This lesson is a fun and tasty way to introduce students to dichotomous keys and how to create their own keys using snack packs of nuts, dried fruit, or chips. Non-food items like pens/pencils work well, and avoid allergens.

Use this virtual version featuring mint candies to learn about dichotomous keys.

Using agriculture as a contextual theme in literature circles allows students to choose publications on a variety of different subjects and encourages classroom discussion on common connections between the texts. The Agricultural Reading Recommendations offer diverse perspectives on stewardship of the land and the effects on a character’s lifestyle, values and identity. Literature circles provide students the opportunity to explore texts of their interest engaging them in effective student-centered learning. This reinforces comprehension, analysis and evaluation.

Common plastic is made from petroleum, a fossil fuel and non-renewable resource. Increasingly, plastic products are being made from biomass which is made from renewable resources, often by-products of agricultural processes.

Google Slides version of student worksheet available for elearning purposes.

This hands-on lesson teaches students about the physical and social geography of Oregon’s 36 counties. Students learn to interpret a variety of maps, glean information to answer worksheet questions and finally create a map that communicates physical and social facts about an Oregon county. As an extension to the lessons, students work cooperatively to create the questions and answers for an Oregon Geography Pursuit game.

Google Slide version of student worksheets available for elearning purposes.

In this lesson students set up a side-by-side germination experiment of monocot and dicot seeds. They will observe differences and similarities of these two types of flowering plants at the germination level, specifically the number of cotyledons. Students can record their findings daily. This is a great way to begin a flowering plant unit

In this activity students make notebooks to both hold materials they find and record their observations on nature walks.

Peppermint is often used as flavoring in tea, ice cream, candy, chewing gum, and toothpaste. Peppermint can also be found in some shampoos and soaps. Make peppermints with your students!!

Complete you family tree in this lesson by listing each individuals occupation.

The Oregon state flag is full of symbolism, some flag experts (vexillologists) say too much. This project teaches students about the flag and the meaning of its many parts. After, enjoy a trivia game and learn about Oregon’s geography, state symbols, and some historical facts. Templates to make question and answer card sets and a post quiz are attached.

Students explore the role of a Ingredient Development Specialist calculating the cost analysis of ingredients in Orville’s Choco-Popcorn recipe and participating in a triangle test tasting panel to make product improvement recommendations to Orville.