Maine AITC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation

Funding from this plate has impacted 80,000 students in 2014 with lessons, materials, volunteers and teacher training. Annually up to $60K is distributed in grants to schools, FFA, 4-H and other Non-profit programs for Ag education initiatives by the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council.

Contact Us

28 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
207-287-5522

Follow up Links

National Website
National Lesson Plans
Our Website

Our Mission Statement

"To promote the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public"

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Email: maitca@maine.gov

December Newsletter
#63

2016

Read Me Agriculture 2017

REMEMBER!
Registration Deadline is January 1st!

Each PreK-4 classroom will receive a copy of the book with lesson ideas, and information on Maine Agriculture given by a volunteer reader from the area. You may sign up both teachers and volunteers OR you may submit just teachers or just volunteers and MAITC will provide the missing component. All forms must be returned to the MAITC office by January 1, 2017 to ensure that all volunteers and classrooms receive the books and materials.

For complete information CLICK HERE

Maine School Garden Network is Hiring!

MSGN is looking for a new Coordinator. View the job posting here. To apply: Please send resume and letter of interest describing education, qualifications, skills, and related experience via email for receipt no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 2nd.

Space Exploration with Tomato Seeds

Tomatosphere is a curriculum-based program for schools that involves students in a germination experiment with sets of tomato seeds - a control group and a group that has been to the international space station. Teachers register for the project and receive roughly 30 seeds for each class registered. This is free for classroom teachers! For more information visit their website: https://www.firsttheseedfoundation.org/tomatosphere

Maine Farm to School Cook-Off Cook Book!

The 2016 Maine Farm to School Cook-Off was a skills-based competition of school nutrition staff using local ingredients. Teams of two were tasked to prepare a reimbursable breakfast and lunch meal that meets the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program requirements. Each meal contained at least three ingredients that were grown, raised, caught or manufactured in the State of Maine. A panel of judges consisting of a culinary arts student, school nutrition director, and professional chef scored the dishes based on presentation, taste, creativity, and feasibility to be used in a school breakfast or lunch program, as well as food safety and time management.

Two regional cook-off's took place in Westbrook and Augusta and the finals cook-off was held in Hinckley. Congratulations to Team Knox Rocks! for winning the first annual Maine Farm to School Cook-Off!

Click HERE to check out recipes from the cook-off!

Maine School Garden Day
May 6, 2017

This year's Maine School Garden Day will take place on Saturday, May 6th, at Falmouth High School from 8-4, a full day of classes, exhibits, and more! This is a K-12 educator training workshop and all participants will receive certificates for contact hours or CEU's. The cost of the day is $25 ($35 after April 30) and includes a local foods lunch. Scholarships are available. Click here to register now!!

State of Maine Agricultural Trades Show!

Mark your calendars for January 10-12th to visit MAITC at the Agricultural Trades Show located at the Augusta Civic Center.

For more information.

2017 Summer Teacher's Institute!

July 31 - August 4 at UMF

This year's Summer Teacher's Institute will be the week of July 31st through August 4th at the University of Maine at Farmington. Stay tuned for more information.

Ideas for Getting Agriculture into your Classroom this December

Lessons:

Let's Celebrate! Grades: PreK-6. Students explore in their own lives and in the lives of others the role of celebrations and important foods involved, with a focus on corn.
Why People Need Plants Grades: K-2. The purpose of this lesson is to teach students that plants provide people with food, clothing, shelter, and many other things that we use in our daily lives.
Potato Lesson and Let's Grow Potatoes! Grades: 3-5. Did you know that a traditional Hanukkah dish is the Potato Pancake? Teach your students about this popular Maine plant and try out this potato pancakes recipe!

Note for teachers with the Food, Land, & People Curriculum: consider using some of these lessons: Seasons Through the Year (grades PreK-6; pg. 53); Tree-mendous (grades 3-8, pg. 195); Gala Fiesta Jamboree (grades 3-12, pg. 257); Breads Around the World (grades 4-12, pg. 387); Trading Favorites (grades 7-12; page 711).