Tagged environmental science
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3D farming brings new dimensions to feeding the world
3D ocean farming helps the environment and local economies. (embed: https://vimeo.com/100474262) The Seas Will Save Us: How an Army of Ocean Farmers Are Starting an Economic Revolution
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AFNR natural resources
How do we impact natural resources by our activities? This unit helps meet some of the AFNR curriculum standards for natural resources. Students will learn how to test texture and other physical characteristics of soil, conduct water quality tests, …
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Agricultural engineering
Agricultural engineers explain their work and how they use biology and engineering to make farms energy-efficient and our food supply safe and plentiful. They describe what drew them to agricultural engineering and discuss their education and career …
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Aquaculture
How does aquaculture meet the global demand for protein? Students discover the science and challenges behind global fish farming by completing these three lessons.
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Biochar: producing bioenergy from waste
How can a waste stream become part of a cyclical system? Make biochar, a soil amendment, by making and using a model top light updraft (TLUD) pyrolysis kiln or oven.
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Bioeconomy and soybeans: investigating challenges and exploring solutions
What is a bioeconomy? What is the role of soybeans in the development of bioeconomies in Spanish-speaking countries? International markets are very important to soybean farmers across the globe. In this unit, students in a Spanish language class will explore the idea of a bioeconomy and research case studies of …
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Dinner and data and drones, oh my!: technology in agriculture
What technologies are used to help farmers become more productive and more sustainable? Drones (or UAVs-unmanned aerial vehicles) are taking to the skies. What are they doing up there? What other technologies are there that help growers become more productive, yet more thoughtful about …
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Future of food
How has agriculture changed? What is a GMO? What is the future of food? Society and cultures revolve around food. There are television networks solely focused on food and it is almost impossible to take a drive without passing a fast food chain. Billions of dollars are …
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H2Know digital case study
How might water quality be improved? The H2Know case study invites students to investigate water quality in Lake Erie. Students will gather information about the problem, consider potential contributors and environmental factors, review …
student research project
student research project
Increasing soybean germination rate
Seed germination begins with the rupturing of the seed coat and the emergence of the radicle, which will form the first roots of the seedling. Molybdenum is a catalyst for several enzymatic reactions in a cell, and potassium chloride is an essential …
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Living the hive life: honey bees and pollinators
How important are honey bees to our food supply? What’s happening to honey bees? This unit contains three different ways to learn about honey bees and pollinators: a video for all to learn more about bees and how to successfully keep them, a …
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Maintaining our yield: assessing biotic and abiotic factors
How do biotic and abiotic factors affect populations? Create experiments to test how abiotic factors impact soybean germination, go into the field and laboratory to determine the impact of aphid populations on soybeans, and experiment with aphid …
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Managing nutrient and pesticide needs in agriculture
Why do farmers spend time and money to apply chemicals to their fields? In this threaded PBL*, (an effort to integrate agricultural understandings into the normal sequence of an Environmental Science classroom) students will conduct several “close reads” (reading for …
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Nitrogen fixation and legumes: say what?
How do legumes fix nitrogen? If the atmosphere is about 80% Nitrogen (N2), but plants cannot use that form, how do they get nitrogen? In this unit, students plant and care for soybeans under one of five different …
student research project
student research project
Paper mill sludge: a usable fertilizer?
Approximately 10 billion tons of PMS are produced annually by the paper industry and pose a major disposal problem for paper mills. One possible solution to the industry’s problem is the use of PMS as a fertilizer through land-spreading. When mixed …
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pH in soil
What is the variability in pH of soils across a field? Soil tests show the pH and nutrient amounts in a field. Soil chemistry determines the amount of root growth, the amount of nutrients that can be held in the soil, and the ability of plants to take in …
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Smart farming: using data to make decisions
What kind of data do farmers use to make decisions? Where does that data come from? Become a "farmer" on a journey from pre-planting to harvest to see what decisions farmers are making every year as they farm. Growers across the country are gaining access to more and more data about …
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Soybeans and soil compaction win the prize!
(Thanks WYSO for this news story.) Springfield STEM Academy Student’s Science Fair Project Wins Ohio Environmental Award A local high school student has received the Governor’s Award For Excellence in Environmental Protection Research. Ian Spence is …
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Stick a fork in it: biodegradable products
Which biobased substrate will create a durable form of bio-plastic? Which biobased material has the least effect on the composition of compost and runoff through degradation? Compostable plastics are a new generation of plastics that are biodegradable through composting. They are derived generally from renewable raw materials like starch (e.g. corn, potato, tapioca etc), …
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Supporting ag teachers with science lessons and labs
Meredith Wolfe, Courtney Bockbrader, and Whitney Short recently shared some great resources and activities with 18 Ohio agriculture teachers. The workshops covered plants, environment and natural resources, biotechnology, and agriscience fair …
student research project
student research project
The effect of starter fertilizer on Glycine max yields
The objective was to compare the yield and protein and oil content of Glycine max planted with a 2 x 2 application of 10-34-00 starter fertilizer and without starter fertilizer, and to compare the quality of water discharge from field drainage tile …
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Video
Think ag
Want to know more about what ag-related careers are available? Learn about the daily work of a seed distributor, a crop insurance specialist, and a construction equipment sales person. Thanks to the Michigan Farm Bureau for sharing this video. …
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Water quality
What affects water quality in your area? Access to clean water is a critical issue in many countries. In the United States there are few places where we cannot find clean water to drink or swim in. This unit explores some of the potential …
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Water quality and human impacts
Why is water quality important? How is water quality measured? The US EPA has set water quality standards in accordance with the Clean Water Act: Water quality standards are important because they help to protect and restore the quality of the Nation's surface …
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Watersheds, wetlands and water quality data analysis
Why is water quality important? What factors impact water quality? This unit will discuss the importance of water quality, describe several impacts to water quality, and include a data analysis activity that students complete to determine how wetlands play a role in …
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Water Windmill Challenge
How do engineers build strong support structures? This unit asks students to create a windmill structure using the Engineering Design Process. A farmer has hired your company, Wind Power Technologies, to engineer a derrick to support a …
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Where does our food come from, anyway? Sustainable ag systems
How do growers’ decisions affect the sustainability of agricultural systems? Understand and appreciate food producers through this case study and determine what decisions must be made on a yearly, monthly, or daily basis to maintain an environmental system that will continue …
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Your students’ career exploration journey starts here
We’ve done the legwork to gather these great resources. Now you can help your students explore and make career plans for a bright future! As an educator, you want to help students connect their learning with the real world, but you’re in need of …