R-2 district to participate in Ag Unit Pilot Program

Posted 7/29/20

Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham announced July 24 that the Maries County R-2 School District will be participating in a Missouri Elementary Ag Unit Pilot Program.

Twenty elementary schools …

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R-2 district to participate in Ag Unit Pilot Program

Posted

Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham announced July 24 that the Maries County R-2 School District will be participating in a Missouri Elementary Ag Unit Pilot Program.

Twenty elementary schools across Missouri have been selected by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to pilot mySci Agriculture units during the 2020-21 school year, including the Belle Elementary and Bland Middle schools.

The mySci program is designed for students in third through fifth grades and uses agriculture and food production to explain scientific principles. The goal is to help students gain knowledge and awareness of Missouri agriculture learned through science application.

This program was approved by Missouri legislature via Senate Bill 218 in 2018 and authorizes DESE to establish the pilot program for three years, during which time it should provide agricultural education in elementary schools and determine how to best implement a program statewide. The first year of the pilot program will begin this fall.

The pilot program is in partnership between DESE and the Institute of School Partnership (ISP) at Washington University of St. Louis. ISP’s signature science education curriculum, mySci, takes a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to science education.

MySci Agriculture lessons meet Next Generation Science Standards and Missouri Learning Standards. Each teacher is provided grade-level lessons and kits, additional resources, training and on-going professional development throughout participation in the pilot program.

The city of Belle has long been an advocate of farming and agriculture and has a history of excellence through its Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter.