affiliates
Summary 2021 — Michigan
State Contact
Michigan Farm Bureau
7373 W. Saginaw Hwy.
Lansing, MI 48909
P: 517.679.5969
E: mblodge@michfb.com
Website
Innovative Programming Conducted and Educational Resources Developed
In 2020, The Farm Crate is a monthly subscription lesson box for K-2 or 3-5 teachers bringing innovative solutions for in-person, hybrid, or virtual learning while incorporating field trip like experiences during this time without traditional field trips. Each month's crate focuses on a specific agricultural commodity or agriculturally connected theme. Crates contain a lesson plan matched to national or state educational standards, an accurate agriculture children's book, worksheets, and manipulatives to complete the lesson, a virtual farm field trip hosted through Nearpod, themed take home materials, recipe, and teacher gift.
In 2021, we expanded the FARM Crate program to include 6 new themed crates for K-2 and 3-5 grade and transitioned the virtual farm field trip to be hosted through PearDeck. The themes for 2021 include: Seasons, Fruits and Vegetables, Eggs, Inventions, Insects, and Energy.
Also in 2021, we created three new lessons for the FARM Science mobile lab program. This included partnering with United Dairy Industry of Michigan to create a 3rd-5th grade lesson on five common dairy breeds, partnering with Michigan Potato to highlight the potato chipping process and how other potato products are made, and finally kindergarten-2nd grade has a new lesson on Insects.
Major Program Impacts or Outcomes
Not applicable
Program Leader Biosketch
Michelle Blodgett is the Michigan Agriculture in the Classroom Manager at Michigan Farm Bureau. She joined the Farm Bureau family in December of 2017 after spending 20 years in the public-school classroom setting. She has worked at the school and district level with curriculum planning and development. She manages the Michigan Ag in the Classroom and the FARM Science lab programming, education, and educator outreach. She holds an Elementary and Special Education degree from Saginaw Valley State University and a Masters of Education from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.