Improving Lives – Part 1
FFA Blue 365 Lesson 7, “Improving Lives — Part 1,” is a 90-minute agricultural education lesson from the National FFA Organization that explores how the agriculture industry improves lives through food, fiber, and natural resources systems. Students examine challenges to food security, the USDA’s MyPlate initiative, strategies for an adequate diet and lifestyle, and food safety, using videos, websites, and worksheets. The resource includes student activity sheets (with answer keys) covering how agriculture improves lives, challenges to food security, food diversity, adequate diet/lifestyle, and food safety.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- Identify ways the agriculture industry improves lives through the food, fiber and natural resources systems.
- Summarize common challenges facing food security in the United States.
- Illustrate food groups that make up the United States Department of Agriculture's MyPlate initiative.
- Analyze strategies to gain access to an adequate food supply and nutritional plan.
- Determine steps for food product safety.
- Evaluate factors influencing the food environment.
- Time required
- 90 minutes
- Materials
-
- Internet access to play the videos in real time or embed them in a PowerPoint
- A copy of the "How Does Agriculture Improve Lives" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Challenges to Food Security" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Improving Lives Through the Diversity of Food Products" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Improving Lives Through an Adequate Diet and Lifestyle" worksheet for each student
- A copy of the "Improving Lives Through the Safety of Food Products" worksheet for each student
- Colored pens or markers
- Blank paper
- This Quick Lesson Plan Would Work Well as an Introduction To
- 1. Food security and feeding the world. 2. Critical issues in agriculture. 3. Innovations in agriculture. 4. Technology in agriculture.
Downloads & Links
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.
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.
- CS.05Describe career opportunities and means to achieve those opportunities in each of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career pathways.
AFNR Performance Element
- CS.01Analyze how issues, trends, technologies and public policies impact systems in the agriculture, food & natural resources career cluster.
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.
- AG5Describe career opportunities and means to achieve those opportunities in each of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Pathways.
Common Core – Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects: Writing
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.9-10.6Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.
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.
Common Core – Science & Technical Subjects
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.1Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.8Assess the extent to which the reasoning and evidence in a text support the author's claim or a recommendation for solving a scientific or technical problem.
Common Core – Speaking and Listening
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
- 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.9-10.2Write 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-M.CommunicationEffectively interact with others in personal and professional settings.
- FFA.PL-A.ActionAssume responsibility and take the necessary steps to achieve the desired results, no matter what the goal or task at hand.
- FFA.PL-C.VisionVisualize the future and how to get there.
- FFA.PL-E.AwarenessUnderstand personal vision, mission and goals.
FFA Precepts
- FFA.CS-N.Decision MakingAnalyze a situation and execute an appropriate course of action.
Green/Sustainability Knowledge and Skill Statements
- AFNR Career Cluster, Statement 2Analyze community practice or policy development related to sustainability in AFNR.
NASDCTEc
- AGC02.02Employ the use of technical information effectively to maintain and communicate records and reporting procedures commonly used in the AFNR cluster.
- 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.
Next Generation Science
- HS-ETS1-3Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.