Grain Farmers of Ontario has launched an award-winning science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program for Ontario Grade 3 classrooms through its public outreach campaign, “Good in Every Grain.” The program, known as Ontario Farming STEMterprise, is a unique teaching resource that integrates Ontario grain farming with the elementary school curriculum.
Ontario Farming STEMterprise: A Fun and Educational Resource
Created in coordination with the National Farmers Union United Kingdom (NFU U.K.), the Farming STEMterprise program brings agriculture into the classroom in an engaging way for both students and teachers. It aims to align agricultural knowledge and experiences with the current teaching curriculum, making it accessible even for those not directly involved in farming.
“Supporting teachers is a huge priority for us. We hope students enjoy this 10-week program and feel more connected to their food and farming,” says Victoria Berry, Manager of Communications at Grain Farmers of Ontario.
Meeting Curriculum Requirements and Encouraging Creativity
The program meets the Ontario curriculum requirements in several subjects, including Science and Technology, Health and Physical Education, Engineering, Language, and Math. It consists of 10 weekly lessons and activities covering various skill sets.
Students can grow grain seeds in their classrooms, conduct market surveys of existing granola bars, create nutritious ones to meet consumer needs, and design sustainable packaging. They will also learn about marketing and selling their product at a “farm store.”
Learning About Food, Environment, and Entrepreneurship
Offered at no cost to Ontario teachers, the program allows students to learn where their food comes from, how it gets from field to fork, and how farmers protect the environment while meeting the increasing demand for food. Additionally, students will develop business, entrepreneurship, and sales skills as they create a classroom bake sale with their granola bar businesses.
Photo by Allison Batley on Unsplash
