Unlocking the Potential: How GrowNextGen Empowers Students with Special Needs in Agriculture

The field of agriculture has long been a diverse and dynamic landscape, offering a wealth of opportunities for students from all backgrounds. Jodi Adams, a teacher at Washington High School in Fayette County, has discovered that the curriculum and resources provided by GrowNextGen are particularly beneficial for her students with special needs, opening up a world of hands-on learning and practical applications.

Cultivating Connections: Bridging the Gap Between Agriculture and Special Education

Exploring the Fundamentals of Soil and Water Quality

Jodi Adams has been collaborating with GrowNextGen for several years, and she has witnessed firsthand the impact their curriculum can have on her students with special needs. Through hands-on activities, such as testing soil samples from the corn field adjacent to the school, her students have gained a deeper understanding of the importance of soil and water quality in agriculture."We've talked about the importance of soil and water quality, what farmers do, and what happens if you have bad soil or bad water and what that does for the plants and animals and your food," Adams explains. These engaging lessons have not only captured the attention of her students but have also helped them make meaningful connections between the agricultural industry and their own lives.

Discovering the Science Behind Everyday Products

Adams' commitment to finding innovative ways to share agriculture with her students has led her to participate in several Ag Biotech Academy workshops. During a recent event held at the Ohio State University Western Ag Research Station, Adams and her students delved into the science behind everyday products, such as salad dressings."We tested the oil content of salad dressings and talked about how you can make your own salad dressings from stuff that most people have at home. We were able to look through microscopes and actually see the oils in the dressings, so that was kind of neat just seeing how different dressings compared to each other," she says.The hands-on activities didn't stop there. Adams and her students also had the opportunity to create their own biodiesel, which they then tested using putt-putt boats, engaging in friendly races to see the results of their work.

Hatching Connections: Bringing Chicks to the Classroom

In addition to the Ag Biotech materials, Adams has found another way to captivate her students with special needs: hatching chicks in the high school setting. This unique experience has not only grabbed the attention of her own students but has also sparked the curiosity of their peers."For 3 years now, I've hatched chicks in a high school setting. Everybody said that it was for elementary kids… but my high school kids love it. I've had kids coming into my room during lunch asking to see the chicks — they're not even my students and I don't have them in class," she says.Beyond the sheer excitement of watching the chicks hatch, this experience has also helped Adams' students think more deeply about the source of their food and the industry that brings it to their tables."A lot of kids in general don't know where their food comes from. I had one girl who was 15 and she didn't know that chickens lay eggs. She was shocked when she went in a henhouse with some other kids who came out with eggs. She thought eggs came from Kroger. They don't know what is involved in growing it, canning it, and getting it to the table. I think this gives us an opportunity to show them," Adams explains.

Fostering Collaboration and Innovation

The diverse range of participants and the innovative spirit fostered at GrowNextGen events have been key factors in keeping Adams engaged and inspired. She values the opportunity to collaborate with teachers from across Ohio, sharing ideas and learning from one another."There's a lot of collaboration with other teachers that you would never meet if you just stayed with your school. I like that there are a lot of different ideas and backgrounds," Adams says. "You learn a lot from the classes and then you learn a lot from the others participating. You always get a little something you can take back to use with your students."The GrowNextGen program, funded by Ohio soybean farmers and their checkoff, continues to provide valuable resources and support for teachers like Jodi Adams, empowering them to bring the world of agriculture to life for their students with special needs. By fostering hands-on learning, cultivating connections, and encouraging collaboration, GrowNextGen is helping to unlock the potential of a new generation of agricultural enthusiasts.