There is a lot of misinformation about what a GMO is and what foods are genetically modified. Use this unit as a review or a compelling way to engage students in the topic of GMOs using a “breakout,” an innovative science teaching and entertainment platform. This unit features 3 lessons and 8 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

What do you know about genetic modification? Is genetic modification helpful or harmful? This unit will help to develop student thinking about genetic modification and food security issues around the world by discussing CODEX, an international set of rules governing food safety and regulation, and how those rules work in various countries. The case for labeling genetically modified foods has raised controversy here and abroad. This set of lessons attempts to look at the differences between genetically modified and non-genetically modified foods, and the case for and against mandatory labeling of foods across the world. This unit features 5 lessons and 11 file.s. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

How is DNA analyzed? How does DNA analysis help us to better understand plant genetics? Students will learn the basics of gel electrophoresis and how applications of this technique can help scientists learn more about the genetics of animals, plants, and crops to inform their research. Objectives: By the end of this course, you will: Be able to identify the structure and components of DNA, Understand and be able to explain the key components of gel electrophoresis, Know how to make an agarose gel, Be able to use gel electrophoresis to determine unknown samples

This unit leads students through the process of setting up gel electrophoresis chambers, understanding the mechanics, and experimenting with various aspects of running gels. This unit features 3 lessons and 13 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

This course, brought to you by a partnership between the Ohio Soybean Council and the Columbus Council on World Affairs, will help you understand the important issues related to global agriculture trade, also called global ag trade, and the critical role that soybeans play in the process. After completing this course, you will be able to: Describe global agricultural trade and its importance to society, Discuss how commodity trading takes place as it applies to Ohio soybeans, Recognize how trade agreements are used to open new markets to Ohio soybean exporters, Identify careers in the global ag trade industry

Many people are thinking about these questions prompted by the mantra “Buy Local.” But much of our food has been shipped by barge, ridden on rails and rolled on the road in trucks. Without infrastructure and supply chains, most of our goods and services, and in particular food, would not be available for us to consume.

This set of lessons helps students to answer: What is the function of global trade and what are the terms associated with trade? Why is global trade important? Why and how does agricultural trade link world economies and what different careers are available because of this? This unit features 4 lessons and 13 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Grow soybeans using Round-Up Ready seeds to illustrate how biotechnology can be used as a tool to increase production. Introduce students to different options for growing soybeans, investigate no-till farming versus conventional cultivation and the effects of each on soil fertility, and analyze Round-up Ready soybean growth. Students share the results of their investigations in a technical paper. This unit features 3 lessons and 9 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Pigs are one of the largest consumers of soybeans! In this unit, students explore the habitat, growth, and feed of pigs. This unit features 3 lessons and 6 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

The H2Know case study invites students to investigate water quality in Lake Erie. Students will gather information about the problem, consider potential contributors and environmental factors, review data and research happening in the field, and engage in discussions and activities related to effective solutions that will improve the water quality of Lake Erie. This unit features 1 lesson and 1 file. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

“Soil” doesn’t just mean “dirt.” It is a mixture of minerals like rocks and clay, organic material like dead leaves, living organisms like worms, microbes, and insects, and even air and water. There is an entire world beneath your feet! Soil quality is important because it helps to sustain an ecosystem responsible for our food and fiber needs, environmental quality, and human health. This unit features 1 lesson and 1 file. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Scientists and engineers work together to “industrialize” the use of agriculture products. Oil and protein from plants can be turned into many products. Design some new products using items from around your house. Then use soy protein to create a new bio-based material. This activity is one of several from a 4H Agriscience Biotechnology Series. This unit features 1 lesson and 1 file. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Take on multiple roles within an aquaculture farm including set-up and maintenance of tanks, test water quality, investigate possible feed sources and monitor fish health and growth. This unit features 5 lessons and 9 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Trans fat is out, so back to the drawing board. In this unit, students will explore the chemical behavior of molecules related to the structure by 1) examining how the structure of high-oleic oil changes its performance characteristics, 2) learning methods of representing the structure of a molecule, 3) exploring research on high-oleic oil and 4) conducting a study of their own to compare high-oleic oil to regular refined soybean oil sold to consumers for cooking purposes. This unit features 3 lessons and 13 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Using biotech skills, students will determine potential locations where pollen was collected and test the qualities and characteristics of a honey sample, including the sugar content and pH. This unit features 4 lessons and 12 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Use hula hoops and math to predict how many bushels of soybeans are growing in a particular field. This fun activity was tested with 500 6th graders from Newark City Schools at the Devine Farms in Hebron, Ohio and is an adaptation of an actual yield prediction method used by extension agents from Purdue University. This unit features 1 lesson and 2 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet. About nine hundred thousand different kinds of living insects are known. This is approximately 80 percent of the world's species. Many bugs are beneficial; however, a few create problems in our food supply. In this course, you will learn more about two of them: the soybean aphid and the brown marmorated stink bug. Learning objectives: At the end of this course, you will be able to identify: Explain how soybean aphids and brown marmorated stink bugs cause damage to soybean production. Define common vocabulary terms used to describe insect life cycles. Describe the different modes of reproduction in soybean aphids' and brown marmorated stink bugs' life cycles. Discuss why studying insect life cycles is important for agricultural pest management.

Trade in agricultural products is big business. In Ohio nearly 50% of soybeans are exported. In this unt, students learn about the customers for Ohio’s ag products and how these goods are traded. This unit features 3 lessons and 4 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

What is your favorite food? Chances are a soybean product is being used to process it or, if it’s a meat dish, was used to feed the animal. Other living things (microbes) help to make our food, too. Check out these activities to see what’s cooking! This unit features 4 lessons and 18 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Did you know that only a hen (a female chicken) can lay an egg? Eggs need certain things for an embryonic chick to develop and hatch. This unit will help you to understand how a chicken changes from one stage to another as it completes its life cycle. At the end of this lesson you will be able to: Put the stages of a chick’s development in the right order. Label the stages in a chicken's life cycle from a hatched chick to a hen. Explain how hens lay eggs.

What’s happening to honey bees? This unit contains three different ways to learn about honey bees and pollinators: a video for all to learn more about bees and how to successfully keep them, a problem-based learning unit to support populations of pollinators aimed at elementary students and a problem-based learning unit including forensic skills for middle/high school. This unit features 4 lessons and 9 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.