Rock Island Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is sponsored by the Rock Island County Farm Bureau Foundation, University of Illinois Extension-Rock Island County and other local business. In addition to offering these resource materials free for loan, Rock Island AITC also provides teacher workshops, and classroom presentations.

• Note: Kits are a wonderful way to bring agriculture into your classroom. Rock Island AITC requests the following guidelines when using the kits.
• Teachers are responsible for pick up and return of kits to the Rock Island County Farm Bureau in Moline.  Office hours are from 8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Please return the kit on the date indicated. Most kits are not duplicated and other educators are waiting to use them.
• The kits can be checked out for a two week period of time. If additional time is needed, the kit can be checked out again if available.
• If you have requested a kit, but decide not to use it please advise Rock Island AITC as early as possible. Some supplies are purchased on a need bases only, this will help save money.
• Some kits are very popular and are frequently reserved months in advance. Generally educators plan out their year and gauge which kits they would like for a particular unit.
• Supplies needed for activities will be provided, except perishable items, such as milk, ice, etc.

Agri-Science Kits

Hands-on, applied agricultural laboratory exercises. Kits include all of the necessary materials to perform several activities. A teacher’s guide, student worksheets and handouts, books and instructional video are included.

Adventures Around the Farm                                                                                                                              Pre-K-3^rd

• Helps students understand what a farm is, what farmers do, and what comes from farms. Students will learn that farm grown products are transported, processed, marketed and distributed which involves many agricultural careers. Through these activities students will discover that they depend on agriculture every day.

Earth Day-Top 40 Hits of Planet Earth                                                                                                               Pre-K-8^th

• Every day is Earth Day. Experience several Earth Day activities including topics such as recycling, habitats, soil, trees, renewable energy and water.

Getting to the Core                                                                                                                                                    Pre-K-3^rd

• How do apples grow?  Where do all those varieties of apples come from?  Learn the answers to these questions and so much more!  Take an inside look at apples and their history, lots of hands-on activities and games, thing to make and things to eat, videos, posters, and books. (Contact Marilyn Andress, SWCD for borrowing).

Pigs on the Farm                                                                                                                                                        Pre-K-3^rd

• Gain a better understanding of what pigs are, what farmers do to take care of pigs and how people benefit from pigs. Pigs provide us with a variety of meat and non-food by-products.

Pondering Pizza                                                                                                                                                          Pre-K-5^th

• Take a look at a slice of agriculture...a pizza slice.   Learn how all ingredients on your pizza begin on farms, are processed, distributed and made into a delicious meal.  Explore Planet Pizza via video and visit a real “pizza farm.”  Take part in a slice of the action through the Pizza Party fractions game.  Through hands-on activities, books, posters, and curriculum, ponder the wonders of pizza.

Pumpkin Patch                                                                                                                                                           Pre-K-3^rd

• Discover the wonders of pumpkins.  Watch tiny seeds grow into several varieties of pumpkins in a time-lapse video and learn how to prepare the soil for next years’ crop.  The Pumpkin Patch contains posters, books, hands-on activities, recipes, and great pumpkin facts. (Contact Marilyn Andress, SWCD for borrowing)

Seasons on the Farm                                                                                                                                                Pre-K-3^rd

• This interactive kit contains many lessons on how agriculture revolves around the seasons and how farmers do different types of work during each season. Spring, summer, winter and fall are all included in the many hands-on as well as core curriculum activities.

Soybeans:  Oil & Polymers                                                                                                                                           3^rd-8^th

• The activities in this kit were designed to teach students to observe, measure and describe how renewable resources such as soybeans can be used to make industrial products. The lessons are focused on 2 important components of soybeans– oil and polymers. Students will make adhesives from soybean protein and candles, crayons, ink, and hand cream from soybean oil.

Wheat We Eat                                                                                                                                                             Pre-K-3^rd

• Learn how wheat is grown, milled and then made into food worldwide using the science, math, reading and social studies lessons included in this curriculum. Along with the core subject, you will also fin lessons to expand curriculum with arts and crafts projects, songs, poetry, and books.

Activity Kits

Baseball/Football in Agriculture Charm                                                                                                                   K-8^th

• Most people would never connect agriculture to one of America’s favorite activities—baseball! But, the game of baseball could not exist without agriculture. The Baseball Charm will remind you of how many different ways agriculture is present when you attend a baseball game.

Beanie Baby                                                                                                                                                                         K-3^rd

• Soybeans are sometimes called the “magic bean” because they can be used to make many things. Soy products are found in hundreds of items we buy at the grocery store. Students will make their own “beanie baby” necklace so that they are able to watch their soybeans germinate and grow.

Circles of the Earth Bracelet                                                                                                                                       3^rd -8^th

• The cycles of agriculture are powered by abundant natural resources—soil, water, and energy from the sun. People are a resource, too. Because people have learned to use their resources wisely, America’s farmers and ranchers produce16 percent of the world’s food on just 7 percent of the world’s land.

Edible Landfill                                                                                                                                                                     K-6^th

• Students get to make their own edible landfill using different cereals which represent different types of trash. All of the food materials are in this kit except for milk (used to make the pudding that represents the soil and plastic liners).

Edible Soil                                                                                                                                                                            K- 6^th

• Students get to make their own edible soil profile using chocolate chips, Oreos, pudding and gummy worms. All of the edible food supplies are in the kit except milk (used to make the pudding).

Hungry Illinois Caterpillar                                                                                                                                     Pre-K-4^th

• This lesson has been adapted from the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The students will create their own touch and feel copy of a revised version where an Illinois caterpillar eats his way through the farm and becomes very fat, only to metamorphoses into a beautiful butterfly.

Ice Cream                                                                                                                                                                   Pre-K-12^th

• Students learn many skills by making home-made ice cream in a plastic bag and then sharing the treat. A video takes you on a trip to the farm where you learn more about agriculture.

Illinois Agriculture Charm                                                                                                                                              K-8^th

• Agriculture is an essential part of the history of Illinois. Throughout the years, many innovations have made farming easier and much more productive. Many of these discoveries and innovations were made right here in Illinois. Another important aspect of Illinois history is the selection of the symbols. Many of our state symbols were suggested by school children and represent the richness and vitality of Illinois.

Pumpkin Patch Pie                                                                                                                                                    Pre-K-4^th

• Students will get to experience making a pumpkin pie in a bag. Students put pumpkin pie filling, pumpkin spices and pudding in a bag and place it on graham-cracker crust. This is a fun way for students to make pumpkin pie. All the necessary supplies are in the kit except for the milk that is used to make the pudding.

Soil Sam                                                                                                                                                                                 K-6^th

• Students get to make their own plant person. The grass that students plant and watch grows into Sam’s hair. This fun activities helps students learn about plants. All necessary materials are in the tub.

Soy Lip Balm & Lotion                                                                                                                                                 4^th-12^th

• Students can make their own soy lip balm and hand cream using soybean oil and beeswax.  This is a fun activity for students. Teacher assistance may be needed for melting beeswax and pouring mixtures.

Soy Candles and Crayons                                                                                                                                              2^nd-8^th

• Students can make their own soy candles and crayons using soy flakes. This is a fun activity for students. Teacher assistance is need for the melting of the soy flakes and pouring them into molds.

Water Cycle in a Bag                                                                                                                                                         K-6^th

• Use this hands-on approach to show students of all ages how the water cycle works.  Using a zip-loc bag, permanent markers water and aquarium rocks, your students can “make” the water cycle!  A song with motions for the younger students, and very detailed diagrams for the older ones, make this a sure hit with all ages.  Without water, we would not have agriculture!

Water Cycle Bracelet                                                                                                                                                        K-3^rd

• Learn about the water cycle while making a bracelet to remind them of the process everyday.

Wheat Germ Extraction                                                                                                                                              6^th-12^th

• Students get to extract DNA from wheat using soap and wheat germ. All of the necessary materials are in the tub.

Magic Kits

These kits offer engaging lessons addressing Illinois learning standards in English, Math, Science and Social Studies. The magic kits are self-contained teaching units, whereby students learn through hands-on, applied agricultural laboratory exercises. Kits include all of the necessary materials to perform the activities, teacher’s guides, student worksheets and handouts, and instructional video and books.

Careers in Horticulture                                                                                                                                               8^th-12^th

• Multidisciplinary curriculum, all inclusive, and is designed to help students learn about the wide variety of opportunities in the Horticulture industry. Students will become familiar with diverse career opportunities, have a better understanding of the sales process associated with landscaping, be able to calculate the amount of materials needed for landscaping and understand the importance of color when drawing a landscaping plan.

Dairy Magic                                                                                                                                                                        3^rd-8^th

• Hands-on exercises let students explore the processes of using milk, acid, enzymes, and bacteria to make cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. Students will find out how much milk one cow produces in its lifetime. They’ll also dive into history and learn about issues of supply and demand in the diary industry.

Horticulture Science Kit                                                                                                                                             8^th-12^th

• Horticulture is a growing industry, especially in urban areas. This kit will give students the opportunity to learn more about Horticulture science. Students will learn about plant taxonomy. They will be able to learn about growing media in horticulture while experimenting with different growing medias. Students will also learn more about plant breeding, genetics and how biotechnology is used in horticulture.

Illinois Magic Kit                                                                                                                                                           3^rd-12^th

• The curriculum in the Illinois Magic kit is multidisciplinary, all inclusive, and is designed to help students learn about Illinois. This kit gives students the opportunity to learn more about the Northern, Western, Eastern and Southern parts of the state. Students will learn more about how prairie grass and glaciers affected the state soil. They will also learn about different businesses that were started in Illinois.

Insect Magic Kit                                                                                                                                                                4^th-8^th

• Students will learn about the impact of insects on crop production through a variety of lessons and activities. Mapping exercises let students follow butterflies on migration patterns. Students track a day in the life of an insect and learn about wingspan, life cycles, anatomy, and social hierarchy patterns of common insects.

Machine Magic Kit                                                                                                                                                           3^rd 8^th

• Students will learn about the history of farm machinery and the impact of modern farming techniques on families and communities. They’ll also lean how inventors John Deere and Cyrus McCormick helped shape modern agriculture. Hands-on exercise let students identify machinery parts and estimate farm machinery costs.

Plant Magic                                                                                                                                                                       3^rd–8^th

• This kit offers problem-solving activities in plant propagation, production, and processing. Students will conduct experiments to learn about plant differences and plant ecosystems. They’ll also sequence plant products, research the discoveries of George Washington Carver, and look at the impact of crops on the national economy.

Poultry Magic                                                                                                                                                              Pre-K-8^th

• Crack the mystery of eggs and see a miracle in 21 days! Students will uncover interesting facts about U.S. poultry production through exercises and hands-on experiments. They’ll learn about the anatomy and nutritional value of an egg. They’ll also learn about the history of egg production and find out how poultry dishes are prepared around the world.

Soil Magic                                                                                                                                                                            4^th-8^th

• Soils are alive, as students will discover through the lessons in this kit. Students will learn to conduct experiments in soil pH, create soil profiles, and understand the components of soils. They will also unveil the history of crop rotation and dig into the Dust Bowl.