Growing a Nation

Voted “Best Social Studies Program of the Year” by the Association of Educational Publishers, Growing a Nation, The Story of American Agriculture is a web-based multi-media program that brings history and agriculture to life through images, narration and text. Available at http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/media/program.html

The project is also available on CD at the CFA Web site.

River Watch Training

Ever think it would be fun and interesting to get involved with the River Watch program? Here's your chance for training.

Oct. 17-20, 2006
Camp Cedaredge, located southeast of Grand Junction, Colo.
$60 per person to attend, all meals and lodging are included.
Registration deadline - Sept. 25, 2006.

This overnight event will allow participants the ability to broaden their knowledge on River Watch. Introduction to River Watch for new participants will focus on water quality sampling and analysis, and the nuts and bolts of the program.

For more information contact Curtis Hartenstine at curtis.hartenstine@state.co.us or 303-291-7412.

Wave of the Future?

Tired of of the old soak, wash and spin? Could waterless washing be the wave of the future? Check out a waterless washing unit that uses negative ions, compressed air and deodorants at http://www.ourwater.org/econnection/connection21/wash.html.

South Platte Forum

South Platte Forum
From the Gold Rush to the Urban Crush
Oct. 25-26, 2006
Radisson Conference Center
Longmont, Colo.

Conference will explore the past, present and future of the South Platte River Basin.

For more information logon www.southplatteforum.org.

Critter Crates from the Colorado Department of Wildlife

Looking for a free classroom activity that'll rate high on the "cool" list? The DOW has a series of "Critter Crates" that are available for loan at no cost — don't worry, no creepy crawlies. There's a series of kits that range from rubber animal tracks to a puppet show to elk antlers, including activities from primary grades to adult education. To find out more, visit http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/T
eacherResources/ResourceCatalogs/FCKits.htm

School Wellness Toolkit

A useful tool for school officials, health professionals, parents, and community members — this kit provides everything you need to get involved in school wellness policies in your local district. Components include a how-to manual, resources and links to agencies and groups, reprint articles from the School Foodservice and Nutrition Journal, reproducible handouts, MyPyramid poster and MyPyramid for kids poster. Check it out and other free teacher resources at http://www.teachfree.com/onliSchoolWellnessToolKit.aspx

Beef in Brief

Available free, Beef in Brief tells the farm-to-fork story of beef production. Topics covered include nutrition, food safety, animal welfare, environmental impact and by-products. This kit can be used in social studies, science or language arts middle school classes. The six activities include language arts exercises to improve skills. Order online at http://www.teachfree.com/onliBeefinBrief.aspx

Choose Well—Grade 4-5 Math/Nutrition

This new curriculum, aimed at fourth and fifth graders, is based on research that shows children don’t understand appropriate portion sizes, nor do they understand how to eat a nutritious diet, yet still allow themselves to choose extras. Choose Well uses eight classroom activities, a computer game and an award-winning video titled Food! to teach children to take control of their food choices. The kit also includes a MyPyramid poster, a Power Foods poster and two “take-home” activities. Choose Well is endorsed by the American Dietetic Association as part of its Healthy Families, Healthy Kids initiative. Available free from the Colorado Beef Council. Contact Julie Moore, julie@cobeef.com, for more information.

Free NPS e-newsletter—Colorado Water Protection Project

"It's our water Colorado. Let's be careful what we put in it" is the theme of the Colorado Water Protection Project. The site contains a variety of materials to regarding how everyone can help protect our water and environment with an emphasis on nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, sometimes called runoff pollution. The Colorado NPS Connection e-newsletter and other materials are available from www.ourwater.org.

Benefits of New Renewable Plastic Technology

A few years ago, scientists at Cargill Inc. learned how to make rigid, transparent plastics from corn sugars. The problem? They cost a lot more than the oil-based plastics they would replace. Find out more...

How Performance Plastic is made from Corn

Corn is used for a variety of products — Learn how a new plastic is made from corn and other annually renewable resources. Click on "How NatureWorks PLA is Made" from the linked Flash menu.

Modern Marvels: Farming Technology

In the space of a single lifetime, farmers have gone from horses pulling equipment to machines that can do more work in a day than an army of workers could accomplish in a week. Genetically engineered seeds and other technologies promise even more rapid change on the farm. Check it out on DVD at the Discovery Channel.

Look for the next edition of the Connecting Land & People eNewsletter in Octoner 2006.