Course Description
Students will be exposed to a wide range of scientific principles, such as genetics, disease, pests, and
management practices. The scientific processes of observation, measurement, hypothesizing, data gathering,
interpretation, analysis, and application are stressed. Career opportunities and educational preparation are
examined. Learning activities are varied, with classroom, laboratory, and field experiences emphasized.
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Core Standards of the Course
Standard 1
Students will develop an understanding of the role of FFA in Agricultural Education Programs.
Objective 1
Students will understand the history and organization of FFA.
- Explain how, when, and why the FFA was organized.
- Explain the mission and strategies, colors, motto, parts of the emblem, and the organizational structure of the FFA.
- Recite and explain the meaning of the FFA Creed.
- Explain the purpose of a Program of Activities and its committee structure.
Objective 2
Discover opportunities in FFA.
- Describe how the FFA develops leadership skills, personal growth, and career success.
- Identify major state and national activities available to FFA members.
Objective 3
Determine FFA degrees, awards, and CDEs.
- Explain the FFA degree areas.
- Identify the FFA proficiency awards.
- Explain various team and individual Career Development Events.
Standard 2
Students will understand the benefits of a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Program.
Objective 1
Determine the benefits of an SAE.
- Explain the importance of goals and career ladders.
- Define supervised horticultural/agricultural experience.
- Explain the benefits of supervised horticultural/agricultural experience programs.
Objective 2
Determine the kinds of SAE programs.
- Explain the difference between entrepreneurship and placement SAE's.
- Describe research/experimentation and exploratory SAE's.
- Explain the characteristics of a good SAE program and student responsibilities that are involved.
Objective 3
Research possible SAE programs.
- Identify career interest areas within agriculture.
- Identify skills needed for career success.
- Explain opportunities for SAE programs.
Objective 4
Plan an SAE program.
- Identify the steps in planning an SAE program.
- Identify the parts of an annual SAE program plan.
- Discuss the function of a training plan and/or agreement in an SAE program.
Objective 5
Implement SAE programs.
- Discuss the importance of keeping records on an SAE program.
- Explain the types of financial records needed to support a chosen SAE program.
- Identify standards to follow in keeping records on an SAE program.
Standard 3
Students will understand the nature of plant science.
Objective 1
Identify career opportunities and levels of education needed in the plant science area.
- Identify and describe the major areas of plant and soil science occupations.
- Identify career and entrepreneurship opportunities and expectations in plant and soil science.
Objective 2
Demonstrate an understanding of the history of agriculture.
- Explain how the science of agriculture helped develop civilization.
- Discuss advancements made through Agriscience.
Objective 3
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of plant and soil science.
- Identify the various roles of plants in everyday life.
- Identify the various segments of plant and soil science.
- Identify important types of plants and explain their uses.
Standard 4
Students will demonstrate an understanding of soil science.
Objective 1
Explain the importance of soil.
- Explain the importance of soil as a life-supporting layer.
- Explain the importance of soil as a medium for plant growth.
- Describe the agricultural uses of soil.
- Describe the nonagricultural uses of soil.
Objective 2
Explain soil-forming factors.
- Identify five factors involved in soil formation.
- Describe different types of parent material.
- Explain topography and how it affects soil formation.
- Explain how organisms affect soil development.
- Describe how time and weathering affect properties of soil.
- Explain how climate affects the development of soil.
Objective 3
Describe biological, physical, and chemical properties of soil.
- Describe the biological nature of soil.
- Describe the chemical properties of soil.
- Explain the contents of soil.
- Describe soil texture and structure.
Objective 4
Analyze soil fertility.
- Describe the meaning and importance of soil fertility.
- Explain the role of organic matter, soil depth, surface slope, soil organisms, and nutrient balance in soil productivity.
Standard 5
Students will demonstrate an understanding of plant structure and function.
Objective 1
Demonstrate an understanding of cells and seeds, the basics and beginnings.
- Describe the cellular structure of plants.
- Explain the structure and kinds of seed.
- Describe the process of seed germination.
- Discuss the conditions required for seed germination.
- Explain the importance of seed quality.
Objective 2
Recognize roots and shoots.
Objective 3
Analyze inside the stem, roots and leaves.
Objective 4
Understand plant adaptations used for protection.
- Discuss plant responses to a shortage of water.
- Describe plant responses to temperature.
Objective 5
Explain the control of plant growth and development.
- Identify plant growth regulators (PGR) and their functions.
- Explain plant tropisms.
- Discuss synthetic growth regulators.
- Describe commercial uses of plant growth regulators.
Objective 6
Describe the uptake and use of water, minerals, and light.
- Describe the functions of water in plant growth.
- Explain the absorption and transport systems of plants.
- Explain the role of light quality on plant growth.
- Describe the effects of light quantity on plant growth.
- Discuss the structural unit in which photosynthesis takes place.
- Describe the processes of photosynthesis.
- Identify factors that affect photosynthesis.
Objective 7
Explain plant reproduction.
- Identify the major parts of flowers and explain the functions of the parts.
- Describe the types of flowers.
- Explain the processes of pollination and fertilization.
- Describe the purposes and kinds of fruit.
- Explain the structure and kinds of seed.
- Explain sexual reproduction, pollination, and fertilization in plants.
- Explain asexual propagation in plants.
- Describe methods for asexually propagating plants.
Standard 6
Students will demonstrate an understanding of agronomy.
Objective 1
Demonstrate skills relating to the interrelated human, scientific, and technological dimensions of crop production and the resources necessary for producing domesticated plants.
- Determine the environmental impacts of crop production.
- Identify environmental and economic impacts from soil erosion.
- Describe the use of irrigation in crop production.
Objective 2
Describe the planting, growth, and development of major crops.
- Describe the planting, growth, and development of field corn.
- Describe the planting, growth, and development of wheat.
- Describe the planting, growth, and development of oats.
- Describe the planting, growth, and development of forage crops.
- Describe the planting, growth, and development of specialty crops.
Objective 3
Determine the fertilization needs of crops.
Objective 4
Manage crop production for maximum profit efficiency.
Objective 5
Understand how to harvest and manage forages.
Objective 6
Explain the process of harvesting grain crops.
Objective 7
Determine proper storage of crops.
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