This course aims to increase understanding and knowledge of our food and fiber system, giving a starting point for students to explore pathways and occupations related to the agriculture industry, and gain hands-on experience learning basic agricultural practices. This curriculum, designed for eighth-graders, is intended to be student-led and inquiry-based.  Written by Emma Sunderman; Ice Cream in a Bag Lesson Plan by Caleb tenBensel; other activities developed and curated by Nebraska AFNR educators

Through a poster-creation project, learners will identify careers in agriculture and choose one to explain details including responsibilities, salary, employers, etc. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

This lesson offers learners the opportunity to understand the importance of nutrition in the livestock industry and the differences between species in terms of anatomy, physiology, and nutrient requirements and/or deficiencies. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.  

This lesson presents an overview of the role of genetics, breeding, and reproduction in animal agriculture. Learners will become familiar with fundamentals of genetics, complete a Punnett square, understand phenotypes and genotypes, identify parts of reproductive systems, and discuss breeding systems used in the animal industry. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

This lesson will serve as an overview of the motivation, values, and principles necessary to enhance character and leadership development. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

What items are essential to survival? You have chartered a yacht with several friends for the holiday trip of a lifetime around the Atlantic Ocean. Because none of you have any previous sailing experience, you have hired an experienced skipper and two-person crew. While you are halfway through your voyage, a fierce fire breaks out in the galley. The skipper and crew have been lost whilst trying to fight the blaze. Much of the yacht is destroyed and is slowly sinking. Your location is unclear because vital navigational and radio equipment have been damaged in the fire. Your best estimate is that you are many hundreds of miles from the nearest major landfall. As you board the lifeboats and make your way away from the wreckage, you spot a small island in the distance.

These FarmFood360° tours will allow students to visit farms across Canada, hear from real farmers, and test their knowledge at the end of each tour.

This lesson offers an understanding of the historic and economic implications of the livestock industry to our state and nation. Learners will recognize the best management practices for specific food animal species, as well as identify the important breeds of each species. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

This lesson presents an overview of ecosystems of a forest. Upon completion of this unit students will know the dynamics of forestry management. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

Students take notes and read articles about how life changed for humans because of the introduction of agriculture.  Students play “MasterMind” using the dates of significant changes in agriculture and complete a worksheet while researching historical events that have impacted agriculture.

This introductory lesson presents an overview of the horse industry including classification, breeds, colors, tack, and history of horses used in the United States. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

This activity is meant to follow a lesson about world or international agriculture. It gives the students an understanding of exports, imports, and trade embargos by using M&M’s as agricultural products. By Katie Griffith, Nebraska Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources educator

In this introduction to biotechnology's use in agriculture, learners will discuss history of the topic, model the fermentation process, and extract DNA in a lab activity.

This lesson presents an overview of Natural Resources. Learners then complete a poster identifying and classifying Natural Resources. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

This lesson presents a brief overview of budgeting and tracking income and expenses within a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program or project.

This resource provides an introduction to parliamentary procedure, learners will interact with parli pro event procedures, and practice using parli pro skills.

This lesson presents an overview of the Food Science Industry.  Learners will learn about proper nutrition, create informational flyers on food-borne pathogenic organisms, and create their very own food product label.

Learners will identify sources of air pollution, explain the greenhouse effect, and detail procedures for improving and maintaining air quality. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.

Pair this activity with lessons on selective breeding. Students will identify desirable genetic traits in apples and use a coin flip to simulate the steps and time involved to breed a new cultivar of apple. (Photo by Tom Paolini on Unsplash.com)

This lesson covers plant processes including photosynthesis, respiration, and transpiration. This represents a portion of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) series in Nebraska middle and high school agricultural education.