Ag in the Classroom brings agriculture lessons to Carlyle High School

The Clinton County Ag in the Classroom program expanded its educational outreach this year by introducing a new series of lessons to the Life Skills class at Carlyle High School.

In September, students participated in their first lesson, exploring corn, soybeans and wheat and discovering how these crops are used in everyday products. Beyond providing food, these agricultural commodities are used to make a variety of items, including ethanol and biodiesel for vehicles, lotion, makeup, dog food, bicycle tires, Band-Aids and batteries.

Students also learned about biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials. They discussed how Styrofoam is made from petroleum-based materials and does not readily break down in the environment. The lesson then introduced an alternative: packing peanuts made from cornstarch, corn oil and water.

To put their learning into action, students used the biodegradable packing peanuts to create projects of their own choosing. The hands-on activity demonstrated how agricultural products can provide innovative, more environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday materials.

In October, students continued their agricultural learning with a seasonal lesson featuring pumpkin pie in a bag. Through this hands-on activity, students explored pumpkins as an agricultural product while learning how ingredients from various sources come together to make a familiar fall treat. The activity provided a fun, interactive way to connect agriculture to everyday foods.