Darling Ingredients Educational Resources
“Sustainability with Darling Ingredients” is an FFA lesson plan built around a student “Choice Board” that explores agricultural byproducts and sustainability through the lens of Darling Ingredients, a leader in repurposing natural resources. Students complete tiered tasks—watching videos, reading publications, exploring careers, and creating blogs, infographics, and their own ecozone—organized by Bloom’s levels (Remember/Understand, Apply/Analyze/Evaluate, Create). It includes vocabulary materials, twelve appendices with activities, rubrics, and answer keys.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- Utilize resources and activities to discover opportunities within Darling Ingredients.
- Develop a foundational understanding of the necessity of sustainability to meet our growing needs.
- Develop a foundational understanding of the need to give back to nature.
- Time required
- 240 minutes (*Time requirements may vary based upon student understanding and class schedule.)
- Grade level
- Grades 9 and 10
- Materials
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- A copy of the "Darling Ingredients Key Vocabulary" list and the "Darling Vocabulary Exercise"
- A copy of the "Choice Board" worksheet and appendices for each student
- Internet access to play the video in real time or embed it in a PowerPoint ahead of time
- Description of Lesson
- Dive into the world of agricultural byproducts and sustainability by learning about Darling Ingredients, one of the world's leaders in utilizing sustainable ingredients and maximizing the use of natural resources.
- Partnership for 21st Century Skills
- Communication; Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy; Global Awareness; Information, Communications, and Technology Literacy; Think Creatively
- Key Vocabulary
- Bioenergy, Biofuel, Byproduct, Carbon footprint, Climate change, Entrepreneurship, Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), Humic acid, Integrity, Low-carbon biofuel, Nutraceutical, Nutrient rich, Organic residuals, Pharmaceutical, Rendering, Renewable diesel, Sustainable
- Created
- 07/2022 by the National FFA Organization
- Virtual Instruction Ideas
- This entire lesson can be taught virtually. All student handouts can be sent or posted electronically.
Downloads & Links
Lesson plan
Other
Aligned Standards
AFNR Career Ready Practices
- CRP.02Apply appropriate academic and technical skills. Career-ready individuals readily access and use the knowledge and skills acquired through experience and education to be more productive.
- CRP.04Communicate clearly, effectively, and with reason. Career-ready individuals communicate thoughts, ideas and action plans with clarity, whether using written, verbal and/or visual methods.
- CRP.05Consider the environmental, social and economic impact of decisions.
- CRP.06Demonstrate creativity and innovation.
- CRP.07Employ valid and reliable research strategies. Career-ready individuals are discerning in accepting and using new information to make decisions, change practices or inform strategies.
- CRP.08Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. Career-ready individuals readily recognize problems in the workplace, understand the nature of the problem, and devise effective plans to solve the problem.
- CRP.11Use technology to enhance productivity. Career-ready individuals find and maximize the productive value of existing and new technology to accomplish workplace tasks and solve workplace problems.
AFNR Cluster Skills
- CS.02Evaluate the nature and scope of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster and the role of agriculture, food and natural resources (AFNR) in society and the economy.
AFNR Performance Element
- AS.08Analyze environmental factors associated with animal production.
- BS.03NCAE Standard: Demonstrate the application of biotechnology to solve problems in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) systems (e.g., bioengineering, food processing, waste management, horticulture, forestry, livestock, crops, etc.).
- CS.01Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the agriculture, food & natural resources career cluster.
- ESS.04Demonstrate the operation of environmental service systems (e.g., pollution control, water treatment, wastewater treatment, solid waste management and energy conservation).
- NRS.01Explain interrelationships between natural resources and humans necessary to conduct management activities in natural environments.
- NRS.04Demonstrate responsible management procedures and techniques to protect, maintain, enhance, and improve natural resources.
Common Career Technical Core
- AG1Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster.
- AG2Evaluate the nature and scope of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster and the role of agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) in society and the economy.
- AG3Examine and summarize the importance of health, safety, and environmental management systems in AFNR businesses.
- AG6Analyze the interaction among AFNR systems in the production, processing, and management of food, fiber, and fuel and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Common Core – Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects: Writing
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9.10.1Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9.10.4Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Common Core – Math (Specific)
- MP2Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Common Core – Reading: Informational Text
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.1Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.9-10.2Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Common Core – Science & Technical Subjects
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.7Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.
Common Core – Speaking and Listening
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.2Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.4Present information, findings, and supporting evidence clearly, concisely, and logically such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, substance, and style are appropriate to purpose, audience, and task.
Common Core – Writing
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
FFA Precept
- FFA.CS-NDecision Making: Analyze a situation and execute an appropriate course of action.
- FFA.CS-OFlexibility/Adaptability: Be flexible in various situations and adapt to change.
- FFA.CS-PTechnical/Function Skills in Agriculture: Obtain knowledge and skills needed for a career in agriculture and related industries.
Green/Sustainability Knowledge and Skill Statements
- AFNR Career Cluster, Statement 3Communicate the impact of green and sustainability principles on agriculture, food and natural resource systems.
- AFNR Career Cluster, Statement 6Use green technologies and sustainability practices to maintain safe and healthful working environments that sustain the natural environment and promote well-being in the AFNR workplaces.
NASDCTEc
- AGC10.03Compare and contrast issues affecting the AFNR industry including biotechnology, employment, safety, environmental and animal welfare to demonstrate an understanding of the trends and issues important to careers in this industry.
- AGC10.04Envision emerging technology and globalization and project its influence on widespread markets to demonstrate an understanding of technologies and trends that will impact the AFNR industry.