News: Teacher stories

For the past several months, students in the Fort Jennings Environmental Science class have been studying alternative energy sources. They have been researching and experimenting with wind power, solar power, and hydrogen fuel cell power. In the last few weeks they have turned their attention to fuels produced from biomass. Two such fuels include biodiesel and ethanol. The students have been able to actually produce these fuels in the lab, …

Mary Ann Hopple teaches seventh graders at Athens Middle School. She attended the Feed the World workshop and has been using what she learned in her classroom. Hopple said the workshop had many benefits. “I always like to network with other teachers—I always walk away with new ideas. I’ve used these new resources in my class. Jim Love from Beck’s Hybrids came and demonstrated drones. That opened up a new…

As an intervention specialist, Pam Sandker from Bethel-Tate Middle School was not sure what to expect when she attended a Feed the World workshop sponsored by the Ohio Corn Marketing Program. “Background knowledge is the biggest roadblock with students,” Sandker said, so she was excited to see and participate in the many labs and content areas that FTW offered. Sandker teaches in a rural area and has several students who’d li…

Students at Mapleton High School can view the soil from an earthworm’s perspective. AFNR (Agricultural, Food and Natural Resource) students in Adam Bode’s class learned that the soil is an ever-changing environment. Bode attended the 2015 Feed the World workshop in Cleveland, where there was an emphasis on Soil Science. Participants learned about soil nutrients and how different crops’s needs vary. These soil nutrients also affect water quality which …

Becky Minton teaches at Peebles High School. After attending this summer’s Feed the World workshop, she’s using workshop curriculum in her Plant and Animal Sciences and Agriculture and Food and Natural Resources classes. Minton said, “The lesson plans have nice background information and good activities. I truly enjoyed the workshop I attended and the way information was presented to us—it was great to get to learn as the stud…

Two Ohio teachers are using problem-based science to teach 6th graders about soil and water quality testing. Lora James and Nic Baumer, ag science educators at Benjamin Logan High School, received a mini-grant from the Ohio Corn Marketing Program to purchase $2000 of classroom supplies to implement Ohio Corn Education curriculum. Their FFA students spent the day teaching 6th graders why soil and water testing are the key to understanding nutrient …

Laura Ringler teaches Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Plant and Animal Science, Science and Technology of Food, and Mechanical Principles classes at Plymouth High School. She attended the 2015 Feed the World workshop and found it very helpful. Ringler said, “The workshop allowed me to network with other teachers from across the state in the area of agriculture and science. I was also able to gain materials I have used in th…

Both Sam McCracken and Kym Judson attended the Feed the World workshop and found it a valuable experience. Judson said, “I teach a basic horticulture program focusing on greenhouse production and floral design. We also have a vegetable garden and do landscaping. I strive to show my students as many careers available in the industry as possible. The workshop included an urban garden tour, which gave me additional knowledge in th…