It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep graduate students in forage and range science connected to producers and grazingland resources in the USA. Students must take an integrated systems approach to understanding the complexity of our grazinglands and their role in addressing critical issues. This can best be conveyed to the student by…

Trends in animal production have moved the industry toward large confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). These CAFOs concentrate large amounts of manure-based nutrients in relatively small areas, which increases the risk of nutrient loss to the surrounding environment. In response to water quality concerns, P-based manure application…

The after-school science club at Galtier Math, Science, and Technology Elementary Magnet School in St. Paul, Minnesota, learned some valuable lessons when they took newfound knowledge about pollution into their homes. After learning about the effects of various contaminants on health and what informed citizens can do about it, students tested…

The laboratory component of a first-semester general chemistry course for science majors is described. The laboratory involves a semester-long project undertaken in a small-group format. Students are asked to examine whether plants grown in soil contaminated with lead take up more lead than those grown in uncontaminated soil. They are also asked…

This article describes a novel, hands-on method to qualitatively determine the extent of microbial activity in topsoil using ordinary blank paper. Appropriate and scalable for the high school and college level, these experiments expose students to some of the challenges facing environmental researchers and also contribute to curriculum development…

The student activity book offers a variety of written exercises and "hands on" experiments and demonstrations for students at the fourth grade level. The book begins with a cartoon story that follows the adventures of a student investigating a soil erosion crisis and what her community can do to prevent soil erosion. Interspersed within…

This publication covers the historical, technological, economic, and environmental aspects of agricultural drainage. It draws from the combined knowledge of academic and U.S. Department of Agriculture professionals in public policy, drainage theory, planning, engineering, environmental science, and economics. The main purpose is to review the…

This unit is designed to help science, social studies, vocational agriculture, and other teachers incorporate forest ecology concepts into their subject matter. The unit includes: (1) topic outline; (2) unit objectives; (3) background information on climate and soils, levels of a deciduous forest, age classes, food and energy relationships, forest…

Agricultural education can make a substantial contribution to the quality of the facilities and activities available for outdoor recreation. A teacher relates the course content, objectives, and learning activities of the soils portion of the curriculum of an urban nature center utilized as an outdoor laboratory. (Author/AJ)

Conservation and environmental education activities comprise this manual for K-12 teachers in Oklahoma. Materials are grouped by subject matter: (1) Soil and Land Use: (2) Water; and (3) Habitat and Wildlife. Each chapter begins with background information designed as a short course for the teacher on the topic covered. This is followed by a set…

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE IS TO ASSIST TEACHERS IN PREPARING HIGH SCHOOL AND POST-HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY OCCUPATIONS. ONE OF A SERIES, THIS MODULE WAS DEVELOPED ON THE BASIS OF STATE STUDIES BY A NATIONAL TASK FORCE. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR ENTRY AND ADVANCEMENT IN FERTILIZER SALES AND SERVICE.…

Described is a K-5 curriculum developed by teachers for use in conjunction with an outdoor learning site adjacent to their school. A curriculum matrix depicts the sequence of organisms, habitats, and soil characteristics that students in each grade level should study. Also included is background information about the site for teachers. Organized…

This module discusses some of the objectives of incorporating vegetative cover in land treatment systems. Specific crops and forest cover are mentioned in relation to benefits associated with each, and specific treatment alternatives (irrigation, overland flow, and rapid infiltration) are included in relation to vegetative cover considerations.…

The document is a catalog of behavioral objectives organized by units of instruction in agricultural education. Each of the six units contains an outline of the content, a goal statement, and general and specific objectives. The units were developed by teachers in summer workshops to provide: (1) a bank of objectives for task analyses and job…

Land use is the subject of the student resource unit to be used with high school vocational agriculture students. Uses of the land in an urban environment, suburban environment, rural environment (as cropland, forest, and others), recreation and parks, and other environments are described. The supply of and demand for land is discussed.…