Are you looking for a fun and easy way to engage your students in discovery? We bring your lessons to life through our hands-on and minds-on agricultural and environmental programs. These programs are FREE to all 
Carroll County teachers.

To schedule a program, call Terri at 627-4310. Following is a list of available programs:

The Farm to Family Food Connection (30 min   pre-K)
This program shows children the route food products take from the farm to the grocery store.

Chick Embryology  (30 min    pre-K - 6)
This program investigates the growth of the chick inside the eggfrom fertilization to hatching. Children get to handle live chicks. Teachers have the option of incubating eggs.

The World Beneath My Feet  (30-50 min   3-5)
This program will demonstrate how soils are formed while including subject matter in geology, botany, math, and natural science. Students will make soil profiles which they keep.

Exploring Planet Pizza  (30 min    K-3)
Students help make a felt board pizza utilizing cows in place of cheese, pigs in place of pork, wheat in place of flour, etc. To follow up, a short 12 minute video takes the children to outer space to investigate a new planet - Planet Pizza. Through this investigation, students learn how pizza originates on the farm. 

Agriculture Careers (30 min     any age)
Investigates the wide range of careers available in agriculture.

Insect Investigations (30-50 min    pre-K - 6)
Students will learn about insect life cycles, anatomy, behavior, and what influence insects have on our lives. They will even have the opportunity to meet some real, live insects.

Pig Power (30 min    K-6)
Using fun visual aids, children learn about the influence pigs have in their lives by discovering many products that come from pigs.

Where Does Milk Come From?  (30-45 min  pre-K - 4)
Children will investigate the many products made from milk and how milk gets to the grocery store. Students will also discover history, breeds of cows, and how cows make milk. For a culminating activity, children will make their own butter!

Why Does Popcorn Pop?  (45 min    pre-K - 5)
The history and production of corn will be discussed after which the children will perform an experiment to investigate what causes popcorn to pop. 

Munching Maniacs (time varies  pre-K - 6)
Have a worm composting bin in your classroom! It's a great way to learn about composting, waste reduction, life cycles, and anatomy. This program can be done in 3 short sessions: one to set up the bin, one to investigate the processes going on inside, and one for a worm party! (Complete with gummi worms!)

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Teacher Workshops
For the past five years, the Extension Offices of Carroll, Jefferson, and Harrison Counties have held teacher workshops in conjunction with the Carroll, Jefferson, and Harrison Soil & Water Conservation Districts.  The workshops have been held in June at scenic places such as Camp Elkhorn, Snode's Barn, and Bluebird Restaurant. The speakers equip teachers with background information about agriculture and natural resources as well as give practical ideas for the classroom. The emphasis is on using this information across the curriculum and enhancing learning through fun, hands-on activities. We also feature make-it and take-it projects and have plenty of resources for teachers to take home. Combine all this with a great lunch, door prizes, and new friends and everyone has a good time. Teachers also earn CEUs for participating. 

The 2003 workshop will be held Thursday, June 26, 2003 at Algonquin Mill in Petersburg, 4 miles south of Carrollton. The workshop is titled "The ABC's of Agriculutre & Environmental Education." The workshop will feature hands-on activities that teachers can use to teach about the environment across all subject areas. The cost is just $30 and includes morning refreshments, lunch, and take-home materials. Space is limited so please call the Extension office at 330-627-4310 today for a brochure and registration form. 

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Classroom in the Country
This program is for all fourth grade students in the Carrollton School District. The last Thursday in September, fourth graders eagerly board buses for this field trip to the McClester farm and the Shankel Dairy Farm near Augusta, Ohio. Students are given a workbook to facilitate learning as they move around to 5 different stations focused on agriculture and natural resources. In 2002, students learned about aquatics, pigs, wildlife, dairy, and soils. Topics covered in the past include forestry, corn, and wool. Children use all their senses as they pet a pig and calf, taste cheese, feel pond weed, and examine creatures found in the pond. Students also make their own ice cream in a Ziploc bag after lunch. 

This program is also sponsored by the Carroll Soil & Water Conservation District, and we have been fortunate to have staff and volunteers from Brumbaugh Nature Center in Alliance teach aquatics. Many wonderful local volunteers have been involved in helping and teaching at this field trip.

To evaluate student learning, a pre-test is given in the classrooms 1-2 weeks before the field trip and a post-test is administered several days after the event. At the visit to the classroom before the field trip, teachers receive a packet of activities to use as a warm-up or follow-up. A "Mystery Box" is also given to each classroom. The box is filled with items students may see at the field trip. The students reach their arm in the box (without looking) and try to guess what they are feeling. The goal is that the field trip is not just an event, but a total learning experience!

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The Progressive Farmer Kids Safety Round-Up
2003 marks the Tenth Annual Country Living Field Day. This agricultural field day has featured the Kids Safety Round-up sponsored by Progressive Farmer Magazine. Children learn valuable information to help keep them safe at home and on the farm. The program is set up as individual stations that the children visit. Upon completing 9 stations, the child earns a free T-shirt. Some of the previous topics covered include:

bicycle safety                             firearm safety
fire safety                                   pond safety
emergency calling                         ATV safety
safety around tractors                 flowing grain danger
poisons                                         KidCare ID & fingerprinting
protect your hearing                     sun safety
disability awareness                     electrical safety
safety around animals                   rabies awareness

This event is free of charge and open to children of all ages. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. The 2003 Country Living Field Day will be held Saturday, September 27, 10:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. In addition to the safety stations, there are also other agriculture-related activities. In 2002, COSI (the Center of Science and Industry) in Columbus brought their traveling educational program, Agriculture Adventures. Other activities include crafts and face painting. For more information, see Country Living Field Day.

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