New York Agriculture in the Classroom
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2008's Book of the Year: Sugarbush Spring, by Marsha Wilson Chall

State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker reads Lily's Garden on Ag Literacy Day, March 2007.

2007's Book of the Year: Lily's Garden, by Deborah Kogan Ray

State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick H. Brennan read to the second and third grade classes at Waterville Central School in celebration of Agricultural Literacy Day on March 20, 2006. After reading the book titled, Extra Cheese Please: Mozzarella's Journey from Cow to Pizza, he donated the book to the school library.

2006's Book of the Year: Extra Cheese Please: Mozzarella's Journey from Cow to Pizza, by Cris Peterson

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!

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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.

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

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

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Lesson Plan
The lesson plan, Exploring Maple Syrup, is 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.

Click here to download the lesson plan in PDF format.

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Workshops for Coordinators and Volunteer Readers
Download the registration form here.

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Supplementary Resources on the Web

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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

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For Volunteer Readers:

For Teachers:
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For County Coordinators:
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For All:
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