EDMONTON – With a scalpel and steady hands, Ann Lukey’s Grade 12 biology students carefully take the top off a fertilized egg.
They remove the outer shell but leave the membrane intact to create a window into the egg.
It’s a way to introduce students to how embryos develop.
“It’s a really cool lab,” Lukey told other educators at a recent agricultural education forum that informs teachers about developments in agriculture and offers ideas on how to incorporate agriculture in their classrooms.
Lukey teaches science at Beaumont, on the outskirts of Edmonton. While she’s not deliberately putting agriculture in her curriculum, she said it “sneaks up on you,” especially in a rural community.
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But for many teachers, agriculture doesn’t sneak into the classroom. That’s why Agriculture in the Classroom sponsored the one-day forum.
“We want to bring educators face-to-face with agriculture,” said Betty Gabert, the program co-ordinator.
“It gives them information and live, warm-body contacts that make them comfortable to the ag theme,” said Gabert, of Edmonton.
And it seems to have worked.
Teacher Verna Hinch, of Camrose, has been to previous agriculture education sessions and finds them a good update on agriculture and a good venue to find resource people.
“I’ve already booked a few speakers,” said Hinch.
Eileen Stephens, of Daysland, came to the day-long session to increase her knowledge of agriculture. Stephens was raised in the city and admits her agricultural knowledge is limited.
“I need more facts,” said Stephens, who picked up brochures on everything from canola to biotechnology.
Know what you’re teaching
Student teacher Mark Stranzinger, of Calgary, found himself struggling to answer students’ questions about agriculture. He said in a province that prides itself on the importance of agriculture, “finding context to what you’re teaching is so important.”
Peggy Quering, a student teacher in Two Hills, knows she will be teaching in rural Alberta and needs to know more about agriculture.
“I need some education I can’t get at university,” said Quering, originally from British Columbia.
With new chemicals, biotechnology and more intensive agriculture, Quering feels it’s important to keep current.
“Farming has changed so you have to educate yourself to keep up.”
