Sustainable Agriculture Curriculum for High School Educators Announced

Posted June 2005

student engaged in hands-on learningCIAS is proud to announce an invaluable resource for high school teachers. Toward a Sustainable Agriculture is a free curriculum that addresses the social, environmental and economic impacts of agriculture. The curriculum provides a critical analysis of agricultural and food systems and helps students understand new concepts through hands-on examples.

What is it?

The curruculum includes six modules, designed to be incorporated into existing classes:

  • Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture
  • Corn, Beans, and Burgers: Field Crops and Sustainable Agriculture
  • Fur, Feathers, and Fins: Animals in Sustainable Agriculture
  • Gifts from the Garden: Sustainable Horticulture (under construction)
  • The Challenge of Stewardship: Natural Resources Management (under construction)
  • A Growing Market: Organic Agriculture (under construction)

Each module will take 5 to 15 hours, depending on how much depth the teacher wants. Each module includes background information for the teacher, suggested classroom activities, evaluation materials, and suggestions on where to go for more information.

How do I get the curriculum?

You can access the curriculum on this web site: www.cias.wisc.edu/curriculum/index.htm. Or you can order a CD with the curriculum materials from CIAS. Call (608) 262-5200 or e-mail Trish Haza at phaza@wisc.edu for ordering information. The anticipated cost for the CD, including postage, is $5.00. Although a CD is convenient to use, it will not show future additions to the curriculum.

Where can I get more information?

Contact Diane Mayerfeld at dbmayerfeld@wisc.edu or (608) 262-8188.

The curriculum is being developed by the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, with financial support from the North Central Sustainable Research and Education Program.

Register Now for Flower Growers School

The Wisconsin Cut Flower Growers School offers practical information on how to grow and sell flowers using organic and sustainable production practices and manage a cut flower business. It will be held February 18-19 on the UW-Madison campus. More information is available here.

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