Course Syllabus
Advanced Agriscience
Gaston School Agriscience Education
Mr. Heath
Course Description: This course is designed for high school students to gain an understanding of the agriculture industry that has defined our nation. Each student will learn leadership skills, and an understanding of major career areas in Agriscience education. Students will construct various projects in the shop and work on the outdoor classroom as it develops around our school. The main goal of this course is to expand students’ critical-thinking skills, use of the scientific method, integration of technology, development of leadership skills, FFA involvement, and application of knowledge and skills related to practical questions and problems. Safe field and laboratory investigations will be used in our instruction to the maximum extent possible to illustrate scientific concepts and principles and to support inquiry instruction.
Required Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Agriscience and Intermediate Agriscience
Materials Needed Daily:
1. Hard cover three ring binder.
2. Paper
3. Pencils and/or blue or black ink pens for classroom activities.
4. A willingness to learn.
Program Goals:
• Provide education in and about agriculture from the perspective of science
and technology.
• Prepare students for employment in an agricultural career.
• Prepare students for entry into postsecondary programs in agriscience fields.
• Provide education about the role of agriscience in the conservation of the
Earth’s natural resources.
• Develop life and employability skills essential for successful employment.
• Develop skills needed to fulfill occupational, social, and civic responsibilities.
Course Goals: Advanced Agriscience is a one-credit course that provides students with an intermediate understanding of the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster, which contains five pathways—Power, Structure, and Technical Systems; Environmental and Natural Resources Systems; Animal Systems; Plant Systems; and Agribusiness Systems. Students are involved in classroom and laboratory activities in each of the five pathway areas. The emphasis for Advanced Agriscience is animal science and construction. The curriculum will provide opportunities for Career Readiness Indicators utilizing resources from NCCER.
Course Outline:
Career Opportunities
Students will:
Agribusiness Systems
1. Describe the law of supply and demand as related to the agricultural industry.
· Evaluating effects of monetary, fiscal, and international policies on the agricultural industry
2. Describe various techniques for measuring the performance of an agribusiness.
3. Identify sources for obtaining agribusiness loans.
· Describing procedures for obtaining an agribusiness loan
4. Explain the impact of government policies and regulations on agribusiness management decisions.
· Examining benefits of participating in government programs that supplement agricultural production
5. Demonstrate parliamentary procedure in agribusiness meetings utilizing the FFA Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event Contest Booklet · Examples: types of motions, voting methods, steps in presenting a main motion, duties of the chairperson
Foods and Food Processing
6. Describe FFA opportunities available to students with an interest in food science (SAE/Proficiency/CDE). · Determining and explaining the quality and identification of food utilizing the Meats Judging CDE Booklet · Discussing the importance of food preservation
Animal Science
7. Describe safety procedures for handling livestock.
8. Explain benefits of livestock production to society. · Trace the history of major large animal breeds. i. Examples: beef, swine, equine, goat, sheep, specialty animal breeds · Identifying the large breeds of livestock by common names
9. Describe safety procedures for handling livestock. · Evaluating facilities used to manage livestock i. Examples: corral, catch pen, head chute ii. Laying out and designing appropriate handling facilities · Demonstrating how to properly construct various types of fencing i. Examples: barbed wire, wooden, electric slick fencing, poultry netting, and hog netting/fencing
10. Identify major body parts of cattle, swine, sheep, equine, and poultry. · Describing the impact of selective breeding and cloning on livestock breeds · Evaluating selected groups of animals according to confirmation, frame size, muscling, grade, and breed characteristics by utilizing the FFA Livestock Evaluation CDE Booklet
Animal Biotechnology
11. Describe the importance of animal biotechnology to humans, including medical, environmental, and product advancements.
12. Describe heterogeneity as an important strategy in maintaining health and productivity in animal populations.
Animal Rights Verses Animal Welfare
13. Differentiate animal rights from animal welfare. · Describing responsible ownership of animals · Listing ways the use of animals in research has benefited humans and animals · Interpreting laws governing the use of animals for research
Disease and Parasite Control
14. Evaluate methods of disease prevention in livestock. · Evaluating parasite control, vaccination, sanitation · Categorizing symptoms of animal diseases for diagnostic purposes · Comparing drugs used to treat animal diseases
Veterinary Science
15. Identify methods of disease prevention in animals. Examples: worming, vaccination · Analyzing symptoms of animal diseases for diagnostic purposes i. Selecting drugs to treat animals ii. Describing environmental factors affecting animals
Poultry Science
16. Demonstrate the safe handling of chemicals and drugs used in poultry production. · Identifying safety procedures for transporting poultry · Identifying procedures for disposal of poultry litter, including spreading wet, dry, and dehydrated litter · Identifying procedures for disposal of dead birds, including composting and freezing.
17. Identify various breeds of poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, quail, and turkeys. · Describing the structure and function of poultry skeletal, digestive, reproductive, excretory, respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems
18. Describe factors to be considered in the design of energy-saving housing for poultry, including ventilation and lighting. · Explaining accepted feeding practices for various kinds of poultry. · Explaining the operation of modern poultry businesses.
Construction
19. Describe career opportunities associated with construction finishing. · Identifying important historical moments in construction · Describing the apprenticeship program · Exploring career opportunities in the construction trade
20. Identify various types of building materials. · Contrasting hardwoods and softwoods, grades and markings of wood · Calculating the quantities of lumber, including linear feet and board feet · Comparing and contrasting the uses of different fasteners and adhesives and their uses
21. Recognize the uses of basic woodworking tools and materials. · Demonstrating the use of hand and power tools in a safe and appropriate manner · Identifying the hand tools commonly used by carpenters and their uses
22. Compare advantages of concrete flooring systems and wood flooring systems by designing a floor framing system for a structure. · Interpreting specifications and drawings to determine floor system requirements · Identifying the different types of framing systems · Conceptualizing floor system components
23. Design a wall framing system for a structure. · Identifying the components of a wall system · Describing the procedure for laying out a wood frame wall, including plates, corner posts, door and window openings, partition Ts, bracing, and fire-stops · Demonstrating the correct procedure to assemble, erect, and brace exterior walls for a frame building · Contrasting wall framing techniques used in masonry construction · Describing the correct procedure to estimate the materials required to frame walls · Identifying alternative wall systems
24. Design a ceiling framing system for a structure. · Identifying the components of ceiling framing · Identifying common types of roofs used in residential construction · Defining the terms associated with roof framing · Demonstrating the methods used to lay out a common rafter · Describing how to erect a gable roof i. Demonstrateing how to frame a basic gable end wall · Recognizing the use of trusses in basic roof framing · Demonstrating the basics of roof sheathing installation · Describe how to perform a material takeoff for a roof
Essential Questions:
How have the advancements in agriculture led to an improved standard of living for most Americans?How is the choice of a career one of the most important decisions in a person’s life?
Is safety an accident?
How has the development and use of computer technologies changed the agricultural industry?
Why is protecting the environment and conserving natural resources important?
Why is agriculture and all of life on Earth dependent on soil?
Why are plants considered the foundation of all agriculture?
What impact does a properly managed forest system have on the economy of the state of Alabama?
What roles do domesticated farm animals play in our economy?
How does the expanding human population affect wildlife?
Why is woodworking an integral part of an Agriscience course?
Culminating Product(s):
Students will present results from research on the organizations which supports agriculture.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of safe use and proper setup of equipment.
Students will understand the importance of computer technologies in the agricultural industry through their completion of a research project.
Students will have an understanding of agricultural leadership through their participation in discussions, research and oral presentations.
The student will have an understanding and appreciation of natural resources through their completion of a research report.
Students will understand the importance of the growth of plants to the existence of life on earth and through their research will be able to discuss the importance of plants to future fuel needs of our country.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of tree identification through the completion of leaf identification activities.
Students will understand the importance of the health and nutrition of the different breeds of livestock.
The student will understand the proper use and operation of the equipment and safety procedures that are related to the preparation and construction of a woodworking project.
Classroom and Laboratory rules:
1. Students are expected to bring to class all supplies needed for the class. No one will be able to retrieve these items after class has started.
2. Students will receive rules for the laboratory within the first three days of school and will be expected to follow these rules. A test will be given on these rules and the discipline used if the rules are not followed.
3. Follow the student handbook for all other school rules that will apply to this class as well.
Note: If rules are not followed, that’s one less day you spend in the shop.
4. Someone caught for cheating on a test will receive a zero (0) on the test and it will not nor cannot be made up. I do watch, so if you are going to cheat you know now what the price will be.
Grading Procedure: The students will be given exams on each individual unit covered. These exams will be worth 100 points each. There will also be various quizzes given from time to time worth 50 points. Other class work will be worth anywhere from 10 – 50 points. A participation grade is taken on days that we work in the shop. Students will receive full credit each day as long as they abide by the shop rules. Failure to do so will result in a reduction of points and possible disciplinary action. Projects constructed in the shop will also be worth anywhere from 100 – 200 points. They will be graded based on a rubric provided to the students as a guide.
Grading Scale: The following scale will be used to asses student knowledge throughout this course:
A = 90 – 100% B = 80 – 89% C = 70 – 79% D = 60 – 69% F = 0 – 59%
Course Requirements: All assignments are to be kept in a three ring binder. This will be to the student’s advantage, because there will be periodic open note quizzes given throughout the year. Keeping up with notes and assignments will aid the students on these quizzes. Periodic notebook checks will also be conducted worth anywhere from 30-50 points.
Classroom Participation: Participation in daily activities and discussions is a must. Students WILL NOT be allowed to sleep in this class for any reason! Student participation will also be a part of the final nine weeks grade, so it is imperative that students remain attentive for the entire 50 minutes that this class is in session.
Attendance: This is a very fast paced class. It is important that students are here, because of the speed at which we will move. We have a large amount of material to cover in a very short amount of time. If you are absent, you will have three days to see me and schedule times for making up work. A zero will be given for any assignments after that three day time period.
Projects and Presentations: The students will be required to use the computer lab for internet research on different topics. All students should be familiar with acceptable use policies outlined in the Student Handbook.
Ag Fees are $30.00 (Due September 3rd)
FFA Dues Are $15.00 (Due September 3rd)
This Syllabus is tentative and may be changed at the instructor’s discretion.
Student Signature______
.
Parent Signature______