agriculture : the science or practice of farming , including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food , wool , and other products
antioxidant : a substance that inhibits oxidation and can protect the body from damage caused by free radicals
capsaicin : the active component in chili peppers that makes them spicy and can have health benefits
economic impact : the effect that an event , policy , or market development has on the economy and local community
farmers market : an open-air market where farmers sell their fresh produce and other goods directly to consumers
irrigation : the supply of water to land or crops to help growth , typically by means of channels
metabolism : the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life , including converting food to energy
mineral : a solid , naturally occurring inorganic substance that is essential for the body to function properly
nutrient : a substance that provides nourishment essential for the growth and maintenance of life
produce : fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown on farms
vitamin : any of a group of organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet
Lesson Plans to go with this Reader : The Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix is an online , searchable , and standards-based database for K-12 teachers . The Matrix contextualizes national education standards in science , social studies , and nutritional education with relevant instructional resources linked to Common Core Standards . Below are a few lesson plans that could be used in conjunction with this Colorado Reader . Find these lessons and more by searching the key words on the Curriculum Matrix at CoAgClassroom . org .
A Garden Plot : The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Students identify foods grown in a garden , observe various types of seed , and grow their own “ milk jug ” garden . Students listen to the Tale of Peter Rabbit , by Beatrix Potter and investigate produce that is grown in gardens or on farms . Grades K-2
Fruit and Vegetable Bingo - Students recognize the names of different fruits and vegetables and describe why they are important . Grades K-2
Apple Science : Comparing Apples and Onions - Students explore heredity concepts by comparing observable traits of apples and onions , collecting data on the traits of different apple varieties , and investigating apple production . Additional activities include hands-on methods for testing apple ripeness . Grades 3-5
Backpack Garden - Through project-based learning , students use school resources to construct and grow a school garden to supplement the school Backpack Program with fresh fruits and vegetables . Grades 3-5
Peaches : What ’ s All the Fuzz About ? - Students explore peach production in various regions of the United States , describe how peaches are produced and processed from farm to table , and explain how internal and external structures of peaches support survival and growth . Grades 3-5
Cruisin ’ for a Bruisin ’ Food Packaging Specialist - In this lesson students will learn that product packaging is a balance between function , food safety , and economics by designing a protective package for shipping perishable fruit . Each package will be presented to the class for evaluation , and the best design will be shipped to test the product ’ s durability . Grades 6-8
Robots Wanted ! - Through project-based learning , students examine fruit and vegetable farms to discover the amount of manual labor required to plant , grow , and harvest some of our food . They research the business economics of farm management , the plant life cycle , and the requirements and challenges faced in reducing manual labor through mechanization or robotics . Students present their findings to an agricultural engineer to begin developing a solution to farm labor shortages . Grades 6-8
Aeroponic Engineering and Vertical Farming - Students will use the Engineering Design Process to develop and construct an aeroponic garden to grow a food crop . Students will develop and apply an understanding of plant anatomy and physiology related to plant growth and ultimately discuss the possibilities and limitations of using vertical farming to produce our food . Grades 6-12
Answers :
Page 2 : Fruit or Vegetable Activity 1 . peach : fruit ; 2 . cucumber : fruit ; 3 . apple : fruit ; 4 . broccoli : vegetable ; 5 . cantaloupe : fruit ; 6 . asparagus : vegetable ; 7 . pumpkin : fruit ; 8 . grape : fruit ; 9 . carrot : vegetable ; 10 . potato : vegetable ; 11 . strawberry : fruit ; 12 cauliflower : vegetable ; 13 . garlic : vegetable ; 14 . onion : vegetable ; 15 . tomato : fruit ; 16 . corn : fruit ; 17 . watermelon : fruit ; 18 . eggplant : fruit ; 19 . pepper : fruit ; 10 . butternut squash : fruit
Page 5 : Math Activity Answers Measuring Ingredients : 1 . 450 grams ; 2 . 100 grams ; 3 . 420 grams ; 4 . 225 grams
Scaling the Recipe : 1 . 9 tomatoes ; 2 . 1 1 / 2 red onions ; 3 . 45 oz ; 4 . 4 1 / 2 cups ; 5 . 3 bell peppers ; 6 . 3 Pueblo chiles ; 7 . 1 cup cilantro
Dressing Measurements : 1 . 5 1 / 3 tablespoons ; 2 . 6 teaspoons ; 3 . 4 tablespoons ; 4 . 1 / 8 teaspoon
Page 8 : Produce Finale Quiz Questions : 1 . D ; 2 . D ; 3 . B ; 4 . D ; 5 . C
Matching Answers : Tomatoes : E ; Onions : C ; Black Beans : B ; Sweet Corn : A ; Bell Peppers : D
Bonus Challenge : $ 50