Grades 4-8. Course written by Kyle Lang. What could a farmer in Ohio possibly have to do with improving homeland security, bringing jobs back to rural America, and dramatically curbing global warming? By using agricultural products like soybeans and corn in place of oil, our global economy is gradually becoming more sustainable. Farmers grow the building blocks of the bioproducts you use everyday. Producing and using these bioproducts over their traditional, oil-based counterparts is how our farmers play such an important role. In this course you’ll learn: What exactly is a bioproduct? How do they improve my life and the environment or why should I use them? What bioproducts are available today? How do I get involved in the bioproducts industry?

Bioproducts are chemicals, energy, and materials that are produced from renewable biological resources. This unit features 3 lessons and 4 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

This case study helps students see how soil or nutrient inputs affect soil chemistry, the importance of controlling variables, and how to analyze yield data to determine if an agriculture treatment for a particular issue (in this case, specific nutrient and mineral availability) is worth the investment. This unit features 3 lessons and 13 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

The poultry industry has changed dramatically since the early 1900s. Demand for chicken and turkey has skyrocketed. Did you know that chicken is the most popular meat choice in America? This e-learning course explores how farmers keep up with demand and create high-quality poultry products through proven breeding practices. At the end of this course you will be able to: Describe how consumer preferences have impacted poultry breeding. Explain how selective breeding has improved poultry genetics. Describe how hybridization improves the inherited traits of poultry. Identify breed-specific traits in poultry. This course was developed with support from the Ohio Poultry Association.

When a food company is offering a new product, changing ingredients, or researching potential products, it is important for the company to know what the consumer reaction is likely to be of the product. Become food panelists to determine if you can taste the difference in two fruit smoothie products and determine if there is a statistical significance in the data collected from the taste test. This unit features 3 lessons and 6 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Do your students struggle to understand the “central dogma” of biology? Are you looking for innovative teaching techniques? This unit is an integrated art and science project to teach transcription and translation, which is also known as “central dogma”. This process explains how sequences of DNA are interpreted by organelles in the cell and are expressed as specific proteins. It is a core idea in understanding molecular genetics. Students will create a three-paneled work of art that models the process of transcription and translation. Explicit instructions make this unit accessible to science teachers. This unit features 4 lessons and 15 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

From monitoring living eggs to observing chicks, these STEM activities pique curiosity, encourage collaboration and communication, and provide young scientists with unforgettable experiences. Students will learn about animal agriculture and egg production. This unit features 2 lessons and 8 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Chickens are one of the largest consumers of soybeans! In this unit, students learn about the characteristics of birds and chickens, and how to idenitify different breeds. This unit features 3 lessons and 6 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

This STEM-based poultry curriculum uses immersive learning experiences and real genetic samples for your students to dive deep in the future evolution of our food. See how environment influences heredity, and explore the evidence that suggests T. rex as our modern chicken’s and turkey’s ancestor. This unit features 4 lessons and 10 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Getting food from farms to markets is dependent on many forms of transportation, and involves careers related to logistics, infrastructure, commodity trading, and engineering. Students learn about the variety of careers and the challenges of moving soybeans from Ohio to international destinations. This unit features 4 lessons and 7 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Drones (or UAVs-unmanned aerial vehicles) are taking to the skies. What are they doing up there? What other technologies are there that help growers become more productive, yet more thoughtful about the effects on the environment, on which they depend on to continue producing food? This unit features 3 lessons and 5 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

You may have heard about Colony Collapse Disorder, a syndrome likely caused by multiple factors that results in the deaths of many honeybee colonies. Become a diagnostic researcher and use bioinformatic tools to discover some of the pathogens that may be responsible. This unit features 3 lessons and 7 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are employed in a variety of ways from taking aerial photos at the most basic to spraying pesticides to small areas of the field by specialized drones. Students learn the basic principles of drone flight and commands. This unit features 2 lessons and 4 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Ohio’s poultry industry has designed several kinds of environments to maximize their hens’ egg-laying productivity while caring for them. This course provides an up-close look at three of these “happy homes for hens”. At the end of this course you will be able to: Describe the characteristics of a conventional egg-laying environment, Describe the characteristics of a cage-free environment, Describe the characteristics of an organic environment, Identify several careers in the poultry industry. This course was developed with support from the Ohio Poultry Association.

Looking for an activity that combines robotics, coding, and engineering with a real life problem? This unit uses MakeBlock parts, Scratch programming, and modeling to help students design a solution to soil compaction. This unit features 2 lessons and 2 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Vegetable oils play an important role in food processing and preparation. But what do you know about vegetable oils? This e-learning course presents an overview of fats and oils, the chemical structure of vegetable oils, and the purpose of using different oils for different applications. Learning objectives: Describe vegetable oil, Discuss the various chemical structures of fats and oils, Relate the chemical structure to the function of the fat or oil, Describe how genetic modification has led to a heart healthy oil from soybeans

How does food science play a role in food production? People with careers in food science and technology work to provide nutritious food for an ever-growing population. Students will identify parts of the nutrition label and the nutritional content and health benefits of food products. They will also learn about different college and career opportunities in the food science and technology industry. Learning objectives: Define the purpose and importance of the food science and technology industry, Explain the use of soy as a healthy food source, Identify parts of the nutrition label and the nutritional content and health benefits of food products, Assess different college and career opportunities in the food science and technology industry

The food production sector in Ohio employs nearly 70,000 people and includes some of the biggest food producers in the nation. From developing flavors to checking food quality, there is a lot going on in food science. This unit features 3 lessons and 6 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

Society and cultures revolve around food. There are television networks solely focused on food and it is almost impossible to take a drive without passing a fast food chain. Billions of dollars are spent annually to market and advertise food. Around the world, demand for food, specifically protein sources, is increasing without a foreseeable stop. This unit features 4 lessons and 6 files. Lessons are aligned to NGSS.

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.