2014 – 2015
Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

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

Secondary – Middle School	
Course Number	8021110	
CIP Number	148021100M	
Grade Level	6-8	
Standard Length	Semester 	
Teacher Certification	Agriculture 1 @2
EXP AG @4	
CTSO	FFA	
Facility Code	200 http://www.fldoe.org/edfacil/sref.asp (State Requirements for Educational Facilities)	

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.

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 an understanding of the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway.
02.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Plant Systems career pathway.
03.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Animal Systems career pathway.
04.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Power, Structure, and Technical Systems career pathway.
05.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Natural Resource Systems career pathway.
06.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Environmental Service Systems career pathway.
07.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Agribusiness Systems career pathway.
08.0	Apply leadership and communication skills.
09.0	Describe how information technology is used in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster.
10.0	Use information technology tools.

Listed below are the standards that must be met to satisfy the requirements of Section 1003.4156, Florida Statutes.

11.0	Describe the influences that societal, economic, and technological changes have on employment trends and future training. 
12.0	Develop skills to locate, evaluate, and interpret career information. 
13.0	Identify and demonstrate processes for making short and long term goals. 
14.0	Demonstrate employability skills such as working in a group, problem-solving and organizational skills, and the importance of entrepreneurship.  
15.0	Understand the relationship between educational achievement and career choices/postsecondary options.  
16.0	Identify a career cluster and related pathways through an interest assessment that match career and education goals.
17.0	Develop a career and education plan that includes short and long-term goals, high school program of study, and postsecondary/career goals. 
18.0	Demonstrate knowledge of technology and its application in career fields/clusters.

2014 – 2015
Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Course Title: 	Introduction to Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources 
Course Number: 	8021110
Course Length:	Semester 

Course Description:

Beginning with a broad overview of the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources career cluster, students are introduced to the terminology, careers, history, required skills, and technologies associated with each pathway in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources career cluster. Additionally, they will be provided with opportunities to acquire and demonstrate beginning leadership skills.

CTE Standards and Benchmarks	
01.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway – the student will be able to:	
01.01	Define and use proper terminology associated with the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway. 	
01.02	Describe some of the careers available in the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway. 	
01.03	Identify common characteristics of the careers in the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway.	
01.04	Research the history of the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway and describe how the associated careers have evolved and impacted society. 	
01.05	Identify skills required to successfully enter any career in the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway.	
01.06	Describe technologies associated in careers within the Food Products & Processing Systems career pathway.	
02.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Plant Systems career pathway – the student will be able to:	
02.01	Define and use proper terminology associated with the Plant Systems career pathway. 	
02.02	Describe some of the careers available in the Plant Systems career pathway. 	
02.03	Identify common characteristics of the careers in the Plant Systems career pathway.	
02.04	Research the history of the Plant Systems career pathway and describe how the careers have evolved and impacted society. 	
02.05	Identify skills required to successfully enter any career in the Plant Systems career pathway.	
02.06	Describe technologies associated in careers within the Plant Systems career pathway.	
03.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Animal Systems career pathway – the student will be able to:	
03.01	Define and use proper terminology associated with the Animal Systems career pathway. 	
03.02	Describe some of the careers available in the Animal Systems career pathway. 	
03.03	Identify common characteristics of the careers in the Animal Systems career pathway.	
03.04	Research the history of the Animal Systems career pathway and describe how the careers have evolved and impacted society. 	
03.05	Identify skills required to successfully enter any career in the Animal Systems career pathway.	
03.06	Describe technologies associated in careers within the Animal Systems career pathway.	
04.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Power, Structural and Technological Systems career pathway – the student will be able to:	
04.01	Define and use proper terminology associated with the Power, Structural and Technological Systems career pathway. 	
04.02	Describe some of the careers available in the Power, Structural and Technological Systems career pathway. 	
04.03	Identify common characteristics of the careers in the Power, Structural and Technological Systems career pathway.	
04.04	Research the history of the Power, Structural and Technological Systems career pathway and describe how the careers have evolved and impacted society. 	
04.05	Identify skills required to successfully enter any career in the Power, Structural and Technological Systems career pathway.	
04.06	Describe technologies associated in careers within the Power, Structural, and Technological Systems career pathway.	
05.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Natural Resource Systems career pathway – the student will be able to: 	
05.01	Define and use proper terminology associated with the Natural Resource Systems career pathway. 	
05.02	Describe some of the careers available in the Natural Resource Systems career pathway. 	
05.03	Identify common characteristics of the careers in the Natural Resource Systems career pathway.	
05.04	Research the history of the Natural Resource Systems career pathway and describe how the careers have evolved and impacted society. 	
05.05	Identify skills required to successfully enter any career in the Natural Resource Systems career pathway.	
05.06	Describe technologies associated in careers within the Natural Resource Systems career pathway.	
06.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Environmental Service Systems career pathway – the student will be able to:	
06.01	Define and use proper terminology associated with the Environmental Service Systems career pathway. 	
06.02	Describe some of the careers available in the Environmental Service Systems career pathway. 	
06.03	Identify common characteristics of the careers in Environmental Service Systems career pathway.	
06.04	Research the history of the Environmental Service Systems career pathway and describe how the careers have evolved and impacted society. 	
06.05	Identify skills required to successfully enter any career in the Environmental Service Systems career pathway.	
06.06	Describe technologies associated in careers within the Environmental Service Systems career pathway.	
07.0	Demonstrate an understanding of the Agribusiness Systems career pathway – the student will be able to:	
07.01	Define and use proper terminology associated with the Agribusiness Systems career pathway. 	
07.02	Describe some of the careers available in the Agribusiness Systems career pathway. 	
07.03	Identify common characteristics of the careers in Environmental Service Systems career pathway.	
07.04	Research the history of the Agribusiness Systems career pathway and describe how the careers have evolved and impacted society. 	
07.05	Identify skills required to successfully enter any career in the Agribusiness Systems career pathway.	
07.06	Describe technologies associated in careers within the Agribusiness Systems career pathway.	
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	Participate on a committee which has an assigned task and report to the class. 	
08.05	Demonstrate effective communication skills through delivery of a speech, a slide presentation, or conducting a demonstration. 	
08.06	Use a computer to assist in the completion of project related to the Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources career cluster.	
09.0	Describe how information technology is used in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster – the student will be able to:	
09.01	Identify information technology (IT) careers in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster, including the responsibilities, tasks and skills they require.	
09.02	Relate information technology project management concepts and terms to careers in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster.	
09.03	Manage information technology components typically used in professions of the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster.	
09.04	Identify security-related ethical and legal IT issues faced by professionals in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster.	
10.0	Use information technology tools – the student will be able to:	
10.01	Identify the functions of web browsers, and use them to access the World Wide Web and other computer resources typically used in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster. 	
10.02	Use e-mail clients to send simple messages and files to other Internet users.	
10.03	Demonstrate ways to communicate effectively using Internet technology.	
10.04	Use different types of web search engines effectively to locate information relevant to the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources career cluster.	
Listed below are the standards that must be met to satisfy the requirements of Section 1003.4156, Florida Statutes.

The student will be able to:
	
11.0	Describe the influences that societal, economic, and technological changes have on employment trends and future training. 	
12.0	Develop skills to locate, evaluate, and interpret career information. 	
13.0	Identify and demonstrate processes for making short and long term goals. 	
14.0	Demonstrate employability skills such as working in a group, problem-solving and organizational skills, and the importance of entrepreneurship. 	
15.0	Understand the relationship between educational achievement and career choices/postsecondary options.  	
16.0	Identify a career cluster and related pathways that match career and education goals. 	
17.0	Develop a career and education plan that includes short and long-term goals, high school program of study, and postsecondary/career goals. 	
18.0	Demonstrate knowledge of technology and its application in career fields/clusters. 	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory activities are an integral part of this program.  These activities include instruction in the use of safety procedures, tools, equipment, materials, and processes related to these occupations.  Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students. 

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 Planning

The requirements of section 1003.4156 (1) (e), Florida Statutes, have been integrated into this course. The statute requires that students take a career and education planning course that must result in a completed personalized academic and career plan for the student; must emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship skills; must emphasize technology or the application of technology in career fields; and, beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year, must provide information from the Department of Economic Opportunity’s economic security report as described in section 445.07, Florida Statutes. For additional information on the Middle School Career and Education Planning course requirements, go to http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/ced/. 

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

National FFA Organization (FFA)  is the appropriate 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.  The activities of such organizations are defined as part of the curriculum in accordance with Rule 6A-6.065, F.A.C.

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.  Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors.  Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education.  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.