Free Teaching Aid Helps Elementary School Students Learn the Importance of Nebraska Agriculture
The Nebraska Pork Producers Association (NPPA) and the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) have developed a new learning tool to teach second- through sixth-grade students about the importance of pigs and soybean farming in the state. Entitled Short Snoots, Soybean Sprouts, this colorful, four-page worksheet is provided free to teachers by the NPPA and the NSB.
The worksheet uses a variety of interactive exercises, puzzles and story problems to demonstrate how pigs and soybeans are raised in Nebraska. These activities make use of student skills in math, science, and language while teaching important concepts about agriculture in Nebraska. Other topics addressed in the worksheet include how soybeans provide healthy, high-protein food for both pigs and people and how by-products of soybeans and pigs are used for non-food items we use everyday.
The NPPA and the NSB actively work to educate Nebraskans about the importance of animal agriculture to the state’s economic health.
The handout uses a variety of interactive exercises, puzzles and other activities to tell how pigs and soybeans are raised in the state, how soybeans provide healthy, high-protein foods for both pigs and people, and how by-products of soybeans and pigs are used to make many beneficial non-food products. These activities, which make use of student skills in math, science and language, present the important facts in an entertaining way that hold student attention and make learning fun. Also included is an age-appropriate recipe and instructions for baking ham and cheese muffins.
The NPPA and the NSB actively work toward educating Nebraskans about the importance of animal agriculture to the state’s economic health.
“The more students know about how important agriculture is in this state, the more they’ll appreciate the work Nebraska farmers do every day to provide healthy food for their dinner tables,” says Kyla Habrock, the NPPA’s youth leadership director. “Short Snoots, Soybean Sprouts is an excellent tool for teachers to use to give students a picture of how animal agriculture and farming work hand-in-hand to produce our food and strengthen Nebraska’s economy,” she says.
“We want to provide students with a better understanding of where their food comes from,” according to Teri Zimmerman, NSB education and outreach manager. “Since most of the soybeans harvested in the state are used for livestock feed, pig farmers are a significant market for our crops. Short Snoots, Soybean Sprouts is a great resource that utilizes student skills while presenting information about Nebraska-grown commodities.”
Other educational materials provided free to the state’s elementary schools by the Nebraska Soybean Board and the Nebraska Pork Producers Association include: a Bingo card game that teaches students about pork and soybean farming; Food For Thought, an animated video package that gives students a look at how pork is produced in Nebraska; Producers, Pigs & Pork, a series of lessons that teaches students about our food supply system, centering on pork production; and Pigmania, a six-lesson package that teaches students the basics about pork production.
Teachers can order Short Snoots, Soybean Sprouts at no cost at nebraskashortsnootssoybeansprouts.com. Quantities are limited, so teachers are urged to order immediately.
For more information, contact Karen Brokaw at 402-432-2299 or email karen@brokawmarketing.com