Jodi Adams, a science teacher at Washington High School in Washington Court House, Ohio, recently adapted Feed the World’s water quality activities to engage students in hands-on environmental science. Through creative modifications of these lessons, she’s helping students understand the complex relationships between water quality and living organisms.
“My students started with the ‘Can you ID?’ cards and colored in the invertebrates that were on the cards,” Adams shared. “I explained to the students what each one was and that it could be found in various sources of water. We then compared juveniles/larvae to adult stages.”
The workshop, sponsored by Ohio Corn & Wheat, offers hands-on labs focusing on water quality, soil science, and sustainable agricultural practices. Adams has already begun implementing these lessons and planning future investigations.
“Students could test water samples collected from local water sources such as creeks and ponds and possibly soil samples from local farm fields with permission,” Adams explained. “Students would be able to log and track the results of their tests to help them identify how plants and animals are affected by each thing tested.”
Looking ahead, Adams plans to expand these learning opportunities through community connections. “There are many farms around our school and at least one of the teachers is a farmer,” she noted. “If a field trip is not possible, I could have a guest speaker come in or do a Zoom session with a professional that depends on healthy soil and water to explain what they do.”
“I believe that these things will help my students have a better understanding of living things and how our actions can have a negative or positive impact on the world,” Adams emphasized.
Educators interested in bringing agricultural science into their classrooms can access free, teacher-developed materials on the Feed the World website. These resources cover topics from water quality to soil science, helping teachers connect students with the agriculture that surrounds them.