2016 – 2017
Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

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

Secondary – Middle School	
Course Number	8100310	
CIP Number	01019910OR	
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	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in agriscience research.
02.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills plant sciences.
03.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in animal sciences.
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in food science.
05.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in agriscience laboratories.
06.0	Demonstrate product knowledge and skills in agricultural processing and marketing.
07.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in environmental resources.
08.0	Demonstrate 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: 	Orientation to Agriscience 
Course Number: 	8100310
Course Length:	Semester 

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the agricultural food system, environmental resources, and strategies used to produce and market agricultural products, and an exploration of research through the use of the scientific method.

CTE Standards and Benchmarks	
01.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in agriscience research – the student will be able to:	
01.01	Define agriscience. 	
01.02	Describe products of agriscience. 	
01.03	Define the scope of research in agriscience. 	
01.04	Discuss the impact of research on agriculture and on consumers of agricultural products.  	
01.05	Identify the process by which agricultural research is conducted including the scientific method.  	
01.06	Apply the scientific method to solve an agricultural problem.   	
02.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in plant sciences – the student will be able to:	
02.01	Distinguish between nursery and landscape plants and crops for consumption.	
02.02	Identify horticultural forestry and agronomic plants.   	
02.03	Propagate and grow an agricultural plant.      	
02.04	Identify supplies and services industries related to plant science.  	
02.05	Develop a specimen collection of local plant materials.  	
02.06	Demonstrate proper planting techniques. 	
02.07	Identify nursery and landscape plants and crops for consumption.	
03.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in animal sciences – the student will be able to:	
03.01	Distinguish between food, service and companion animals.   	
03.02	Identify breeds of food, service and companion animals.   	
03.03	Identify supplies and services industries related to animal science.  	
03.04	Demonstrate the proper care of an animal.      	
03.05	Identify consumer foods and products derived from animals.	
04.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in food science – the student will be able to:	
04.01	Describe the proper handling and storage of food products. 	
04.02	List and explain methods of food preservation. 	
04.03	Conduct a food taste test. 	
04.04	Develop a production and marketing plan for a food product. 	
04.05	Read and interpret a food label. 	
05.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in agriscience laboratories and workshops – the student will be able to:	
05.01	Demonstrates proper laboratory safety techniques. 	
05.02	Complete a project demonstrating the safe use of agricultural tools, machinery and equipment.   	
05.03	Define the scope of agricultural mechanization and engineering. 	
05.04	Discuss the impact of agricultural mechanization and engineering on society. 	
05.05	Identify tools, machines and equipment used in agriculture. 	
05.06	Conduct an experiment using proper laboratory techniques.	
05.07	Demonstrate proper workshop safety techniques.	
06.0	Demonstrate product knowledge and skills in agricultural processing and marketing – the student will be able to:	
06.01	Define agricultural product processing and marketing.  	
06.02	Describe the processing and marketing of an agriculture product from farm to consumer.  	
06.03	Prepare process and market an agricultural product.	
07.0	Demonstrate knowledge and skills in environmental resources – the student will be able to:	
07.01	Define and identify renewable and nonrenewable natural resources.  	
07.02	Describe agricultural management practices that conserve natural resources.  	
07.03	Describe effects of pollution on the environment. 	
07.04	Demonstrate how to recycle or conserve a natural resource. 	
07.05	Define organic agriculture and traditional agriculture.	
08.0	Demonstrate leadership and communication skills – the student will be able to:	
08.01	Describe the aims and purposes of the FFA organization. 	
08.02	Identify opportunities available to FFA members. 	
08.03	Identify characteristics of a good leader.	
08.04	Participate in a cooperative leadership development activity or FFA Career Development Event.	
08.05	Identify the importance of effective communication skills. 	
08.06	Demonstrate effective communication skills.	
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 mathematic operations to solve agricultural problems. 	
09.02	Correctly use measuring instruments and utilize measurements to solve agricultural problems. 	
09.03	Apply the scientific method to solve an agricultural problem.   	
09.04	Prepare written and oral materials using correct English grammar. 	
09.05	Identify the main idea in oral presentations and written materials.	
09.06	Locates, organizes and interprets information from a variety of agricultural sources. 	
09.07	Describe the historical evolution of agriculture. 	
09.08	Identify specific areas of commodity production in the state, nation and world.	

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