Exploratory
Agriscience
7th 8th Grade
Name______Period___
*Marbury FFA Chapter*
P.O. Box 70 Marbury AL 36051
Ph. 205-755-2118
Dear Parents,
First, I am delighted to have your child in our Agriscience Program here at Marbury this year. We are looking forward to a great year and hope to have your child play an active role in his or her development by becoming active in our class and organization.
To make the opportunities available to your child we implore you to have your child become an active member in our organization and assist us in providing needed materials for our classes. The cost for membership, the class workbook , FFA Field Trip and FFA membership is $28.00 for this year. The class workbooks will be used virtually every day as a part of the instruction process. We will take field trips appropriate for the course that the student is taking. In the past we have taken trips to AuburnUniversity to the School of Agriculture, the MannWildlifeMuseum, the AlabamaState House in Montgomery and to the Montgomery Zoo. Finally, the membership dues for our local, state and national organizations which make it possible for students to participate in the array of individual and team activities afforded active members. As a member, the students will receive the New Horizons Magazine which we also use as an instructional source in class. When students are older, they are also eligible for scholarships provided for outstanding members of the FFA. Recently, including this past year, several members of our local chapter have been able to take advantage of the funds available exclusively for FFA Members.
We hope you will support our program and allow your child to take advantage of the opportunities we have listed. We ask that you submit the funds for the first semester by September 15th . I have included the costs for the items mentioned to let you know how the money will be spent. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me for additional information. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
John Colquitt
Marbury FFA Advisor
Approximate Items Costs: Workbook= $8.00 Field Trip- $10.00 State & National FFA Dues= $10.00 Total = $28.00
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Please Sign Parent / date
**Exploratory Agriscience Overview**
1. Course Value- This course is designed to introduce you to the Agriscience Program here at Marbury. This course is very different from any you have had in the past. Hopefully, at least one of the areas you cover will spark an interest for you. Please be patient with the course and reserve judgment before you decide whether or not it is something you will enjoy.
2. Course Activities- We will be doing several presentations in front of the class. The presentations are for your benefit as you develop as a person. The presentations in turn strengthen our program for the future.______
3. Grading- Make sure that you do your major projects! It is very important for you to complete the projects because they are a large part of your grade. (1) S.A.E. Projects
(2) Fair Exhibit (3) Activities above the chapter level.
4. Workbooks- Keep up with and have them with you in class every day. A high percentage of your grade will come from your activities in your workbook.______
5. Proficiency Applications- Take advantage of entering a proficiency application on your S.A.E Project. Advantages.
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Exploring Agriscience
Course Content
1. General Information: Includes expectations & Requirements
2. FFA Introduction.
3. FFA History.
4. FFA Opportunities.
5. Agriculture in our Economy.
6. Animal Science.
7. Companion Animals
8. Leadership & Public Presentations.
9. Agri-Technology
I. Project Assignments:
1. S.A.E.______
Each students is required to have an agriculturally related
project at home. The student is required to turn in those
activities by the end of the first nine weeks. The S.A.E. is a
major grade for this course.
Your Project:______
3. Class Activities: All students are expected to participate in FFA Meetings and activities.
4. Class Cost: The cost for the class is $28.00 for the year.
The payment is for the class workbook, t-shirt and for FFA Membership.
*Additional Information-______
______
**Parent Survey****
Thank you for taking the time for the following survey. This information is
very beneficial to us in meeting the needs of our students at Marbury.
Sincerely,
John Colquitt
Marbury FFA Advisor
1. What do you do for a living and briefly explain your duties?
______
______
2. What are some of your interests outside your profession?
______
______
3. Would you be interested in speaking to one of my classes?
______subject:______
4. Would you be interested in serving as a chaperone on one of
our trips?______.
5. Please check areas of interest that you feel your child would be interested
in doing or that you would like to see him or her participate.
Leadership____ Livestock___ Small Engines___ Speaking ___
Hunting___ Chapter Promotions___ Gardening____
Fund Raisers____ Music___ Travel____ Travel_____
Scholarship____ First Aid___ Community Service____
Please explain your selections;______
______
6. Were you involved in FFA while attending school?______
If so, briefly describe your involvement.______
______
7. Your Chapter-______
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Parent Signature/date
Things to Remember
1. Remember your purpose.______
2. Respect our shop and classroom.______
3. Don’t be derogatory!______
4. Don’t talk while I am talking or another student has the floor!
5. Don’t make have to look for you.______
6. Don’t bother things or get in my space.______
7. Remember, if you can’t do the time don’t do the crime!
______
8. *** Listen Well !!______
Expectations
1. Bring the proper materials needed to class every day.
2. Please be seated and prepare for roll call every day.
3. Attend every class possible.
4. Please be on time for our class.
5. Be kind and courteous to everyone in our program.
6. Let me do my job!!! Examples:
(1)Deciding who needs to be disciplined.
(2)Answering questions.
(3)What needs to be taught…….
I will remember these things and understand these expectations. ______
Students name / Date
Grades
You will be graded on the following areas:
These are the approximate percentages that will be used to determine your grade.
1.Class workbook= 30%
2.Class Presentations= 30%
3.Tests= 40 %______
1.Class Workbooks- I will be checking the workbooks periodically to insure that you are keeping up.
2.Class presentations- Will consist of learning officer parts, creed paragraphs, and parliamentary presentations.
3.In this class you will be tested often. In general we will have 2- 3 tests a week.
Make-up- I do not give make-up tests. We will be tested on the material a number of times so you will cover the missed material on another test later.
Exam Policy & FINAL PART 1
Exam Part I (NOTE: Everyone must take the Final!)
You can accumulate points for your semester exams by your involvement in activities in the FFA. Some of the activities that count are (1) Fair Projects (2) Class Officers (3) Community Service Projects (4) After School Meetings socials.. ( 5) Fundraisers (6) Chapter Contests finals ex creed
(7) * Banquet (8) Proficiency Applications.
Note: Activities 1-6 count 20 pts each activity 7 counts 50 pts. And if you have a proficiency selected it is an activity “Above the Chapter level”.
Exam Points:
List your activities ( You must have a minimum of 4)
Event Your involvement
1.______-______
2.______-______
3.______-______
4.______-______
5.______-______
Total Points=______
II. Activities “ABOVE” the Chapter level.
All = 95 pts
Includes: (1) Team Events (2) Individual Events
Small Engines Speaking Events
Livestock Proficiency App.
Parliamentary State Degree
Quartet State & District Off
Your Activities-______Pts.______
Turn this in at the end of the semester! If you have not accumulated enough points you must take Part II
Note- Part II of the Final Exam is in the Back of the book!
FFA Creed
(1) I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
(2) I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.
(3) I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.
(4) I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.
(5) I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home andcommunity which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.
(The creed was written by E. M. Tiffany, and adopted at the 3rd National Convention of the FFA. It was revised at the 38th Convention and the 63rd Convention.)
You need to learn 1 paragraph per week!
Creed Questions
1.Do you believe in the future of Agriculture and why?
2.What is meant in the first paragraph “a faith born not of words but of deeds?
3.What are achievements won by the present and past generations on agriculturalists?
4.What are some of the better things we now enjoy?
5.What is a good farm?
6.What are some agricultural pursuits referred to in the second paragraph?
7. What are some of the joys and discomforts of agricultural life?
8.How would you define a progressive agriculturalist?
9.Why is less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining important?
10. How can we play square with others?
11. What are some of the best traditions of our national
life?
12. How can you positively influence our national life?
13. What is honest wealth?
14. How can you influence our home and community?
15. Give some of the historical highlights of the creed.
16. Do you think the creed should be revised again to fit
the changing times?
17. Who wrote the creed ? When was it written?
When Adopted?
18. Why do you think organizations have creeds?
19. Why do you think it is important to learn the creed?
20. What does E.M. stand for?
21. What are some achievements won?
22. What are some of the promises of future days for FFA
members?
23. What are some struggles from former years?
24. How many sentences are in the creed?
25. In your experiences, what is pleasant and what is challenging about agricultural pursuits?
26. What agricultural pursuits do you see as the most exciting?
27. Discuss one or more of the joys and discomforts of agriculture you have experienced.
28. What associations do you think E. M. Tiffany was writing about when he wrote, "and hold an inborn fondness, for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny"?
29. In what ways do you think progressive agriculturists are serving our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil?
30. Why is it important for those in agriculture to demonstrate leadership?
31. Discuss a time when you demonstrated playing square with others.
32. How would you describe, "life abundant"?
33. How do you plan to exert an influence in your home and community?
34. What do you think is meant by the lines I believe... "in less need for charity and more of it when needed?"
35. What is challenging about “living and working on a good farm?”
36. What is meant by the statement “and hold an inborn fondness for those
associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny?”
Answer Creed Questions
Be sure to include an introduction on each answer.
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** What is your favorite paragraph and why? ______
** What are the benefits from learning the Creed?____
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FFA Opening Ceremonies
President:
"The (meeting ______.) will come to order. We are now holding a meeting
of the (Marbury FFA chapter Mr./Mdm. Vice President, are all officers at their stations?"
Vice President: (Rising and facing the president states) "I shall call the roll of officers, determine if they are at their stations and report back to you, Mr./Mdm. President."
Vice President: (Calling roll of officers) "The sentinel."
Sentinel: "Stationed by the door."
Vice President: "Your duties there?"
Sentinel: "Through this door pass many friends of the FFA. It is my duty to see
that the door is open to our friends at all times and that they are welcome. I
care for the meeting room and paraphernalia. I strive to keep the room
comfortable and assist the president in maintaining order."
Vice President: "The reporter."
Reporter: "The reporter is stationed by the flag."
Vice President: "Why by the flag?"
Reporter: "As the flag covers the United States of America, so I strive to
inform the people in order that every man, woman and child may know that the
FFA is a national organization that reaches from the state of Alaska to Puerto
Rico and from the state of Maine to Hawaii."
Vice President: "The treasurer."
Treasurer: "Stationed at the emblem of Washington."
Vice President: "Your duties there?"
Treasurer: "I keep a record of receipts and disbursements just as Washington
kept his farm accounts—carefully and accurately. I encourage thrift among the
members and strive to build up our financial standing through savings and
investments. George Washington was better able to serve his country because he
was financially independent."
Vice President: "The secretary."
Secretary: "Stationed by the ear of corn."
Vice President: "Your duties there?"
Secretary: "I keep an accurate record of all meetings and correspond with other
secretaries wherever corn is grown and FFA members meet."
Vice President: "The advisor."
Advisor: "Here by the owl."
Vice President: "Why stationed by the owl?"
Advisor: "The owl is a time-honored emblem of knowledge and wisdom. Being older than the rest of you, I am asked to advise you from time to time, as the need arises. I hope that my advice will always be based on true knowledge and ripened with wisdom."Mr./Mdm. Vice President, why do you keep a plow at your station?"
Vice President: "The plow is the symbol of labor and tillage of the soil.
Without labor, neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much. My duties
require me to assist at all times in directing the work of our organization. I
preside over meetings in the absence of our president, whose place is beneath
the rising sun."
Advisor:"Why is the president so stationed?"
Vice President: "The rising sun is the token of a new era in agriculture. If we
will follow the leadership of our president, we shall be led out of the
darkness of selfishness and into the glorious sunlight of brotherhood and
cooperation. Mr./Mdm. President, all officers are at their stations.
President: (Rises and faces the vice president) "Thank you, Mr./Mdm. Vice
President." (1 tap of gavel -All sit!.) "The secretary will call the roll
of members."
Secretary: "There are ______members and _____guests present, Mr./Mdm.
President."
President: "Thank you. FFA members, why are we here?" (All members stand at 3 taps of gavel.) (President leads the All in Unison”)
All members in unison: "To practice brotherhood, honor agricultural
opportunities and responsibilities, and develop those qualities of leadership
which an FFA member should possess." (All are seated at 1 tap of gavel.)
President: "May we accomplish our purposes. I now declare this meeting of the
(Marbury FFA Chapter duly opened transaction of business, or attention to any matters which may properly be presented."______Stop______
Closing Ceremonies (Note we don’t do this part for a grade)
President: "Mr./Mdm. Secretary, do you have a record of any further business
which should now be transacted?"
Secretary: (Rises, replies and is seated.) "I have none, Mr./Mdm. President."
President:"Does any member know of any new or unfinished business which should
properly come before this meeting?" (If no answer, proceed as follows.)
"We are about to adjourn this meeting of the Marbury,FFA chapter, As we mingle with others, let us be diligent in labor, just in our dealings, courteous to everyone, and, above all, honest and fair in the game of life. Fellow members and guests, join me in a salute to our flag."
(Taps three times with gavel to call members to stand, face the flag at the
reporter’s station, and with their right hands over their hearts, repeat the
following pledge.)Presidents Starts it!
All in unison (together) : "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all."
President: "I now declare this meeting adjourned." (Taps once with gavel and
the meeting is adjourned)
Grades WK 1____ WK 2______WK 3____ WK 4_____ WK 5____ WK 6_____
The following parts are EXTRA parts that are used for other offices. They are called out between the Secretary and the Advisor in order of Parliamentarian, Historian, Chaplin.
Parliamentarian Part
Vice President: The Parliamentarian?
Parliamentarian: Here by a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Vice President: What are your duties?
Parliamentarian: It is my obligation to know and share information about
parliamentary law and assist members in proper meeting procedure and etiquette
so that we can accomplish the business of the chapter. I assure that every
member will be heard and that the majority will prevail.
HistorianPart
Vice President: The Historian?
Historian: Stationed at the chapter scrapbook.
Vice President: What are your duties?
Historian: Tradition and history are a source of pride for our organization. It
is my duty to maintain a record of chapter achievements and promote excellence
through highlighting activities, events and accomplishments so that our chapter
membership is motivated by our past successes and looks to future
achievements.
Chaplain Part (Written by Caleb Colquitt & Corey Helms)
Vice President: The Chaplain?
Chaplain: Stationed by the Bible.
Vice President: Your duties there?
Chaplain: My duties as Chaplain are to promote Spiritual growth among our
members. I offer intercessions to our supreme creator on the behalf of our
chapter. I strive to uphold brotherhood and good morals through scriptures in
our meetings, in our classrooms, and in our lives.
Officer Grades
Part: Grade
1.______-______
2.______-______
3.______-______
4.______-______
5.______-______
6.______-______