LESSON PLAN

Your Name: Dani Peterson

Title of Lesson: Sustainable Agriculture Methods vs. Industrial
Grades: 3rd 4th
STANDARDS
NOTE: Please list at least two complete standards your lesson plan covers. [Common Core State Standards (math and language arts), Next Generation Science
Standards (science), Arizona State Social Studies Standards (social studies)].

3rd Grade Next Generation Science Standards: 3-ESS2 Earth's Systems: RI.3.9
- Compare and contrast the most important points and key details presented in two texts on the same topic
4th Grade Next Generation Science Standards: 4-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity: W.4.7
- Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic. (4-ESS3-1)
5th Grade Common Core: ELA Speaking & Listening: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse
partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
5th Grade Common Core: ELA Speaking & Listening: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.4
- Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant,
descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
LESSON SUMMARY/OVERVIEW
Students will learn about sustainable agriculture methods by researching the basic components of both industrial and organic
agricultural methods, as well as the pros and cons of each. Students will meet in class after conducting their research to
participate in debate between sustainable agriculture methods and industrial.
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OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to identify sustainable agriculture methods
Students will be able to identify the pros and cons of different agriculture methods
Students will be able to state their opinion on the subject of agriculture methods
ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION
Students will use computers to guide research and learn about sustainable agriculture methods
Students will list useful information about sustainable agriculture vs. industrial on worksheets
Students will participate in class debate at least once
Students will use the information they researched and the ideas presented during the debate to form their own
opinions

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
Students will need to know what sustainability is and why it is important. Students will need to understand how their actions
and choices can affect the world around them.
MATERIALS
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Inquiry into Agriculture Worksheets

Computers
Pencils
Chairs (for debate)

Sustainability
Agriculture
Industrial
Soil
Environment

VOCABULARY/KEY WORDS

TEACHING PROCEDURES
Introduction:
- TW explain the assignment to class. (Students are to use worksheets to guide their research about sustainable vs. industrial
agriculture methods.)

TW pass out worksheets in computer lab.

TW give students time to research information and "become the experts" on Sustainable agriculture methods and industrial
agriculture methods.
Activity:
- TW split students into two groups and seat them in two rows facing each-other
- TW explain the rules of the debate
- TW designate one side of the classroom pro sustainable agriculture and one side pro industrial agriculture
- SW participate in debate at least once by voicing their opinion on the subject.
- SW use the phrase: I thinkbecause. And use facts from their research to support their opinion
Reflection:
- TW conclude debate and ask students to go back to their seats
- SW reflect on the debate for two minutes
- TW ask students to raise their hands and share what they learned from the debate
- TW ask students to take out their science journals, title the page: Sustainable Agriculture, and write down what they learned
about different agriculture methods, which they would rather use and support and what impact will that method of agriculture
have on the future of agriculture and food production.
Assessment:
- Students will be informally assessed based on the completion of their research worksheets, their participation in the debate
and their completed science journal entry
RESOURCES
N/A
I designed this lesson myself to be inquiry based and able to accommodate a wide range of grade levels.
WAYS OF THINKING CONNECTION
Provide a complete explanation of how your lesson plan connects to futures, system, strategic, or values thinking. Define the
way of thinking you selected and used in this lesson plan. Remember, this should be included meaningfully in the lesson plan.

This lesson encompasses Futures Thinking. Futures thinking is thinking about how the decisions & actions of our past and present will
impact our future. This way of thinking is incorporated into the lesson plan during the research portion. Students research the
agriculture methods used in the past and present and the effects these methods have on our environment now as well as the impact
these methods will have on our future. Students record answers to these questions on their research worksheets. Students also use
Futures thinking when they participate in the debate. Students will use facts from the worksheet (such as the future impacts) to guide
their debate. Lastly, futures thinking is incorporated into the reflection portion of the assignment when students reflect on how their
preferred form of agriculture will affect the future.

Name: _______________________

Sustainable vs. Industrial Agriculture Methods

Industrial Agriculture:
What is it:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Why would you use this method?
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Why wouldnt you use this method:
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What impact will this method have on our future?
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Sustainable Agriculture:
What is it:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Why would you use this method?
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Why wouldnt you use this method:
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Now that you have researched these methods, which would you rather use? Why?
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What impact will this method have on our future?

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