What is Conservation agriculture?
This lesson introduces agricultural best management practices and launches student reflection on their role in conservation. Students will be able to 1) describe advantages and disadvantages of one best management practice 2) define two other conservation practices utilized by Illinois producers.
Earth as an Apple
This interactive lesson guides students to use an apple visualize and learn how portions of Earth’s surface are used and emphasizes the importance of our limited natural resource, soil. Students will be able to explain a pie chart representing Earth’s surface and how that area is used.
Agroecology
This lesson introduces students to agroecology, which is a way of farming that focuses on sustainability and working with nature. Students learn what agroecology is, its main principles, and how it benefits the environment, farmers, and communities. They will think about things like biodiversity, soil health, water use, pest control, and community impact.
Cultivating Change
This lesson teaches students about conservation agriculture and why protecting soil and water is important for the environment and future farming. Students learn how these practices help keep land healthy and sustainable. Students also explore how conservation agriculture connects to bigger ideas like sustainability and environmental responsibility.Â
Lessons
These resources support educators in teaching conservation and agroecology across grade levels, providing the tools needed to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
Leopold Conservation Award
This lesson introduces students to the Leopold Conservation Award and reinforces foundational knowledge about best management practices. At the end of the lesson, students will be able to summarize the outstanding and award-winning efforts of one Leopold Award Winner with supporting evidence.
Community Based Agriculture
The lesson will help students be able to research, connect, and apply geographic, economic, and policy data to current issues in food accessibility and agriculture regulations. Determine if their community is a food desert, define Community Based Agriculture, research statistical information about their communities and interpret local policies and apply them to agriculture enterprises
Understanding ClimateÂ
This lesson is to engage students in exploring Illinois climate characteristics and the impacts of climate change on agriculture. Through hands-on data collection and analysis of current climate conditions, students will track and
interpret key metrics such as temperature and precipitation averages, as well as their
departures from historical norms.Â
Conservation Careers
This lesson shows students to different careers in conservation and agriculture and helps them understand how these jobs support the environment and sustainable farming. Students learn what different careers involve, the skills and education needed, and how these roles contribute to protecting natural resources like soil, water, and wildlife.
Watersheds and Conservation
In this lesson, students will investigate how watersheds function and the impact of
agricultural practices on watershed health. Through interactive simulations, students
will analyze how rainfall, land cover, and soil type influence water movement, runoff,
and infiltration.
Conservation & Pumpkins
This is a station-based lesson that engages students in various activities to learn about conservation and pumpkins. Students will be able to 1) list at least two conservation practices utilized on pumpkin operations that can improve soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, etc. 2) recall at least three components and functions of pumpkin plants’ flowers 3) describe the role of pollinators in pumpkin growth and production and the connection to conservation practices.
Painting With Soils
This lesson will not only have students create paintings using soils but will also carry with them a appreciation for the intricate and colorful world beneath our feet, and a sense of responsibility to contribute to soil conservation efforts. Through the integration of art and science, this lesson seeks to inspire a deeper understanding of soils and a commitment to preserving the beauty and functionality of our environment.
Winter Soil
This lesson teaches students what happens to farm soil during the winter and why soil conservation is important. Students learn about key practices like cover cropping, mulching, erosion control, and nutrient management, and how these methods help prevent soil erosion, maintain nutrients, and support sustainable farming.
Agroforestry in Action
This lesson teaches students about agroforestry, which is a way of farming that combines trees with crops or animals to make farming more sustainable. Students learn about different agroforestry practices and how they help improve soil, protect water, and support the environment.
Earth as an Apple
Have students to complete the worksheet with a partner or small group. At the end of class, wrap up the lesson by summarizing the lesson. The answer key for the worksheet can be used as a guide. This will help students to be able to explain a pie chart representing Earth’s surface and how that area is used.
Agroecology
This worksheet guides students in designing their own agroecological farm. It helps them think through important parts of sustainable farming, like what crops or animals they will include, how they will keep the soil healthy, how they will conserve water, manage pests, and support the community. Â
Worksheets
Our worksheets complement every lesson, providing students with structured ways to actively engage with vital conservation topics and deepen their environmental understanding.
Leopold Conservation Award
For students to complete notes as the Leopold Conservation Award Story video plays or to use as a discussion guide following the video. Play the Leopold Conservation Award Story video. After, lead or support small group or class discussion related to the questions in the worksheet.
Community Based Agriculture
This worksheet is designed to help students explore how community based farming can impact local access to fresh food, especially in areas known as food deserts. Through research, reflection, and real-world data, students analyze community demographics, evaluate challenges and solutions related to urban agriculture, and examine local policies that affect farming.Â
Conservation Careers
This worksheet helps students explore a conservation career that interests them. They choose one job and research important details like the education needed, skills required, and possible employers. Also asks students to reflect on what they would enjoy or not enjoy about that career. Overall, the worksheet helps students connect what they learned to their own future goals and interests.
Winter Soil
This worksheet helps students research and understand a specific soil conservation method used during winter. It guides them to explain what the method is, how it protects the soil, and why it’s important. Students also think about the benefits (like preventing erosion and improving soil health) and any challenges farmers might face when using the method.Â
Earth as a Apple
A great way to turn this lesson into a hands on activity is put the students in small groups and give them an apple to help them visualize how Earth’s surface is used and how much soil the world has and can go with the Worksheet above.
Agroecology
In this activity, students design their own sustainable farm using agroecology principles. They work individually or in groups to plan what their farm will include, like crops, animals, soil care, water use, and pest management. They turn their ideas into a visual farm plan, like a poster or layout, and present it to the class, explaining how their choices support sustainability and benefit the environment and community.
Cultivating Change
In this activity, students work in groups to create a social media advocacy campaign about conservation agriculture. They use what they learned from the reading to make posts, videos, or graphics that explain why protecting soil and water is important. Each group includes a clear message, key facts, and a call to action.
Activities
Explore our hands-on activities that pair with each lesson, allowing students to investigate conservation topics in an interactive and engaging way.
Community Based Agriculture
This activity supports the final part of the worksheet by guiding students to investigate real Illinois communities and their local laws related to farming. Using provided census data and municipal code links, students research their assigned community to understand how local policies either support or limit community-based agriculture.
Watersheds and Conservation
This activity students will problem-solve for a real-world water issue. Start by choosing a scenario, like helping a town plan land near a river or helping a farmer reduce runoff and soil erosion. Then, use the watershed simulation to test different land types and soil options. Observe which choices help reduce runoff the most and improve water conditions.
Conservation & Pumpkins
This includes stations for students to explore and begin learning about pumpkin plant structure and conservation practices for pumpkin operations. The student-led learning activity is intended to be an introduction to these topics and foster curiosity leading into future lessons about plant structure, vegetable production, etc.
Painting With Soils
Students will get to create their own posters with eye-catching designs and sharing a message about the importance of conservation. They can use colors, drawings, and even words to share their ideas! Students will have the chance to express what you've learned about forests and conservation in a fun and artistic way.
Winter Soil
In this activity, students work in small groups to research a winter soil conservation method . After learning about it, they create a visual or interactive project, such as a poster, infographic, or short presentation to explain how the method works and why it’s important. Then, each group shares their project with the class, helping everyone learn about different ways farmers protect soil during the winter.
Agroforestry in Action
In this activity, students work in groups to learn about a specific agroforestry practice. Then, create a poster that explains the practice, its benefits, and shows what it looks like on a farm. After finishing, students share their posters with the class so everyone can learn about different agroforestry methods.