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Ag in the Classroom – El Dorado County (AITC) is a local 501(c)3 organization and has existed for over 20 years. AITC grew substantially from 2014-2019, reaching more than 2500 students per year with educational programming about agriculture and its role in the county. Students learned the impact of agriculture in the context of local farms, ranches, forests and watersheds, providing food, shelter, viewscapes and wildlife habitat for our local communities. AITC has served students and teachers from South Lake Tahoe to El Dorado Hills in school and community partnership engagements. The strength of AITC partnerships are demonstrated in grants, sponsorships, volunteerism and in-kind support coming from over 100 area organizations, businesses, and entities in recent years. AITC is a local, grassroots, charitable organization that accomplishes its mission by providing 3 educational programs. FARM DAY - For 20 years, we have hosted thousands of our local 3rd graders, 300+ volunteers and teachers for a day of hands-on, place-based, agricultural education. The purpose is to educate and help students understand where food, fiber and forest products originate and how they are used in everyday life. Classes rotate to learning stations and experience 8 presentations to learn about all aspects of agriculture and farming. FIELDS OF LEARNING (FOL) - Pairs a school with a local farm, 3 times a year, to enhance students’ education through hands-on agricultural experiences. We strive to provide lessons that brings together Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core State Standards. By exploring the items grown on the farm, its environment, its changes and impacts, the program allows students to delve into all the disciplinary core ideas of life science. Farm partners range from the small farm stand of 24 Carrot to the more traditional vision of an Apple Hill farm of Rainbow Orchards, to the ever-diversifying Harris Family Farm, from the vineyards/apples/chestnut trees of Smokey Ridge Ranch, to one of the highest vineyards in California, the environmentally friendly Madroña. Just like our County, our locations are varied, but each one is rich in educational opportunities. NGSS CURRICULUM SUBSCRIPTION - While the 2020-21 school year has necessitated a pivot away from AITCs signature learning opportunities for classes, it opened up the opportunity to expand our educational reach by creating engaging, standards-based science curriculum focused on the local industry and landscape. Schools can subscribe to the program, offering lessons focused on 6 topics. Each unit lesson is targeted to specific school grade level science standards and includes a detailed lesson plan, activity materials, supplementary teaching materials. Benefits Teachers participate in our programs because they know the lessons taught help them meet the many required State standards. These are designed to be educational field trips that align with the subjects being taught in class in addition to teaching the agricultural activities occurring at the farm. Lessons important to the agricultural community such as soil health, water resources, local commodities, and agricultural engineering (just to name a few) are taught in a way that encompasses key points related to agriculture while designed with school standards in mind. That way we ensure all partners involved, schools and agriculturalists, receive the benefits of this program. Teachers, students, chaperones, and parents will benefit from more relevant and up-to-date lessons. Teachers can participate in our program knowing the lessons being presented are enriching and informative. We provide teachers with a follow-up lesson to help extend the ideas taught during the field trip. Students are more engaged in the lessons if they are provided with materials that are hands-on and fun, yet educational in a way that helps them remember the core ideas being taught. In order to reinforce the learning process, we strive to immerse the students in a subject, so they are able to think back on the fun activity they participated in, thereby strengthening the lesson.
Every student has a take home item such as a planting, worksheet or the Ag focused newspaper “What’s Growin On”, which helps stimulate conversation at home. This is yet another way we extend the lesson by encouraging students to talk with their parents about the lessons learned. The Farm host sites also benefit from the exposure they receive. Many students and their parents have never visited these farms and are pleasantly surprised by the abundance of agriculture in their County.
