Can agriculture be
sustained in New Jersey?

Sample Lesson from
Where Are theGardens in the Garden State?
by Loris Chen, Teacher, North Arlington Middle School

 

Materials

reading
atlases
dictionaries
thesaurus
encyclopedias
various reference materials
notebook paper
group folders

 

Objective   You will use various reference materials to answer the questions and define terms that may be used during a hearing on funding for the Farmland Preservation Act.

 

Procedure Read the questions. Assign research responsibilities. Determine which resources you will need to complete the "Do the Following" section (atlases, encyclopedias, magazines.) Read The State of the Farm.

NOTE: There are resource folders for each group with pamphlets, reports, and research documents. Atlases, dictionaries, and other reference books can be signed out for the class period. All materials must remain in the classroom.

 

Do the
following
  1. Find at least 7 examples of agricultural best management practices associated with sustainable agriculture. Create a chart using the following headings.
    Best Management Practice   Description   Source of Information
  2. Write an original paragraph that defines and describes sustainable agriculture. Be sure to cite sources of information. Use the dictionary to look up unfamiliar words and a thesaurus to find synonyms to avoid repetition.
  3. Research the history of agriculture in the United States and New Jersey. Use atlases, resource materials, and articles to develop a time line of agricultural practices. Describe the migration of agriculture from the east coast.
  4. Find at least 3 challenges faced by farmers in New Jersey today. Predict whether these will improve, stay the same, or become worse.
  5. Find at least 3 environmental concerns associated with farming in New Jersey today. Predict whether these will improve, stay the same, or become worse.
  6. Find at least 3 economic concerns associated with farming in New Jersey today. Predict whether these will improve, stay the same, or become worse.
  7. Give 3 reasons New Jersey needs agriculture. Give a counter argument to each of your reasons.

 

 

Back to Where are the Gardens in the Garden State?

 

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