8.2 Plants Have Issues Too – Issues Related to Plant Production
This middle school agricultural literacy lesson teaches students about consumer, production, and processing issues related to plant science. Students map the stages of producing plant products (production, processing, consumption) and analyze articles representing different viewpoints on three major issues—chemical and pesticide safety, genetically modified organisms, and environmental concerns of crop production—in order to form educated opinions.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
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- As a result of this unit the student will examine the components of Food and Agricultural Literacy: Applying Mathematics and Science Concepts Curriculum
- As a result of this lesson, the student will explain consumer, production, and processing issues related to plant science.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
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- Transparencies/Projector
- Writing Surface
- Articles that address different viewpoints on each of the plant issues listed below
- Internet and computer access if students are to research their own articles
- Large pieces of paper (butcher paper would work best)
- Plant products
- Markers
- MS.IAS.8.2.TM.A – one per teacher
- MS.IAS.8.2.TM.B – one per teacher
- MS.IAS.8.2.AS.A – two per student
- MS.IAS.8.2.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Lesson Number
- MS.IAS.8.2
- Curriculum
- Middle School Food and Agricultural Literacy Curriculum
- Precepts
- J. Mental Growth; J1. Think critically; J2. Think creatively; J4. Solve problems
- Resources
- Herren, R.V. (2007). The Science of Agriculture. New York, NY: Thomson: Delmar Learning.
- Key Terms
- Production, Processing, Consumer, Issues
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- CS.02.04.01.c.Demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills while completing a task.
- CS.02.04.02.c.Implement effective problem solving strategies.
- NL-ENG.K-12.12Applying Language Skills
- NL-ENG.K-12.4Communication Skills
- NS.5-8.3Life Science
- NS.5-8.5Science and Technology
- NS.5-8.6Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
Social Science / Economics
- NSS-EC.5-8.1Productive resources are limited. Therefore, people cannot have all the goods and services they want. As a result, they must choose some things and give up others.