2016 – 2017
Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Course Title:	Exploration of Agriscience
Course Type:	Orientation/Exploratory
Career Cluster:	Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Secondary – Middle School	
Course Number	8100210	
CIP Number	01019920EX	
Grade Level	6-8	
Standard Length	Semester	
Teacher Certification	AGRICULTUR 1 @2
EXP AG @4	
CTSO	FFA	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose 

The purpose of this course is to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their future academic and occupational goals and to provide information regarding careers in the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource career cluster.  The content includes but is not limited to agricultural literacy, importance of agriculture, the role of science, math, reading, writing, geography, history, and technology in agriculture, plants and animals, and sources of consumer goods from agriculture. Reinforcement of academic skills occurs through classroom instruction and applied laboratory procedures.

Instruction and learning activities are provided in a laboratory setting using hands-on experiences with the equipment, materials and technology appropriate to the course content and in accordance with current practices.

Florida Standards for English Language Development (ELD)
English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting. ELD.K12.SI.1.1 

English Language Development (ELD) Standards Special Notes:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.   For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link: http://www.cpalms.org/uploads/docs/standards/eld/SI.pdf.
For additional information on the development and implementation of the ELD standards, please contact the Bureau of Student Achievement through Language Acquisition at sala@fldoe.org.

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Apply knowledge and skills in biotechnology.
02.0	Apply knowledge and skills in plant sciences.
03.0	Apply knowledge and skills in animal sciences.
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in food science.
05.0	Apply knowledge and skills in processing and marketing.
06.0	Apply knowledge and skills in environmental resources.
07.0	Demonstrate the value of responsibility, good work habits, and planning for career opportunities in agriculture.
08.0	Apply leadership and communication skills.
09.0	Integrate the use of science, mathematics, reading, geography, history, writing, and communication in agriscience and technology.

2016 – 2017
Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Course Title: 	Exploration of Agriscience 
Course Number: 	8100210
Course Length:	Semester

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide instruction that explores the tasks, training, education and physical requirements of a broad range of agriscience and natural resources careers develop competencies in the areas of agricultural literacy, importance of agriculture, the role of science, math, reading, writing, geography, history, and technology in agriculture, plants and animals, and sources of consumer goods from agriculture. 

CTE Standards and Benchmarks	
01.0	Apply knowledge and skills in biotechnology – the student will be able to:	
01.01	Define biotechnology. 	
01.02	Discuss current and future uses of genetic engineering. 	
01.03	Identify issues associated with biotechnology. 	
01.04	Explain the history of genetic engineering and biotechnology in agriculture.	
02.0	Apply knowledge and skills in plant sciences – the student will be able to:	
02.01	Produce an agricultural crop. 	
02.02	Discuss the technology involved in the development of improved crops. 	
02.03	Identify agribusinesses that provide supplies and services to plant science industries in the local area. 	
02.04	Identify the recommended uses and safety precautions from a pesticide label. 	
02.05	Compare landscaping methods. 	
02.06	Develop a landscape design.  	
02.07	Develop a care and maintenance program for horticultural, forestry, and/or agronomic crops.  	
02.08	Identify pests, pathogens, parasites, and predators of horticultural, forestry, and agronomic crops. 	
02.09	Describe the major components of soil. 	
02.10	Explain methods of soil conservation. 	
02.11	Identify the major forest regions of the United States and Florida. 	
02.12	Describe the importance of forests and forest products. 	
02.13	Describe how trees grow, reproduce, and components of forest health. 	
02.14	Use tools and techniques common to the forest industry. 	
02.15	Describe various forms of fertilizer.	
02.16	Demonstrate how to read a fertilizer label.	
02.17	Demonstrate proper fertilizer use.	
03.0	Apply knowledge and skills in animal sciences – the student will be able to:	
03.01	Describe the differences between animal welfare and animal rights. 	
03.02	Raise and care for an agricultural animal. 	
03.03	Discuss the technology involved in the development of improved animal products. 	
03.04	Identify agribusinesses that provide supplies and services to animal science industries in the local area.	
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in food science – the student will be able to:	
04.01	Demonstrate the proper handling and storage of food products. 	
04.02	Demonstrate at least one method of food preservation. 	
04.03	Conduct a food taste test. 	
04.04	Produce and market a food product. 	
04.05	Read, interpret, and develop a food label. 	
04.06	Describe the components of a balance diet.	
05.0	Apply knowledge and skills in agricultural processing and marketing – the student will be able to:	
05.01	Identify processing and packaging techniques used in agriculture. 	
05.02	Discuss the difference in marketing strategies between perishable and nonperishable commodities.	
05.03	Develop a merchandising plan for an agricultural product. 	
05.04	Identify and compare USDA standards and grades for agricultural products. 	
05.05	Describe how processing, packaging, and marketing affects the price of an item. 	
05.06	Recognize misleading advertising. 	
05.07	Describe how competition benefits the consumer.  	
05.08	Record the market price of an agricultural commodity over a period of time. 	
06.0	Apply knowledge and skills in environmental resources – the student will be able to:	
06.01	Identify methods or practices of conserving natural resources.	
06.02	Demonstrate a method or practice of conservation. 	
06.03	Identify major ecosystems in Florida. 	
06.04	Discuss the importance of the ecosystems to agriculture, society and each other. 	
06.05	Define Best Management Practices.	
06.06	Explain the use of Best Management Practices in agriculture.	
07.0	Demonstrate the value of responsibility, good work habits, and planning for career opportunities in agriculture – the student will be able to:	
07.01	Identify attitudes and habits necessary to achieve career success. 	
07.02	Identify the basic steps in career planning. 	
07.03	Develop basic career plan. 	
07.04	Identify and research careers within a specific area of agriscience. 	
08.0	Apply leadership and communication skills – the student will be able to:	
08.01	Discuss the establishment and history of the FFA organization. 	
08.02	Identify the characteristics and responsibilities of organizational leaders. 	
08.03	Demonstrate parliamentary procedure skills during a meeting.	
08.04	Demonstrate effective communication skills through delivery of a speech or conducting a demonstration. 	
08.05	Identify state and community organizations associated with agricultural promotion.	
09.0	Integrate the use of science, mathematics, reading, geography, history, writing, and communication in agriscience and technology – the student will be able to:	
09.01	Apply basic mathematics operations to solve agricultural problems. 	
09.02	Correctly use measuring devices and utilize measurements to solve agricultural problems. 	
09.03	Apply the scientific method to solve an agricultural problem. 	
09.04	Prepare written and/or oral materials using correct English grammar.	
09.05	Identify the main idea in oral presentations and/or written materials. 	
09.06	Locates, organizes, and interprets information from a variety of agricultural sources.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students.

Extended Student Supervision

Because of the production and marketing cycle of the agriculture industry, this program requires individual instruction and supervision of students for the entire period beyond the 180-day school year.

Special Notes

The length of this course is one semester.  It may be offered for two semesters when appropriate. When offered for one semester, it is recommended that it be at the exploratory level and more in-depth when offered for two semesters.  

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

National FFA Organization (FFA) is the intercurricular career and technical student organization for providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills.  Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered.  

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities as identified on the secondary student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan or postsecondary student’s accommodations’ plan to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

In addition to accommodations, some secondary students with disabilities (students with an IEP served in Exceptional Student Education (ESE)) will need modifications to meet their needs. Modifications change the outcomes or what the student is expected to learn, e.g., modifying the curriculum of a secondary career and technical education course. Note: postsecondary curriculum and regulated secondary programs cannot be modified.

Additional Resources

For additional information regarding articulation agreements, Bright Futures Scholarships, Fine Arts/Practical Arts Credit and Equivalent Mathematics and Equally Rigorous Science Courses please refer to:
http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml