Agriculture in the Classroom Sask unveils kid-friendly ag-info website ExploreSaskAg.ca

Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) recently launched phase 2 of their student-centered website.

ExploreSaskAg.ca is an engaging, kid-friendly website that brings the story of agriculture and Saskatchewan to life through interactive information, colourful illustrations, and real-life photos. A variety of quizzes, activities, and teacher lessons provide teachers with the tools to lead students in their discovery. Designed primarily for Grades 3 to 7 students, the website dives deep into the Past, Evolution, Present, and Future of agriculture in Saskatchewan. Since the initial launch in April, the website has had over 70,000 pageviews!

Phase 2 includes 67 new sections, covering important topics such as technology on farms today, the future of plant genetics, the evolution of farm equipment, and policies that affected First Nations farmers, accompanied by quizzes on each page and over 25 activities. The website content and activities will help teachers meet many mandated curriculum outcomes, as students deepen their understanding of where food comes from. The visually pleasing elements and interesting information are also sure to captivate the attention of people of all ages.

“I truly believe that this website will provide valuable learning experiences for students for many years to come”, says Sara Shymko, Executive Director of AITC-SK. “We incorporated feedback from educators and topic experts throughout the development process and have worked hard to ensure the website is informative, engaging, and accessible for all.”

Saskatchewan is all Treaty land, and the story of agriculture is deeply interconnected with the stories of Indigenous peoples who have lived in harmony with the land for centuries. AITC-SK formed an Indigenous advisory committee to ensure that the Indigenous content on the website is accurate, fair and honours the history. The committee was comprised of an Elder, teachers, and agriculturalists.

“This website will be an important learning tool for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and a catalyst to embrace land-based education” says Ian Worme, Education Consultant with Whitecap Dakota First Nation. “Observe nature and you’ll see patterns in everything natural. If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.”

A few final components are set to be added to the website including additional information on Metis people and agriculture, and further lesson plans to help teachers guide students in their exploration.

ExploreSaskAg.ca was made possible thanks to the generous support of AITC-SK’s sponsors.

Visit ExploreSaskAg.ca to learn more.