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Week 2: Roots and Resources — Plant Science Careers

3rd Six Weeks | Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Cluster | 5 class periods (50 min each)

Lesson Objective

Students continue exploring the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources cluster with a focus on Plant Science and Environmental & Natural Resources careers, complete the H&L "Farm to Table" infographic activity to learn agricultural communications, research one emerging ag-tech career, and connect the Nimitz HS Plant Science pathway (Texas Certified Landscape Associate) to local Irving career options.

Demonstration of Learning

"I can describe at least three plant science or environmental careers, design a Farm to Table infographic that explains how a crop reaches consumers, research one emerging agriculture career, and explain how the Nimitz HS Plant Science pathway prepares students for the Texas Certified Landscape Associate credential."

TEKS Alignment

  • d(1)(A): Analyze and discuss assessment results (Day 5 Xello Work Experiences).
  • d(1)(B): Explore and describe the CTE career clusters (Day 1 Plant Science + Environmental pathway tour).
  • d(1)(C): Identify various career opportunities within the Ag, Food & Natural Resources cluster (Days 1-5).
  • d(1)(D): Research and evaluate emerging occupations related to career interest areas (Day 4 Emerging Ag Career research).
  • d(2)(B): Use available resources to research and evaluate educational and training options (Day 5 Nimitz Plant Science pathway).

Materials Needed

Career Connection

Plant science careers are at the leading edge of solving some of the world's biggest problems: feeding a growing population, adapting to climate change, and protecting natural resources like water and soil. Texas alone employs tens of thousands of people in nursery and landscape work, conservation, and crop science. The Nimitz HS Plant Science pathway leads directly to the Texas Certified Landscape Associate credential, a Texas-specific credential that nursery, landscape, and grounds-management employers actively hire from.

What is Happening at Irving ISD? Plant Science (Nimitz HS) leads to the Texas Certified Landscape Associate credential. Students who complete the pathway can step into landscape, nursery, or grounds-management jobs immediately after graduation.

Vocabulary

  • Horticulture: The science of growing plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
  • Precision Agriculture: Using technology like GPS, drones, and sensors to optimize farming practices.
  • Conservation: The careful management and protection of natural resources like water, soil, and forests.
  • Agricultural Communications Specialist: A professional who combines ag knowledge with design and marketing skills to help farms tell their story.
  • Emerging Occupation: A career that has grown rapidly because of new technology, new social needs, or new economic conditions.
  • Infographic: A visual presentation of information using pictures, labels, charts, and short text to make complex ideas easy to understand.

Bridge to Theory (Hats & Ladders)

The H&L workbook (Ch 2) covers the full Ag cluster. Week 2 anchors on Farm to Table (Ch 2, pp. 24-25): a Career Climb activity where students play the role of an Agricultural Communications Specialist creating an infographic for Sunny Fields Farm. The activity teaches students how plant science careers connect to real consumers and small businesses. Students also use the Hat Finder to explore Plant Science and Environmental & Natural Resources careers (Botanist, Horticulturist, Soil Scientist, Forester, Park Ranger, Environmental Scientist).

IISD Instructional Strategies

  • Stop and Jot: During the Plant Science cluster exploration, students pause twice to jot careers that surprised them.
  • Think-Pair-Share: After the Farm to Table activity, students pair to discuss how their infographic would help a real farm.
  • Sentence Stems: "An emerging career like _ is growing because society is changing in the area of ___."
  • Modeling: Teacher shows one example Farm to Table infographic before students start designing.

Week at a Glance

Day Focus Key Activities Deliverable
1 Plant Science + Environmental Hats H&L Plant Systems exploration + Hat Finder Hat notes for 2 plant science careers
2 Farm to Table. Brainstorm + Sketch H&L "Farm to Table" Steps 1-2 (Ch 2, pp. 24-25) Brainstorm sheet + sketch of infographic
3 Farm to Table. Canva Build Build the infographic in Canva Completed Farm to Table infographic (PNG)
4 Emerging Ag Career Research BLS + USDA research on one emerging career Emerging Career Research template
5 Xello Work Experiences + Nimitz Pathway Xello Work Experiences lesson + Nimitz Plant Science pathway notes Logged Xello entry + pathway notes

Formative Assessment

  • Hat notes + Comparison Matrix exit ticket (2 careers x pathway/training/task + outdoor-work pick). Day 1, d(1)(B), d(1)(C)
  • Farm to Table brainstorm + sketch + Mini-Case exit ticket (elementary-school kindergarten audience; crop + design change + memorable fact). Day 2, d(1)(C)
  • Canva infographic + Venn Diagram exit ticket (my infographic vs. classmate's same-crop design). Day 3, d(1)(C)
  • Emerging Ag Career research + Ranked Justification exit ticket (4 emerging careers ranked by likelihood to pursue). Day 4, d(1)(D)
  • Xello Work Experiences + Nimitz pathway notes + Concept Map exit ticket (favorited career + Work Experience skill + Nimitz pathway fit + 3SW indoor/outdoor pattern). Day 5, d(1)(A), d(1)(C), d(2)(B)

Summative Assessment

Farm to Table Infographic + Emerging Career Brief: Students submit the completed Canva infographic for Sunny Fields Farm AND a one-paragraph brief on the emerging ag career they researched. The infographic is scored on accuracy (does it show real farm-to-table steps?), clarity (would a customer understand?), and design quality (uses pictures, labels, fun facts). The brief is scored on labor-market data accuracy and connection to a societal/technology trend (d(1)(C), d(1)(D)).

Differentiation

Scaffolded Learning

  • Pre-built Canva infographic template with placeholder boxes for each step
  • Simplified emerging career list with starter research links
  • Sentence stems for the emerging career brief
  • Pair work option for the Farm to Table activity

Extensions

  • Research a real DFW urban farm (e.g., Bonton Farms in Dallas) and create an infographic specifically for them
  • Compare ag tech careers in Texas vs. California, what crops drive the difference?
  • Design a vertical farm layout in Canva and identify the 4 careers needed to operate it

ELL Language Support

  • Pre-teach: Plant = Planta, Soil = Suelo, Crop = Cultivo, Harvest = Cosecha, Conservation = Conservación
  • Bilingual Farm to Table brainstorm template
  • Canva supports Spanish text. Students can build infographics in either language
  • Pair with bilingual peers during the Farm to Table activity