AGRICULTURE
Five units of science may include one of the following groupings: Animal Science/Advanced Animal Science; Horticulture/Advanced Horticulture; or Agricultural Precision Technology/Soil & Conservation. Also, each ‘group’ of courses above is worth 5 units of science; each individual course above is worth 2.5 units of science.
AG104F CASE-AFNR Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
The major purpose of the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) course is to introduce students to the world of agriculture, the pathways they may pursue, and the science, mathematics, reading, and writing components they will use throughout the CASE curriculum. Woven throughout the course are activities to develop and improve employability skills of student through practical applications. Students will explore career and post-secondary opportunities in each area of the course.
Students participating in the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources course will experience exciting “hands-on” activities, projects, and problems. Student experiences will involve the study of communication, the science of agriculture, plants, animals, natural resources, and agricultural mechanics. While surveying the opportunities available in agriculture and natural resources, students will learn to solve problems, conduct research, analyze data, work in teams, and take responsibility for their work, actions, and learning. For example, students will work in groups to determine the efficiency and environmental impacts of fuel sources in a practical learning exercise.
In addition, students will understand specific connections between their lessons and Supervised Agricultural Experience and FFA components that are important for the development of an informed agricultural education student. Students will investigate, experiment, and learn about documenting a project, solving problems, and communicating their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community.
The Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources course includes:
- Agricultural Education—Agriculture, FFA, and SAE
- Communication Methods
- Science Processes
- Natural Resources
- Plants and Animals
- Agricultural Mechanics
AG201S Animal Science Spring: 1 semester: 5 units
This course will provide the student with principles in Animal Sciences along with Anatomy and Physiology focusing on the areas of mammalian production, anatomy, physiology, reproduction, nutrition, respiration, and genetics. This course is intended to successfully prepare students for entry level employment after high school, as well as those students who plan to major in Agricultural Sciences at a post secondary institution. This course meets the IMS graduation science requirements but may not meet college admission requirements. Pre-requisite: CASE-AFNR
AG202F Soil and Conservation Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
Students will have an understanding of soil practices, soil formation, land classification and use and soil fertility. This course will prepare students to be Christian stewards of our land. Protecting our natural resources such as air, soil, water, land, fish and wildlife for economic and recreational use will be studied. Students will investigate animal and plant species that naturally occur in Iowa, and will be able to use the knowledge learned in this course in soil judging contests. Pre-requisite: CASE-AFNR
AG204S Agricultural Precision Technology Spring: 1 semester: 5 units
Students will be utilizing agricultural precision technology to analyze information collected from ag/environmental areas to create useable maps that explain and interpret information to help agriculturalists/environmentalists make decisions. This technology is known as GPS (Global Positioning System) and GIS (Geographic Information System). Students will learn by utilizing handheld GPS units and the ArcView software programs. Basic principles of crop science such as plant physiology, soil properties, cultivation practices, disease and pest management will be investigated in this course. Students will identify seeds and plants of crops and weeds in our region so that they will be prepared to scout crop fields. Activities will include field trips to local agricultural businesses to help students make a career/real world connection with the material that is studied in this course.
Pre-requisite: CASE-AFNR or by permission of instructor This course is offered in the Spring semester of odd years.
AG206F Ag Business Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
This course will examine the job opportunities that exist in agribusiness. Entrepreneurship, record keeping, business transactions, finance management and marketing will be studied to develop their own individual/class business.. Class activities will include agricultural business computer applications. Business communication will be emphasized through the FFA. This course can cooperatively work with the student’s SAE program. Pre-requisite: CASE-AFNR
AG105 CASE-Plant Science Fall and Spring: 2 semesters: 10 units
The Principles of Agricultural Science-Plant Course is intended to serve as a foundation course within the CASE sequence. The course is structured to enable all students to have a variety of experiences that will provide an overview o f the field of agricultural science with a foundation in plant science so that students may continue through a sequence of courses through high school. Students will work in teams, exploring hands-on projects and activities, to learn the characteristics of plant science and work on major projects and problems similar to those that plant science specialist, such as horitculturalists, agronomists, greenhouse and nursery managers and producers, and plant research specialists face in their respective careers. This knowledge and skills will be used in future courses within the CASE program.
In addition, students will understand specific connections between the Plant Science lessons and Supervised Agricultural Experience, FFA, and LifeKnowledge components that are important for the development of an informed agricultural education student. Students will investigate, experiment and learn about documenting a project, solving problems, and communicating their solutions to their peers and members of the professional community. This course meets the IMS graduation science requirements but may not meet college admission requirements.
AG213S Landscaping Spring: 1 semester: 5 units
This course is for students who want to develop skills in designing, constructing, and maintaining planted areas. Proper selection of plants for various areas, seasonal growth, and locations will be emphasized. Construction of structures will be examined. Career opportunities, leadership activities, and cost analyses related to the landscaping industry will be investigated. Students will learn the art of landscape drawing and design. Projects include detailed landscape drawings, construction of landscape models and use and identification of plant materials. Pre-requisite: CASE-Plant Science This course is offered during the Spring term on even years.
AG210F Survey of Animal Industry (KCC) Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
Introduction to the uses of farm animal products. Basic terminology, production practices, management and marketing of animals. This is a dual credit Kirkwood Community College Class. The college tuition is paid for by the student. The grade earned in this course will be reflected on the student’s official college transcript. Students not planning to attend KCC after high school should contact KCC for a transcript to be sent to the college or university to which he/she is applying. This course meets the IMS graduation science requirements but may not meet college admission requirements.
AG211F Ag Construction/Home Repair Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
This course is designed to provide students with introductory level experiences in the area of agricultural construction. Introductory woodworking will be the focus of the first nine weeks. Students will construct basic sawhorses and have an independent project that will be displayed at a school event. The second nine weeks will focus on how to make repairs in your own home. Skills used to maintain a home such as framing, electrical wiring, plumbing and concrete construction will be demonstrated. Students will also examine home design and the cost of housing and repairing. Pre-requisite: CASE-AFNR
AG212S Small Engines/Welding Spring: 1 semester: 5 units
This course is designed to provide students with introductory level experiences in repairs that would occur at the home or on the farm. The first nine weeks will be devoted to understanding the fundamentals of small gasoline engine repair. The second nine weeks will be devoted to developing arc and mig welding skills. Each student group will be provided with his or her own Honda engine to complete the course lab work. Pre-requisite: CASE-AFNR
AG302S Ag Projects Spring: 1 semester: 5 units
This project-based course is designed to prepare students with advanced level experiences in selected major areas of agricultural mechanics technology, which may include small engine maintenance and repair, metal fabrication and woodworking. Students must have a project planned and teacher-approved by the end of the first week of the course. Pre-requisite: Ag Construction/Home Repair
FFA Must be taking one semester per year of Agricultural Education and/or have consent of instructor