Almond Board of California (ABC) recently developed lesson plans that round out its educational offerings, which include the “An Almond Story” video and activity book, teaching tools that have been shared with elementary schools in the Central Valley for several years. The lesson plans, “California Almonds: An Almond Story,” offer a unit outline for educators to teach students about the history and applications of almonds.
The idea for the lesson plans came from ABC’s Almond Leadership Program, a yearlong program during which participants learn about the almond industry by going to monthly seminars. The participants work on a presentation throughout the duration of the program that they unveil in their final month.
Idea from Leadership Program
“Two participants of the 2013 Almond Leadership Program presented ‘California Almonds: An Almond Story’ as their project,” said Rebecca Bailey, program coordinator for Industry Relations, Almond Board of California. “They realized the potential to create a more complete offering around the activity book and video we had already been using, and the Almond Board’s Industry Services Committee decided to make their idea a reality.”
The lesson plans are built with grades three to five in mind, and include a five-lesson unit that makes up the almond unit. Lessons include Fact or Opinion, Science and Poetry with Almonds, Fun with Almond Math, Almond History and Cultural Significance, and Nutritious Almonds. The entire unit aligns with the education standards for California schools, along with the country’s Common Core standards for math, science and English.
Personal Connection
A goal of the lesson plans is to teach children how to be aware of what is being grown around them, and to instill in them a sense of responsibility for the land. Moreover, forging a personal connection with the people who grow the food on their plates makes students excited to eat more nutrient-rich foods. And many California students are personally tied in some way to the almond industry, making almonds more than just a snack.
Not only are the lesson plans educational, they’re also a fun and hands-on way to bring ag into the classroom. “The kids learn about almonds, but the plans also build in options for interactive activities,” said DeAnn Tenhunfeld, curriculum coordinator for California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. “The lesson plans allow teachers to choose from having their students make recipe books, poetry books, travel brochures or even coordinate a farmer visit.”
For the past six years, ABC has worked with California Foundation for Ag in the Classroom to offer the popular “An Almond Story” video and accompanying activity book, which insert the teaching of agriculture — specifically almonds — into the classroom.
“With almonds grown throughout the Central Valley in California, it’s important to provide educators with the tools they need to teach students about almonds in a fun way,” Bailey concluded.
With the end of the 2015–2016 school year approaching quickly, Almond Board of California hopes to find the lesson plans making their way into schools within the next couple of months. ”An Almond Story,” including the video and activity book, is available for download online at http://bit.ly/AnAlmondStory.
