Brittany, a chemistry teacher at Olmsted Falls High School in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, recently participated in the Feed the World 2-day Workshop. This innovative program, designed for middle and high school science educators, aims to connect classroom science with real-world agricultural applications.
“I had a lot of aha moments, but the biggest one for me is really just realizing how much technology goes into farming in Ohio,” Brittany shared. “Specifically, the things with prescriptions on the fields and things that farmers have to think about and plan ahead for. I’ve always known that happens. I just didn’t realize it was so high-tech and that there was so much science involved.”
The workshop, sponsored by Ohio Corn & Wheat, offered hands-on experiences in soil science, water quality, plant science, biotechnology, energy production, and sustainable agricultural practices. Participants also visited an ethanol plant to witness corn-to-fuel conversion firsthand.
Brittany emphasized the workshop’s relevance to her chemistry curriculum: “I can totally see applying the logic of nutrients and their chemical makeup, how they end up in water, how we make sure they don’t go into the water, and pay attention to particle size and charge - all of these important things that I teach in chemistry. Now I can give it some real-world relevance.”
Educators interested in bringing agricultural science into their classrooms can access free, teacher-developed materials on the Feed the World website. These resources cover various topics, helping teachers connect STEM concepts to the agriculture that surrounds Ohio students.
“It’s so important to use relevant context in the classroom so that students realize how they impact their community,” Britney added. “They need to pay attention to where their money goes and what it’s supporting. That goes to the farmers who need to pay attention to it and then the consumer who makes choices with their buying power, whether it’s your gasoline or your food.”
Teachers looking to enhance their science curriculum with real-world applications can register for upcoming Feed the World workshops.