Classroom and Lab Activities
Submitted by Ohio Teachers of Agriculture
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Dana Handrosh
dhandrosh@buckeyeschools.org
“I break up a list of diseases and give one to each student, and then that
student teaches the class about that disease using PowerPoint or the Smart
Board. I design a rubric for what the students must include in the
presentation.”
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Mick Weber
buckeyefarm20@frontier.com
“Working in groups, students select from a provided pile of tools and
equipment, the items needed to collect a soil sample. Students are then
directed to a designated field to collect a “representative” sample. Student
have to determine what is meant by the term, write out their collection
steps in a lab book, diagram their collection pattern in a lab book, and then
explain/ defend their process to the other groups.
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Mike Derringer
derringerm@butlertech.org
“I dress up like E.M. Tiffany when I introduce FFA history/ FFA creed. I
let the students interview me, an old man, about changes in agriculture and
in pop culture. I conclude with what I believe in (agriculture), then
students write down their creed. Students share this with their group.”
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Jaime Chenevy-Martin
whol_cheneve@tccsa.net
“As an interest approach, students use play dough to create a visual/
sculpture/ creation of what something is. It shows what they already know.
It’s fun, hands-on, and quick.”
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Chad Berning
berningc@botkins.k12.oh.us
“When teaching woodworking safety/ machine use, I take a piece of rough
cut lumber, plane it down, show the class how to use the planer. The I
joint the edges, showing the students how to use the jointer, then we put a
decorative edge on it, show the students how to use the router. Then, each
student in the class will rout a different letter in the board, which would
say The Class of 2016, or whatever year they graduate. Then, we paint the
letters black, stain, and poly the signs. The class project teachers how to
use all my machines and how to paint, stain, varnish, etc. If you have two
periods of this class, I make a competition to see who could make the
better sign. Then, I have each make a family sign.”
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Noah Neiderhouse
nneiderhouse@bcs.k12.oh.us
“At the conclusion of our beef production unit, students have to A.I. a
preserved or not preserved (meat market provided) cow reproductive tract.
Great activity, and it’s been very successful to spark students interest in
the veterinary field of study.”
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Steve Wilhelm
steve.wilhelm@urbanacityschools.org
“If available, call a local butcher and get some beef hearts (inexpensive or
free!) Went to the web to find instructions on how to dissect a heart. We
did the lab at the end of the circulatory system unit. Make students write a
report on the lab and they can label all of the parts of the heart. Lab trays
can be borrowed from science department. Would suggest only 4 students
per group if you have enough hearts.”
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Sarah Reynolds
sarah_r@highlandfightingscots.org
“Use a balloon, straw, rubber bands, 3 life savers, and water to have
students create a female reproductive tract. Then, use the straw and water
to A.I. her. Contact me if you need clarification.”
Teacher:
Email:
Idea:
Scott Sharp
ssharp@amanda.k12.oh.us
“For public speaking, I bring in a large stack of Little Golden Books
(children’s story books.) Each student picks a book and gets 10 minutes to
read and prepare a summary of the book. Then each then have to do a 2
minute presentation about the book they read.”