DES MOINES, Iowa — Many teachers throughout Iowa integrate agriculture into their classroom to enrich student learning experiences and apply science, social studies, language arts and many other subjects. Through an awards program of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation those excellent teachers can be recognized for their efforts.
The Iowa Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award is open to teachers of grades pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. The award will recognize a teacher for their integrated efforts to teach students about the importance of food and agriculture and increase students’ agriculture literacy. An agriculturally literate person understands and can communicate the source and value of food and agriculture as it affects quality of life.
Applications will be accepted through mid-November and the winner will be selected and recognized in December 2020. The selected Iowa teacher will receive $500 to support their classroom instruction. They will also receive up to $1,000 to cover expenses to attend the 2021 National Agriculture in the Classroom conference to be held in Des Moines, Iowa June 28 – July 1, 2021.
Exemplary teachers will showcase innovative ways that they integrate food and agriculture in their classroom. Agriculture can be the vehicle to teach a number of other content areas and apply these concepts in a relevant way for Iowa students. Creative teachers will help students make connections between food production, health, energy systems, economics, environment and their interconnectedness in agriculture. Pioneering teachers will help students connect to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.
Last year’s winner, Tara Norman, has gone on to be nominated for other state awards because of the good work she does and continues her work to integrate agriculture and science. For more information or to apply online visit: https://www.jotform.com/IowaAgLiteracyFoundation/2020-excellence-in-teaching-ag.
— Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation
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