Holiday Crops                                                            December 2014  


 
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Notes from                New Hampshire

We have been out and about at these events:

NH Science Teachers' Fall Conference
Common Core Standards, agricultural literacy, story books, baseball, Ag Mags, hydroponics, garden in a glove, Nutrients for Life and much, much more were discussed at this great conference.  Science teachers from around the state took part in a workshop to learn more about incorporating agricultural concepts into their classroom.

NH Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
This was a great opportunity to meet with New Hampshire farmers and other agricultural professionals to discuss how NHAITC pursues agricultural literacy throughout the state and how we can expand the effort together.  Programs such as Farm Quests, Adopt a Farmer, Farm Tours and School to Farm Days were of interest.

Geography Awareness Week
A great opportunity to speak with geography and social studies teachers about how easily agricultural concepts can be incorporated into their curriculum.  There was even a chance to chat with pre-service teachers.
 
Mark your calendar:  The Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, Saturday March 7th in Palmer, MA.  Click here for more information on "Growing Minds Through Agriculture".  They are also looking for interesting workshop ideas.
 
Lesson Links

Below are links to some helpful lessons and activities.

Free online curriculum and packets available for purchase from the National Association of Conservation Districts. Grades K-6+

Composting activities for grades K-12

"Growing a Nation is an interactive multimedia instructional tool that utilizes innovative technology that links to online teacher resources and complements existing America History textbooks and high school history curricula. Growing a Nation's chronological presentation of significant historical events focuses on the important role agriculture has played in America's development."  (MAITC)
 
 
Calendar

Farm & Forest Expo
February 6th & 7th, 2015
Radisson Hotel
Manchester, NH

NH Association of Education for Young Children Spring Conference 
April 18th, 2015
Plymouth State College
 
Contacts

Debbi Cox

State Coordinator

[email protected]

(603) 224-1934

295 Sheep Davis Road

Concord, NH  03301

 

Deb Robie, 

Grafton County Coordinator

Christmas Trees

"Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away 
witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness." (1)
German settlers in Pennsylvania are reported to be the first to display a Christmas Tree in America in the 1830's.  In 1851, Christmas trees were first sold commercially, taken randomly from the forest.  Now we have tree farms dedicated to growing trees for Christmas.

The smell of a farm fresh Christmas Tree is not only a classic sign of the holiday season, but representative of their contribution to our state's economy.  In 2012, the value of Christmas trees sold in NH was over $3 million which makes NH 14th in the country for sales.  Click here for a list of where to find precut Christmas trees, cut your own trees and other holiday necessities.

According to the NH Christmas Trees website:
  • Approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year in the United States.
  • There are close to 350 million real Christmas trees currently growing on Christmas Tree farms in the United States, and they were all planted by farmers.
  • Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states, but 80% of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
  • Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.
  • For every real Christmas tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.
  • There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., much of it preserving green space.
  • Nearly 15,000 farms in the United States grow Christmas trees, employing over 100,000 people full or part time.
  • It takes four to 15 years to grow a 6-7-foot Christmas tree, with an average growing time of 7 years.
  • Trees provide vital habitat for wildlife, from birds to bears including many endangered and threatened species.
Christmas Trees and tree farms are the perfect vehicle for bringing agriculture in to the classroom with science, math, language arts, social studies, art and economics.  

(1) "History of Christmas Trees." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
 
Pointsettias

Native to Mexico, colorful Poinsettia plants add a festive touch to any holiday decor.  First introduced in the US by Joel Roberts Pointsett while serving as the first US Ambassador to
Mexico.  They are now the second most valuable flowering potted crop sold in the United States with a reported wholesale value in 2011 of $139 million in the top-15 producing states.

Some interesting Poinsettia facts from the University of Illinois Extension: 
  • The showy colored parts of poinsettias that most people think of as the flowers are actually colored bracts (modified leaves).
  • In Mexico the poinsettia is a perennial shrub that will grow 10-15 feet tall.
  • Poinsettias are not poisonous. A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 500 leaves to have any harmful effect. Even so, you might want to keep your pets from snacking on poinsettia leaves. Eating the leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhea, plus they are reported to have an awful taste.
Poinsettias provide plenty of opportunities to teach science, math, history, economics and Mexican culture.  From determining a production schedule which includes calculating
flower initiation dates, vegetative growth needs, pinching  and transplanting dates and fertilizer rations to learning about photoperiods, the poinsettia provides a whole host of areas for student education.  
 
UNH will be hosting their popular Poinsettia Open House this year December 4th through the 6th.  Over 100 varieties will be on display and a broad selection will be available for sale along with fresh wreaths.  More information can be found here.
 
Classroom Connection

Real Trees 4 Kids  The story and science of tree farming for grades K-12

Adopt a Forevergreen Tree program where kindergarten students plant their own tree at the Rocks Christmas Tree Farm.  The students can watch them grow until they are in 6th grade, at which point the trees are harvested.

Discover Christmas Trees by the NY Agriculture in the Classroom for grades K-8

Poinsettia Fan Craft for preschool


"The Legend of the Poinsettia" activities.  More can be found here
(use this link to preview the lesson)   If you are interested, let us know and we can email it to you.


UNH Cooperative Extension:  Poinsettias Care and Reflowering
  

Books available for loan by from NHAITC:  
           (email us to check on availability)

"Christmas Tree Farm" by Ann Purmell  (K+)
"The Littlest Christmas Tree"  by R. A. Herman (P-3rd)
"The Tree Book for Kids and their Grown-ups"                 
          by Gina Ingoglia  (can be adapted for most any age)
"The Legend of the Poinsettia" by Tomie de Paola   (P-3rd)
 
"The Poinsettia From Cutting to Shelf in the Classroom" - a middle school science module that highlights the use of Integrated Pest Management when growing this popular plant.
 
NH Agriculture in the Classroom            295 Sheep Davis Rd        Concord, New Hampshire 03301
email:  [email protected]          (603) 224-1934        http://www.agclassroom.org/nh