We’ve all heard the slogan – “bring back play,” with the big idea of getting kids back outside, in the outdoors, away from the “boob tubes and Xboxes.” But what about agriculture in the classroom? How are we teaching our children about nutrients and what are their hands on learning opportunities?
Even through I grew up on a farm, as a kid I loved the days we would take a class trip to our local farm and have the opportunity to meet farmers, smell manure, and learn all about milking dairy cows, shearing sheep, and all about growing corn. For a few seconds we could escape the classroom and run endlessly through the corn fields in our rubber boots trying to lose our teachers. Oh those were the days – but where is agriculture in the classroom today?
I find much too often children are unaware of the role agriculture plays in society. Many kids think that milk, eggs, and vegetables are simply bought off the shelf in a grocery store. But what happens when the shelf is empty? Is there a disconnect between agriculture/nutrients and the classroom? What role does agriculture play in their lives and how are they learning about it?
As this week is Agricultural Literacy Week in many Provinces, I thought I might introduce you to Nutrients For Life. Nutrients for Life is a charitable education foundation founded in 2008 by the Canadian Fertilizer Institute, and is based on plant nutrient learnings, promoting education about nutrients, how they help grow plants, and how they help keep the soil and Canada green.
Nutrients For Life
The Nutrients for Life (NFL) program connects curriculum based education with nutrients for the classroom. It helps children learn about the food, agriculture, local environmental issues, the nutrients that they eat, where they come from, and the importance of sustainability in our food system. The role is to engage students about agriculture, nutrients, and sustainability.
Part of the program offers teachers curriculum based resources for their classrooms and the opportunity to act as nutrients for life ambassadors teaching others about nutrients. More recently there are also opportunities for classrooms to grow and adopt “school gardens” in their school yards.
The School Garden Network
It’s a way to connect schools across the country sharing their experiences. And essential for kids to get real hands on experience growing plants and food as well as learning about pollinators and essential nutrients. Classes have the opportunity to connect as part of a network and learn all about different areas, growing different foods and crop production in different provinces.
What does NFL offer Teachers?
Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century are resources that can help students investigate how nutrients can be applied to improve crop growth, and to feed people while protecting the environment, while achieving four major goals associated with scientific literacy:
- To understand a set of basic elements related to food productions
- To experience the process of scientific inquiry and develop an enhanced understanding of nature and the methods of science
- To concentrate and increase critical thinking skills
- To recognize the role of science in society and the relationship between basic science and human health.
Nutrients for Life promotes “hands on” learning material to teachers for children. A complete list of teacher resources can be found at https://www.nutrientsforlife.ca/for-teachers/
And For More Information, check out some of the latest resources on youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyGh6Phudt8
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” –Marcus Tullius Cicero
_________________
Diana Tyner (M.Sc.) is a water guru, environmental advisor, and licensed greenhouse gas quantifier (GHG-IQ). She works with Canadian business, government, and industry to advance solutions in water, agriculture, and greenhouse gases.
Diana Tyner's Blog 