Ag In Motion 2011 HighlightsOverview In June 2010, the National Ag Science Center began discussing the concept of constructing a mobile laboratory classroom to bring agricultural science to middle schools. Our vision was to create lessons which would incorporate agriculture into the middle school science standards. One donated trailer, 12 weeks of construction and multiple hours creating and testing lesson plans resulted in the state’s first agricultural science classroom on wheels. Add the latest technology onboard and students complete their lab visit by watching a video highlighting an actual person who works in agriculture and whose career encompasses the lesson they have just completed.
On August 29, 2011, at Prescott Senior Elementary in Modesto, Ag In Motion made its inaugural visit to a school site. During that day, more than 400 seventh graders visited the mobile classroom which was parked right outside their classroom door and explored bug mouthparts. To date every middle school in Stanislaus County has scheduled a visit from Ag In Motion. For each visit, the schools are able to choose their own laboratory lesson from the following options: bug mouthparts – form and function; light – photosynthesis and colors and chromatography; strawberry DNA extraction; seed disbursal and developing a dichotomous key. In just 5 weeks we have served over 2,800 students at 10 schools.
Both teacher and student response has been terrific. Students are engaged in the lessons, complete and turn in their laboratory notebooks for grades and often want to know how to complete the experiment again at home (for the DNA lab). The teachers have praised the Ag In Motion program for its attention to detail, standards-based lessons, hands-on approach and the opportunity to expand on the lessons taught in the classroom. Every site we have visited has asked us to return again.
State Superintendent Visits AIM October 2011
AIM In The News
AIM School Visits
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PO Box 4937 Modesto, CA 95352 209-521-2902
