DOI
10.5703/1288284317301
Document Type
Poster
Abstract
As the food industry has evolved over the years, consumers have more accessible and convenient outlets to buy groceries, dine in, or carry out. While there are many advantages to this ever-changing industry, a large gap exists in the understanding of food production from farm to fork. Consumer perceptions are influenced beginning at an early age. Education is the solution to bridge this gap between farm to fork; however, there are limited STEM-based agricultural resources available for teachers to implement in their classrooms. Creating these agricultural resources provides teachers the opportunity to share the story of the agricultural industry with students, while providing them with the knowledge they need to create their own scientifically-based perceptions. The objective of this presentation is to provide teachers with strategies to incorporate a STEM-agriculture approach into their current curriculum. We will discuss the development of the online Elementary Turkey Module program and the outcomes from our previously implemented E.G.G. programs. Using a STEM-based approach, the Elementary Turkey Module Project provides insight on the turkey industry and encourages participants to explore various aspects of food production. The ultimate goal of this presentation is to provide STEM-based classroom materials to teachers that will stimulate student excitement and interest, as well as increase agricultural literacy.
Creating Awareness of the Turkey Industry Through STEM-Based Online Curriculum
As the food industry has evolved over the years, consumers have more accessible and convenient outlets to buy groceries, dine in, or carry out. While there are many advantages to this ever-changing industry, a large gap exists in the understanding of food production from farm to fork. Consumer perceptions are influenced beginning at an early age. Education is the solution to bridge this gap between farm to fork; however, there are limited STEM-based agricultural resources available for teachers to implement in their classrooms. Creating these agricultural resources provides teachers the opportunity to share the story of the agricultural industry with students, while providing them with the knowledge they need to create their own scientifically-based perceptions. The objective of this presentation is to provide teachers with strategies to incorporate a STEM-agriculture approach into their current curriculum. We will discuss the development of the online Elementary Turkey Module program and the outcomes from our previously implemented E.G.G. programs. Using a STEM-based approach, the Elementary Turkey Module Project provides insight on the turkey industry and encourages participants to explore various aspects of food production. The ultimate goal of this presentation is to provide STEM-based classroom materials to teachers that will stimulate student excitement and interest, as well as increase agricultural literacy.