What’s taught in Ag Education on the Move?
Ag Education on the Move™ (Ag Moves) is a slate of ten foundational agriculture lessons teaching students that their food and the products they use in everyday life come from farms. Students learn about beef, dairy, pork, poultry, corn, soybeans, soil health and conservation, nutrition, careers in agriculture and more through a standards-based curriculum that meets state learning objectives in elementary science, math, social studies, and language arts.
All students receive STEM-oriented, interactive lessons, complete activities in a workbook that includes educational curriculum and activity pages, and complete a hands-on activity for all ten lessons. But what are those lessons?
Lesson 1: Soybeans
Students discover the importance of soybeans from seed to harvest. They learn about the plant’s anatomy and life cycle, explore its many uses in food, fuel, and everyday products, and examine how technology helps farmers grow soybeans efficiently and sustainably. The lesson highlights soybeans’ significant role in Missouri’s economy, helping students understand how this versatile crop connects agriculture, innovation, and their daily lives.
The activity featured in this lesson gives students the opportunity to “plant” and observe the growth of their own soybean plant. This lesson is delivered in partnership with Missouri soybean farmers through the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council.
Lesson 2: Corn
Students explore the science and significance of Missouri’s top crop. They learn about the anatomy and life cycle of the corn plant, the fascinating process of pollination, and the different types of corn grown across the state. Students discover how corn is used to produce ethanol, livestock feed, and a wide range of everyday products. Did you know there are 800 kernels on one ear of corn? Our third-grade students do.
Students make corn plastic following the lesson showing one of many uses of corn. Missouri Corn partners with Missouri Farmers Care to deliver the corn lesson.
Lesson 5: Beef
Students gain a comprehensive look at the beef industry from pasture to plate. They learn vocabulary such as heifer, steer, and cow. They explore common beef breeds and follow the life of a beef animal through production. The lesson introduces the vital roles of veterinarians and proper nutrition in maintaining herd health, while also examining the anatomy and unique digestion system of cattle. Students discover how beef is processed into different cuts of meat and the important nutrients that beef provides in a balanced diet.
Students enjoy a few rounds of beef bingo to learn various beef by-products they see everyday! Students learn about the beef industry thanks to this lesson presented in partnership with Missouri cattlemen through the Missouri Beef Industry Council.
Lesson 8: Poultry
Students learn how chickens and turkeys are a valuable part of Missouri agriculture and in foods they eat. They explore modern poultry barns and discover why these controlled environments help protect flocks and promote healthy growth. The lesson follows the life cycle of poultry from egg to adult, explains what broilers are, and walks students through how eggs are processed, sorted, and prepared for the grocery store. Students learn about recipes that include eggs, what boiled eggs are, how turkey and chicken meat is enjoyed as a healthy source of protein and more.
Students try their hand at peeling hard boiled eggs and enjoy a yummy egg snack. The poultry lesson is made possible by The Poultry Federation and Vital Farms.
This is just four of the 10 lessons included in Ag Moves. Interested in bringing Ag Education on the Move™ to your local school? Learn more at agmoves.com.