FOR EDUCATORS:
As a nonfiction writer I hope that my titles are useful in the classroom and help you teach content. But more importantly I hope these stories encourage students to be curious and concerned with the world around them.
Below you'll find handouts, lesson plans, and whole curriculum guides. Some were developed by me, but others were created by educators, the publisher, or Agriculture in the Classroom.
If you are a teacher and have developed materials based on one of my books, I would love to hear from you and, with your permission, add your ideas to this list for other teachers to use.
As a nonfiction writer I hope that my titles are useful in the classroom and help you teach content. But more importantly I hope these stories encourage students to be curious and concerned with the world around them.
Below you'll find handouts, lesson plans, and whole curriculum guides. Some were developed by me, but others were created by educators, the publisher, or Agriculture in the Classroom.
If you are a teacher and have developed materials based on one of my books, I would love to hear from you and, with your permission, add your ideas to this list for other teachers to use.
Educator's Guides, worksheets and lesson ideas:
The Soil In Jackie's Garden:
Lincoln Clears a Path:
Farmer George Plants A Nation
Snow Dance
School Visits:
I am available for in-person and virtual school visits and would love to work with you to produce a program that is entertaining and educationally beneficial for your students. For in-person visits with 1 hour drive, I charge $1500 (includes 4 presentations plus book signing).
Contact me at [email protected] for availability.
Here are a few programs that are popular and can be tweaked to fit your students' needs.
A Writer's Life
What does a writer do all day? How do they get their ideas? How many people does it take to create a picture book like The Soil in Jackie's Garden? These are just a few of the questions that I answer in this 30 to 45 minute presentation that is perfect for younger grades.
Everything Begins and Ends with Soil
This presentation explores the magical world of soil. What it is, how it is made, and what healthy soil means to us. We'll talk about worms and other critters in the soil, all the useful things that we use everyday that come from soil, and how they eventually are returned to the soil.
Tall Tales from the Erie Canal
After reading the folktale JOSHUA THE GIANT FROG, I lead the students through the process of writing their own tall tale. Together we create characters, dialogue, conflict and of course stretch the truth a bit.
Become a Nonfiction Ninja
As NF Ninjas in training, we'll learn how to brainstorm an interesting slant for any subject, practice proper research techniques, and weild active verbs and sensory details to make our true stories shine.
The Soil In Jackie's Garden:
- Educator's Guide from Feeding Minds Press
- Coloring Sheet from Feeding Minds Press
- English Language Arts
- Story Sequence - Activity
- Poetry Garden - Poetry Exercise
- Social Studies
- Community Connections - exploring community, resources, agricultural heritage
- Growing New York - activity; New York county map
- Math
- M&M Garden - area/perimeter activity, Square foot grid
- Coordinate Grid Worksheet
- Social Emotional Learning
- My Dream Garden - SEL exercise in cooperation and consensus; Activity sheet; Graph
- Science
- "These are the Visitors" - Beneficial vs Harmful, AFBFA Lesson Plan
- Soil Slurry - Activity exploring sand, silt and clay
- Make a Mini Composter & page 2 - Activity exploring decomposition and composting
- Earthworm Habitat - Maine Ag in the Classroom
- Celery Science - Activity exploring xylem and phloem
- Breathe In - Demonstration of stomata
- Everything Begins with Soil - worksheet
- Everything Ends with Soil - "Soil Your Undies" Activity from Illinois AITC
Lincoln Clears a Path:
- Classroom Activities and Lessons
- Clear A Path Project - An SEL activity
- Finding Your Single Thread - Writing worksheet
- Begin With a Bang Writing worksheet
- Abraham Lincoln Clears a Path - Ag Literacy Lesson Plans from National Ag in the Classroom
Farmer George Plants A Nation
- Teacher's Guide- Wisconsin Ag in the Classroom
- Lesson Plan Matrix - National Ag in the Classroom
Snow Dance
School Visits:
I am available for in-person and virtual school visits and would love to work with you to produce a program that is entertaining and educationally beneficial for your students. For in-person visits with 1 hour drive, I charge $1500 (includes 4 presentations plus book signing).
Contact me at [email protected] for availability.
Here are a few programs that are popular and can be tweaked to fit your students' needs.
A Writer's Life
What does a writer do all day? How do they get their ideas? How many people does it take to create a picture book like The Soil in Jackie's Garden? These are just a few of the questions that I answer in this 30 to 45 minute presentation that is perfect for younger grades.
Everything Begins and Ends with Soil
This presentation explores the magical world of soil. What it is, how it is made, and what healthy soil means to us. We'll talk about worms and other critters in the soil, all the useful things that we use everyday that come from soil, and how they eventually are returned to the soil.
Tall Tales from the Erie Canal
After reading the folktale JOSHUA THE GIANT FROG, I lead the students through the process of writing their own tall tale. Together we create characters, dialogue, conflict and of course stretch the truth a bit.
Become a Nonfiction Ninja
As NF Ninjas in training, we'll learn how to brainstorm an interesting slant for any subject, practice proper research techniques, and weild active verbs and sensory details to make our true stories shine.
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