March 5, 2010
Florida Agriculture In The Classroom Awards 33 Teacher Grants For 2009-2010 School Year
Students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are learning about the production of Florida fruits, vegetables and horticulture in school gardens and other classroom agriculture projects funded by 33 teacher grants from Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc.
The Gainesville-based, non-profit organization spent about $34,000 on these grant projects that are reaching an estimated 6,300 students around the state. Florida Agriculture in the Classroom is able to provide this grant funding because of the money it receives from the sale of the agriculture specialty license plate called the “Ag Tag.”
“We’re happy to provide funding for such innovative school projects general education teachers are using around the state to teach their students about the importance of Florida agriculture,” said Vina Jean Banks, chairman and Florida Beef Council representative for Florida Agriculture in the Classroom. “Teachers are learning how effective agriculture is as a teaching tool for a variety of subjects.”
Projects selected for funding are as follows:
“Operation Cooperation” (Alachua County)
Students and teachers at Idylwild Elementary in Gainesville are learning about Florida agriculture and how crops grow using a hydroponics laboratory, microscopes and lessons provided by Florida Agriculture in the Classroom.
“The Hornet’s Bounty” (Bay County)
Students at Jinks Middle School in Panama City are participating in lessons about Florida agriculture using a schoolyard garden.
“The Harvest Courtyard” (Brevard County)
Third and fourth graders at Odyssey Charter School in Palm Bay are learning about the Florida commodities they can grow in their area with a schoolyard garden.
“Edible Forest” (Brevard County)
Kindergarteners and third graders at Endeavor Elementary in Cocoa are broadening their knowledge of Florida agriculture by adding fruit trees to their flower and herb garden.
Urban Agriculture III Project (Brevard County)
Fifth graders at Endeavor Elementary in Cocoa are learning about the Florida strawberry industry by expanding their hydroponics growing systems.
“Cultivating Minds with Agriculture” (Broward County)
Sixth and seventh graders at Driftwood Middle School in Hollywood are learning about the Florida agriculture industry by using raised bed and hydroponics gardens and Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“How Sweet It Is”(Broward County)
Students in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade at Cooper City High School are learning about the important role Florida agriculture plays in their community’s economy so they will become informed, supportive citizens. They are being rewarded for their efforts by being allowed to plant citrus, avocado and other trees.
“The Inner City Garden Project” (Broward County)
Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Dillard Elementary in Fort Lauderdale are learning biology, environmental, math, writing and reading lessons as these subjects apply to their schoolyard garden.
“Farming for Snacks” (Clay County)
Pre-kindergarteners at Aurora’s Pre-K Clubhouse in Orange Park are learning about the Florida blueberry industry and how to grow blueberries in a schoolyard garden.
“More Veggies Please!” (Clay County)
Third graders at R.M. Paterson Elementary in Orange Park are becoming scientists as they propagate plants in their schoolyard garden.
“Raised Beds Grow Tasty Gardens” (Hernando County)
Sixth graders at Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology in Spring Hill are learning more about Florida agriculture by planting a raised bed garden.
“Hooked on Hydroponics” (Highlands County)
Third, fourth and fifth graders at Lake County Elementary in Lake Placid are growing strawberries and learning about the Florida industry with a schoolyard hydroponics growing system.
“Bodacious Berries” (Highlands County)
Fifth graders at Fred Wild Elementary in Sebring are planting, maintaining and harvesting strawberries from a hydroponics growing system.
“Are You Smarter than a Fish in School?” (Hillsborough County)
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders at Dowdell Middle Magnet School in Tampa are learning about the Florida tropical fish industry by establishing fish tanks in classrooms throughout the school.
“Ag Learning for All” (Hillsborough County)
Fifth graders at J.S. Robinson Elementary in Plant City are teaching special needs students about the Florida agriculture industry by growing native plants and vegetables in container gardens and participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Building from the Ground Up” (Indian River County)
Third graders at Vero Beach Elementary are learning about growing Florida commodities and using composting material from their lunchroom scraps as part of a school-wide gardening effort.
“Fourth Grade Garden” (Jackson County)
Students at Dayspring Christian Academy are learning about the Florida commodities that grow in their area, namely potatoes and onions.
“From Garden to Table to Classroom” (Lake County)
Students at Clermont Elementary are adding three more raised bed gardens to their schoolyard garden so more students can be involved. In addition, they are learning about the Florida agriculture industry by participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Comp ‘eat’ ing Gardens Proposal” (Lee County)
Third graders at Bonita Springs Elementary are preparing the soil and plant, maintaining and harvesting vegetables in a schoolyard garden.
“An EGGstraordinary Hatch” (Madison County)
First graders at Madison Academy are learning about how the life cycle of chicks using a classroom incubator and Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Project Green at HMMS” (Miami-Dade County)
Seventh and eighth graders at Horace Mann Middle School in Miami are learning about Florida fruits and vegetables by planting a schoolyard, raised bed garden.
“Hydroponics 101” (Miami-Dade County)
Third graders at South Miami K-8 Center in South Miami are expanding their existing traditional schoolyard garden to a hydroponics growing system they will install. In addition, they are learning about the Florida agriculture industry by participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Herbs for Thought” (Miami-Dade County)
Ninth, tenth, 11th and 12th graders at Miami Beach Senior High School are learning of careers in agriculture by planting, cultivating and harvesting a schoolyard herb garden.
“Yearling Middle School Hydroponics Plant” (Okeechobee County)
Seventh and eighth graders at Yearling Middle School in Okeechobee are comparing traditional growing methods to hydroponics growing methods using schoolyard gardens and Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Hugh Manatee’s Garden” (Palm Beach County)
Third, fourth and fifth graders at Manatee Elementary in Lake Worth are expanding their existing raised bed garden to include a hydroponics growing system. They are learning about Florida vegetables by participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Inquiring to Know How They Will Grow: Comparing Hydroponics and Soil Garden Plants” (Palm Beach County)
Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students at Elbridge Gale Elementary in Wellington are comparing traditional growing methods to hydroponics growing methods and learning about Florida commodities with Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Eggselent Learning at Saint Raphael’s” (Pinellas County)
Students in pre-kindergarten through first grade are learning about the Florida poultry industry and the growing cycle of chickens by using a classroom incubator.
“Outdoor Classroom” (Polk County)
Students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade at All Saints’ Academy in Winter Haven are participating in learning stations, a schoolyard garden and Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons to learn about vegetable, herb and flower production in Florida.
“Organic Gardening” (Polk County)
Third, fourth and fifth graders at Polk Avenue Elementary in Lake Wales are developing a schoolyard garden and using worms to develop organic material to nourish the garden. In addition, students are learning about the Florida agriculture industry by participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“VMS Community Garden” (Sarasota County)
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders at Venice Middle School are planting, maintaining and harvesting fruits and vegetables from a schoolyard garden. In addition, they are exploring careers in the agriculture industry and participating in Florida Agriculture in the Classroom lessons.
“Integrated Garden” (Suwannee County)
First graders at Niblack Elementary in Lake City are planting, maintaining and harvesting a schoolyard garden, which includes vegetables and flowering plants and a weather station.
“Droughts, Floods and Storms…Oh, My!” (Volusia County)
Fifth graders at Manatee Cove Elementary in Orange City are learning about how the weather impacts the Florida agriculture industry by gathering data on germination, growing conditions, soil temperature and moisture.
“Agri-Cycles: A Life Cycles Book of Poetry” (Wakulla County)
Third graders at Crawfordville Elementary are learning about plant and animal life cycles and water cycles using a schoolyard garden and writing poetry about what they experience with the garden.
For more information:
Lisa Gaskalla
(352) 846-1391
