By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Texas teachers can plant the seed of agricultural knowledge in classrooms and earn recognition for their efforts through Texas Farm Bureau’s annual Lesson Plan Challenge.

This program gives teachers an opportunity to submit existing or newly-developed lesson plans that integrate agriculture in the classroom.

“Along with entering for an opportunity to win prizes, this program offers teachers a chance to showcase the great work they are doing to Texas Farm Bureau, and potentially, if selected as a winner, to other teachers who are looking to incorporate agriculture into their lesson plans, too,” Jordan Walker, TFB associate director Organization Division, Educational Outreach, said. “We encourage teachers to participate in the program, because we believe it is a great way for teachers to bring to light the wonderful efforts they are making to incorporate agriculture into the classroom.”

Certified kindergarten through 12th grade teachers can submit one completely developed lesson plan that clearly incorporates agriculture in the classroom. Teachers who teach any subject may participate, except for those teaching agricultural courses.

To participate, completed lesson plans must include supporting materials and a citation sheet that includes all sources used.

Lessons will be judged in four categories, and judges will select a first place winner from each category.

“Every student in every Texas classroom is a consumer, and eventually, they will all make their own choices about the food they eat and the products they buy. They will also all one day make a career choice. With that, we believe it is necessary to grow agricultural literacy to foster educated and informed students who will become decision-making consumers, employees and maybe even industry experts in every community across Texas,” Walker said. “Our hope is to encourage informed dialogue and education about how agriculture is present in the decisions we make, the science we learn about and nearly every other aspect of our lives and our learning.”

Each teacher who submits a complete lesson plan will receive a classroom garden kit that will include a 32-cell starter tray, 32 soil pucks and 10 packs of seeds.

Each teacher will also receive either the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s book of the year and the educator’s guide, for the younger grade levels, or a higher-level book for teachers of higher-level grades.

All first place winners will have their lesson plans considered for inclusion as a curriculum resource on TFB’s website.

Winners will receive one digital microscope for use in the classroom and $300 to purchase classroom supplies. The first-place winners will also receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2021 National Ag in the Classroom Annual Conference.

“We encourage Texas farmers and ranchers to promote this opportunity to teachers across the state, so we can increase agricultural literacy and understanding among today’s students,” Walker said.

Lesson plan submissions are due online April 26 at noon.

For more information, the online application, categories and judging criteria for the 2021 Lesson Plan Challenge, visit https://texasfarmbureau.org/aitc or email edoutreach@txfb.org.