Agriculture & Climate Change

Agriculture & Climate Change:
REACCHing out to K-12 Classrooms

Presenters:

Jodi Johnson-Maynard and Kat Wolf, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 | 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Whitewater Room, Idaho Commons

Abstract 
Recognizing that understanding and change often start with younger generations, we will teach students in kindergarten through college about the relationship between agriculture and climate change. The education team of the Regional Approaches to Climate Change in Pacific Northwest Agriculture (REACCH-PNA) project is developing curriculum for K-12 students and designing workshops for teachers to bring agriculture and climate change into public schools. The team conducted a survey of elementary and secondary teachers to assess levels of knowledge about climate change and agriculture, willingness to integrate and their curriculum needs. The team used the results of this survey to define activities. The team’s ultimate goal is to produce citizens and professionals equipped to address the challenges that climate change could pose for agriculture and agriculture’s role in providing food, energy and ecosystems.


Biographies

Kat Wolf is an assistant professor of Agricultural Education in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Her teaching responsibilities focus on Secondary Agricultural Education and her research on methodology of teacher preparation and teacher belief systems. She earned a B.S. in Animal Science & Vocational Agriculture from the University of Wyoming, an M.S. in Agricultural Education from the University of Arizona and Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from The Ohio State University.

Jodi Johnson-Maynard is an associate professor of Soil Science in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Jodi researches and teaches sustainable agriculture and has integrated experiential learning into several of her college level courses. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of California, Riverside, a M.S. in Soil Science from the University of Idaho, and a Ph.D. in Soil and Water Science from UC, Riverside.