Summary 2019 — Wyoming

State Contact

Ms Jessie Dafoe
Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom
P.O. Box 347
Cheyenne, WY 82003
P: 307.369.1749
E: jdafoe@wyaitc.org
Website

Classroom Resources

In 2019, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom collaborated with Wyoming educators, industry stakeholders, and the Wyoming Department of Education, to revise units for the Wyoming Stewardship Project. This final set of revisions included a review by the Bill of Rights Institute and alignment checks with the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards. Lessons were added or revised to increase academic rigor and more closely reflect Wyoming's resource mix. Twelve complete, comprehensive, cross-curricular units have been finalized and are published online for use by any Wyoming educator. The teacher and student resources can be found online at https://wyaitc.org/curriculum/ The purpose of the Wyoming Stewardship Project is for students to gain an understanding of Wyoming's vast resources and become informed citizens, capable of serving as stewards for Wyoming's future. Stewardship Definition: As Wyoming citizens, we are stewards entrusted with the responsible development, care, and use of our resources to benefit current and future generations. Units finalized during the summer of 2019: 2nd Grade: Agriculture, Minerals & Energy, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism 3rd Grade: Agriculture, Minerals & Energy, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism 4th Grade: Agriculture, Minerals & Energy, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism 5th Grade: Agriculture, Minerals & Energy, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism During the summer of 2019, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom began implementation of the Wyoming Stewardship Project. Workshops were held in three different locations and provided 2nd-5th grade educators the opportunity for hands-on exploration of a unit at their grade-level. Educators spent time exploring the Wyoming Stewardship Project and participated in local-field trips to discover how the units could help students better understand their community and state. Staff members continue to follow up with workshop participants and support educators in their classroom implementation of the curriculum. In addition to completion of the Wyoming Stewardship Project, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom continued expansion of our traditional Bookmark Program to become Bookmark & Beyond. Students in grades 2-5 are invited to submit bookmarks featuring a Wyoming resource message, and 5th Grade classrooms are invited to develop a class project using GIS mapping software. Information about Bookmark and Beyond was mailed to classrooms statewide and is also available online at https://wyaitc.org/our-work/bookmark/. It is our hope that by creating class projects and gaining hands-on practice with GIS mapping software, students will start to think about future career opportunities utilizing new technologies.

Major Program Impacts or Outcomes

Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom worked directly with 137 educators in 2018. Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom impacted 3,693 students in 2018.

Biosketch

Jessie Dafoe joined Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC) as their Executive Director in 2011. Prior to working for WAIC, Dafoe interned for Representative Cynthia Lummis and worked for the Wyoming Resource Alliance. Dafoe is a Wyoming native and still active on the family ranch northeast of Cheyenne. Jessie graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2010 and is a member of the 2013 Leadership Wyoming class.