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.
AG100F Ag Science and Leadership Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
The students will examine the vast agricultural industry and its importance in their daily lives. Students will be introduced to FFA, SAE and leadership skills. The first six weeks of the course will focus on the development of leadership skills. The remainder of the course will emphasize the major career areas in agriculture production, products and processing. Students in this course will learn the essential skills to be successful and will begin developing communication skills through the FFA.
AG201S Animal Science Spring: 1 semester: 5 units
The student will be introduced to the U.S. livestock industry. This course will focus on the types of livestock breeds, environmental concerns, nutritional needs, and management systems of livestock. Students will raise poultry in the classroom (depending on the year) and tour local animal production businesses. Students will have the opportunity to continue their leadership and career development through FFA. There is an articulation agreement with Kirkwood Community College (KCC), which allows students to receive KCC credit for this course and Advanced Animal Science. Taking these two courses is equal to three (3) credits at KCC, and applies only if the student attends KCC. There is no charge for college credit awarded through this agreement. This course meets the IMS graduation science requirements but may not meet college admission requirements. Pre-requisite: Ag Science and Leadership
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: Ag Science and Leadership
AG203S 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. This course is part of the career-focused Career Edge Academy through Kirkwood Community College (KCC). This academy experience is currently available at IMS. Students enrolled will receive credit from IMS and three (3) units of college credit from KCC. 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. Pre-requisite: Ag Science and Leadership or by permission of instructor
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: Ag Science and Leadership
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 developing arc and mig welding skills. The second nine weeks will be devoted to understanding the fundamentals of small gasoline engine repair. Each student will be provided with his or her own Briggs & Stratton engine to complete the course lab work. Pre-requisite: Ag Science and Leadership
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: Ag Science and Leadership
AG208F Horticulture Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
This course will explain the basic plant systems and the careers in the popular horticultural industry. Field trips will be taken to local horticultural businesses. Students will study the growth and production of flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables. Students will also learn about growing media, propagation, germination, transplanting, and maintenance practices. Students will be instructed in practical floral and landscape design. Students will design the floral arrangements for the annual Appreciation Banquet. Leadership and communication skills will be emphasized through the FFA. This course meets the IMS graduation science requirements but may not meet college admission requirements.
AG208S Advanced Horticulture Spring: 1 semester: 5 units
This course will focus on the advanced areas of horticulture such as landscape design, arrangement of flowers in floriculture and the landscape, and the identification of flowers, foliage plants, bedding plants and woody plants used in the horticulture industry. Practical landscaping on the school grounds or a residential area will be one of the hands-on activities in this course. This course meets the IMS graduation science requirements but may not meet college admission requirements. Pre-requisite: Horticulture
AG209F Advanced Animal Science Fall: 1 semester: 5 units
Types of livestock breeds, management practices, small companion animals, alternative livestock and livestock marketing techniques will be studied in this advanced animal science course. Students will visit various local livestock farms to experience what they are learning. Learning activities will include special group projects such as a “how to” animal science video. There is an articulation agreement with Kirkwood Community College (KCC), which allows students to receive KCC credit for this course and Animal Science. Taking these two courses is equal to three (3) credits at KCC, and applies only if the student attends KCC. There is no charge for college credit awarded through this agreement. This course meets the IMS graduation science requirements but may not meet college admission requirements. Pre-requisite: Animal Science
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 Pre-requisite: One semester per year of Agricultural Education