the best abilities of the instructor. However, it may be changed at the instructor’s discretion at any time due to level of performance and/or availability of recourses, student performance, and time. Course Overview (Day 1)– Intro to Agriculture 1) Introductions 2) Expectations – Behavior and Etiquette 3) School wide consequences (Student Handbook) 4) Classroom procedures and Syllabus review – Topics we will cover in class a) Homework Due Day 2: i) Have parents sign and return syllabus agreement. ii) Fill out student’s expectation sheet/bio (Day 2)- Setting Up Your Ag. Notebook 1) Set up and fill out Ag Notebooks 2) Begin SAE Record Books 3) Class Materials and large assignment overview a) Homework due Day 3: i) List 3 careers you might be interested in and why or how they might relate or be tied to Agriculture. Unit 1. Agriculture overview and history a. Definition and Scope of Agriculture b. History and Development of Agriculture c. Revolutions in Agriculture d. Impact and strength of American Agriculture i. Homework due Day 4: Write 1 paragraph on what experiences you have had with agriculture and what you hope to learn from this class. Unit 2. Record Keeping a. SAE b. Ledger and Record Keeping i. Recording hours worked, money made/spent, and time spent in class. c. Budgeting i. Prepare a budget for an SAE d. Inventories i. Current ii. Noncurrent e. Depreciation Methods i. Differentiate between depreciable and non-depreciable items. f. Data Entry (Online AET System) i. Input ledger and accounting information into a data management system. Unit 3. Leadership Development through FFA a. Components of FFA/Ag. Education i. Mission statement ii. FFA Moto iii. FA History iv. Code of ethics and proper use of the jacket v. FFA Chapter and State Constitution vi. FFA Salute vii. FFA Emblem and colors viii. Opportunities ix. FFA creed – Corresponding CDE x. Benefits of SAE’s – Proficiency Awards and Scholarship Money xi. Parliamentary Procedure – Corresponding CDE’s Unit 4. Careers in Agriculture a. Interest inventory b. Opportunities in Agriculture c. Career report Unit 5. Agriculture Issues – Correlating CDE Unit 6. Scientific method a. Research methods b. Design models c. communicating results Unit 8: Lab Safety & Procedures Unit 7. Unit 9: Experiment Research and Design a. Science Fair projects – Correlating CDE Unit 8. Unit 10: Intro to Animal Science a. Systems b. Nutritional needs Unit 9. c. Intro to Livestock and Dairy judging/selection - corresponding CDE c. Feed stuff d. Health control e. Biotechnology f. Animal Growth and Development Unit 10: Relationships within Living Things Unit 11. Plant Growth and Development a. Plants structures and taxonomy i. Flowers ii. Roots iii. Stems Unit 13. Plant physiology a. Photosynthesis b. Transpiration c. Respiration d. Reproduction Unit 14. Food Science – Corresponding CDE a. Food safety b. Food processing c. Biotechnology Unit 15. Aquaculture – Corresponding CDE a. Anatomy & Physiology b. Health control c. Reproduction Unit 16. Biotechnology a. Bio-Ethical Issues b. Bio-Systems within the Environment Unit 17. Renewable Natural Resources a. Renewable/non renewable b. Fossil fuels c. Soils d. Water e. Air f. Alternative energy Sustainable Agriculture a. Design a project using sustainable agriculture |
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