Producing: to the farm STEM module plan

STEM module

PRODUCING: TO THE FARM

Agriculture contributes a significant share of the greenhouse gas, directly through agricultural activities, and also through changes in land use. Thus it's part of the problem – and potentially an important part of the solution.On this module we'll explore the challenges in agriculture starting from the history of agricultural technology and ending to the new technologies that have developed for this area. Are you inspired to join the next generation of scientists and tackle challenges in food security?

Essential question: How could you help your local community develop the new technologies adapted in this area ?

STEM

module

On this module, we aim to a better understanding of where our food comes from, how it’s produced, and the associated environmental, social and sustainability challenges for farmers.

Learning Objectives:

Aim:

• Define what's a sustainable farming model.

• Recognize the connection between agriculture and climate change.

• Identify innovative technologies available to farmers to boost sustainability.

• Be aware of the adoption of healthy food choices for both their health and the health of the planet.

• Illustrate a map of a sustainable farming system by using ICT applications.

• Adopt a positive attitude towards STEM as learning approach.

• Analyze the factors that affect food security in plant and animal production (meat, dairy, and egg), fish farmings and beekeeping

• Measure the influences of techniques and approaches used to health, environment, and economy.

• List the challenges in agriculture.

• Recall former knowledge in the topic.

• Relate the farming systems with their products.

• Examine different farming systems.

PRODUCING: TO THE FARM

There's a discussion on the statement: "agriculture is the result of the "green revolution" associated with technological advances to feed the planet at low cost". There the increase in agricultural yields through the implementation of irrigation and the introduction of fertilizers and pesticides will also be discussed so as to start realizing that this agriculture coupled with climate change has a negative impact on our planet and our health .Then students will go back to the popplet mind map so as to give responses in some more questions.After that students have to think about the fact that today we produce enough food for 12 billion people while 800 million suffer from malnutrition and they will be asked:

• Are there alternatives that would allow us to produce while preserving the soil?
• while respecting nature?
• while limiting resources and including the human dimension?

1

2

1st Week - 2hours

STEM

module

Research: There are 3 options which are : - Organic agriculture - Agroforestry - Agroecology. The question is to know if these methods would allow to feed the planet. The answer is YES, but please do research on these 3 fields and expose the object of your work in the form of an infographic uploaded to the following board.

3

4

Students are called to watch a video and recall their knowledge on basic aspects of plant production like plant morphology and uses, photosynthesis, methods of planting, importance of plant production, etc so as to give responses to a brainstorming popplet mindmap.

At this stage our goal is to arouse the interest and curiosity of the students for the topic that we will have to investigate, while at the same time we detect their prior knowledge regarding basic concepts Apps to be used: mentimeter, lino.it This will be followed by a discussion based to the answers given so to cover possible cognitive gaps and finally a meaningful presentation on the definition of food system.

PRODUCING: TO THE FARM

Students task is to work in national and transnational teams based to a webquest so as to create an augmented reality presentation to be used to inform the citizens and the farmers in their area about the animal production systems and how these influence animal welfare, meat quality, our health and environmental sustainability so as all critical think how we'll manage to achieve long lasting access and consumption of nutritious, safe, attractive, and pleasant meat products, taking into account sustainability criteria.

The social trend is to turn towards the demand and consumption of healthier and more sustainable foods much have been written about animal products consumption.

STEM

module

1. identify the types of livestock farming and the characteristics of each one, 2. point out key points of the types of farming in the partner countries, which type precedes, what -and in which quantity- is produced, evolution of the number of farmed animals over time, the reasons that may have contributed to the greater or less growth of organic farming in some areas compared to others,3. analyse organic farming practices that must be observed in order for the livestock products to be marked that certify the organic way of production4. link animal production system and meat product quality.

FAO works to enhance livestock’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by supporting the transformation of animal production systems – small and large – in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

2nd and 3rd Week - 4hours

Each team represents a specie farming

on transnational teams

and make a research on the requirements needed for their species holding place (kind of bedding, space, temperature, and air flow, animal handling, etc) so as to provide to animals a safe and comfortable place for their growth. They are also encouraged to design a holding place for their species. Thus they will be aware of animal welfare.

During these 4 hours students will explore data, make research, collect facts,etc so as to:

Why are animals an important part of the future of sustainable agriculture?

Position paper

PRODUCING: TO THE FARM

Challenges facing sustainable farming

STEM

module

4th Week - 2hours

The term “sustainable agriculture” has been in use since the late 1980s, and still remains a challenge. The three key challenges facing agriculture is: -to provide safe and nutritious food to a population that grows from 7.5 billion people today, to nearly 10 billion by 2050. -to provide a livelihood to farmers and people work in food-related jobs. -to provide all these respecting the planetary boundaries, without leading to natural resources shrinking, deforestation, additional GHG emissions, and a loss of biodiversity.

Food and agriculture are at the heart of these agendas.

Students will read carefully and will critical think on the five principles of the common vision for sustainable food and agriculture that is developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

How can we tackle those challenges so as to make sustainable progress?

Students read the new transformative global agendas(the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement, the European Green Deal ) so as to be prepared to share their ideas in order to address the aforementioned challenges.

Which are the obstacles that stand in the way of overcoming these challenges and how can we overcome them?

They will also take a look at case studies, and explore some topics in sustainable agriculture, so as to present their answers to the above questions and some key drivers of transition towards sustainable agriculture in a padlet.

PRODUCING: TO THE FARM

STEM

module

5th week -2hours

The history of agriculture goes back several thousand years and its development was led and determined to a large extent by climate differences, cultures and the technology that exists in them.

At the end of their missions they develop that agriculture is undergoing a fourth revolution triggered by the exponentially increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) in agriculture. Then they present some technologies that could be adopted in smart farming in a padlet.

What does the term "technology" mean?

Students brainstorm on that and then through an escape game they follow the history of technology and will try to indentify how that was inextricably linked to food and agriculture and which is technology's role nowdays..