New York Agriculture in the Classroom

NYAITC's Ag Literacy Day

New York Agriculture in the Classroom is pleased to announce its annual New York Ag Literacy Day, to promote the understanding and appreciation of agriculture and the food and fiber system.

On April 8, volunteers throughout the state will read a book with an agricultural theme to second graders. Students will also benefit from hands-on lessons and receive follow up activities. The book is given to the school library with a bookplate recognizing the donor and NY Ag Literacy Day. More than 1,200 books were donated last year while thousands of second graders participated in fun and educational activities.

County Coordinators
Local efforts will be coordinated by a volunteer in each county. To find your county's coordinator, click here. If there is not yet a coordinator identified in your county, please contact us. Maybe you'd like to consider volunteering as one yourself!

About the Book
NYAITC's 2008 Book of the Year is Sugarbush Spring, by Marsha Wilson Chall (Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books). Read more about the book and author here.

Read NYAITC's review of the book here.

Download a list of other recommended maple-themed books here.

Donations/Sponsors
New York Agriculture in the Classroom would like to thank the following companies for their generous donations to Ag Literacy Day 2008:

The Agway Foundation
The New York State Maple Producers' Association

New York Agriculture in the Classroom would like to thank the following companies for their generous donations to Ag Literacy Day 2007:

Jiffy Products
Harris Seed Company
Ferry-Morse Seed Company

Would you like to fund the purchase of one or more books? The books cost $10 (hardcover edition). Send your donation to your county coordinator (make checks out to Cornell University and indicate "Ag Literacy Day" in the memo line). Donors will be recognized on a special bookplate. You may choose to have your donated book go to a specific school, or to read it yourself. A donor form is available here.

Lesson Plan
Coming soon - The lesson plan will be designed to supplement the book with hands-on activites tied to New York State Learning Standards, and can be used by classroom teachers following the Ag Literacy Day event.

Workshops for Coordinators and Volunteer Readers

March 1, 2008: Buffalo Botanical Gardens, Buffalo, NY
March 8, 2008: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, Voorheesville, NY
March 15, 2008: Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park, NY
March 21, 2008: Madison Central School, Madison, NY

Registration materials will be available soon.

Supplementary Resources on the Web
My Pyramid for kids and families
National Ag Day/Ag Week Web Site
NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets Color NY book, Farm Fresh Guide, Ag Facts
Ag in the Classroom National Resource Directory
NYAITC's "Be Aware of NY Agriculture" Web Quests
American Farm Bureau Resources
NY Ag in the Classroom Second Grade lessons
NY Ag Statistics Service Kids Page
NY Ag Statistics Service Puzzle Fun Booklets
Food & Fiber Systems Literacy Lessons
4-H Virtual Farm

Ag Literacy Lessons
Agriculture Counts, Grades 2-3 (USDA)
Tree Parts lesson - Science grades 2-3
What Does Ag Have to Do with Me? - Social Studies grades 2-3
Where is Agriculture? - ELA K and 1st Grade
Who Cares for the Land? - ELA 2nd and 3rd Grades
A Day Without Agriculture - ELA 4th and 5th Grades

For Volunteer Readers:
Volunteer Reader Form (MS Word)
Volunteer Reader Feedback Sheet (MS Word)

For Teachers:
Letter for School Administrators (MS Word)
Teacher Feedback Sheet (MS Word)
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For County Coordinators:
Coordinator Book Order Form (MS Word)
County Coordinator Tracking Form (MS Word)
Letter for School Administrators (MS Word)

For All:
Book donor form (MS Word)
Ag Literacy Day Fact Sheet (PDF)
Ag Literacy Day Poster (PDF)