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Oklahoma Agriculture in the Classroom

lessons

Crops

Crops

Learning Activities

Ag in My Community
Students will read and learn about agriculture in their own community and across the state. Students will identify agricultural commodities produced in their county, along with businesses that support agriculture and agritourism opportunities available in their area. Students will sample soil from the area and conduct experiments to identify soil types. Students will construct a simple rain gauge to measure rainfall and compare their results with official totals.
Biomass: The Energy of the Future
Students will use research skills to gather information on renewable fuels. Students will compile information on a graph and compare and contrast the pros and cons for developing the fuels for use.
Circles in the Landscape: Irrigating Oklahoma Crops
Students examine transpiration, evapotranspiration and water balance, learn the reaons for irrigation, analyze Oklahoma weather information and use geometry and other math skills to design an irrigation system.
Fit With Fiber
Grade 6-8: Math, Health
Students will read and discuss background and vocabulary, then will use cereal boxes to graph and calculate the mean, median and mode for data collection. Graphs will be utilized to plot data. Students will analyze cereal box labels to determine the nutrient content, they then will list each ingredient and cereal in a health category based on the profile of the cereal. Students will use recommendations from My Plate to demonstrate an understanding of the functions of fiber in the body and make suggestions for increasing fiber in the diet.
The Grain Game
Students use pieces of cereal made from grains grown in Oklahoma to play a counting game.
The History of Ethanol in America
Students will explore the production of biofuels from the 1850s to the present.
The History of Irrigation on the Great Plains
Students examine the history of irrigation on the Great Plains, create a timeline to organize the information and research to learn about irrigation around the world.
If Not for the Pollinators: Matching Flowers with Pollinators
Students match flowers to pollinators and construct models of flowers to demonstrate why different kinds of flowers need different kinds of pollinators.
Next Year's Seeds
The student will play a game demonstrating variables that affect the food supply.
Oklahoma Grown
The student will learn which Oklahoma crops grow in which counties.
Oklahoma's Other Oilfields
Students learn about oilseed crops - canola, soybeans, cottonseeds and sunflower seeds - and how oil is extracted from them.
'Round and 'Round We Go: The Benefits of Crop Rotation
Students will read about crop rotation methods used on commercial farms in the US. Students will play a game to demonstrate crop rotation. Students will plant a wheat field.
Snack Sack
Students experience the concepts of ratio and probability, using agricultural products that can be considered snack foods. Students analyze and record information from the class experience.
Weeds on the Windowsill
An examination of the need for pesticides. Students compare the results when they grow plants in two kinds of garden soil, one of which has been treated (by boiling water) to kill weed seeds and one which has not.
What's Organic?
Student will examine the different meanings of the word "organic."
Will Your Car Run on Grass? How Biomass Becomes Alcohol
Grades 6-8: Science
Students conduct experiments with yeast to determine what substances promote fermentation.

Additional Resources