Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

Course Title:	Fundamentals of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource Services
Course Type:	Orientation/Exploratory
Career Cluster:	Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

Secondary – Middle School	
Course Number	8021400	
CIP Number	148021400M	
Grade Level	6-8	
Course Length	year	
Teacher Certification	Refer to the Course Structure section.	
CTSO	FFA	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose 

The purpose of this course is to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their future academic and occupational goals and to provide information regarding careers in the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource career cluster.  The content includes but is not limited to agricultural literacy, importance of agriculture, the role of science, math, reading, writing, geography, history, and technology in agriculture, plants and animals, and sources of consumer goods from agriculture. Reinforcement of academic skills occurs through classroom instruction and applied laboratory procedures.

Instruction and learning activities are provided in a laboratory setting using hands-on experiences with the equipment, materials and technology appropriate to the course content and in accordance with current practices.

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Course Structure

The length of this course is one year. Planned and Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) must be provided through one or more of the following:  (1) foundational career exploration, (2) directed laboratory experience, (3) project ownership/entrepreneurship, (4) cooperative education/internship, (5) School Based Enterprise, or (6) Service Learning.

To teach the course(s) listed below, instructors must hold at least one of the teacher certifications indicated for that course.

The following table illustrates the course structure:

Course Number	Course Title	Teacher Certification	Length	
8021400	Fundamentals of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource Services	Agriculture 1 @2
AGRICUTUR 7G
EXP AG @4
MG General Science 025	year	

Standards

After successfully completing this course, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Identify components of agribusiness.
02.0	Recommend appropriate agriculture communications concepts. 
03.0	Summarize skills used in landscape services.
04.0	Incorporate knowledge and skills involved with food science.
05.0	Construct a floral design.
06.0	Communicate skills gained from small, companion animal care.
07.0	Recommend leadership and communication styles.
08.0	Integrate the use of science, mathematics, reading, geography, history, writing, and communication in agriscience and technology. 
09.0	Recognize the value of responsibility, good work habits, and planning for career opportunities in agriculture services.
10.0	Identify components of network systems. 
11.0	Describe and use communication features of information technology.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Course Title: 	Fundamentals of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Services
Course Number: 	8021400
Course Length:	1 Year

Course Description:

This course is designed to develop competencies in the area of agriculture services.  This includes: the global impact of agribusiness, communications, landscaping, food science, floral design, companion animal care, as well leadership skills.  Laboratory-based activities are an integral part of this course.  These include safe use and application of appropriate technology, scientific testing and observation equipment.   

CTE Standards and Benchmarks	
01.0	Identify components of agribusiness. The student will be able to:	
01.01	Describe the business cycle.	
01.02	Complete a profit/loss statement.	
01.03	Distinguish between types of competition practices.	
01.04	Demonstrate proper methods of recording merchandise.	
01.05	Summarize proper use of customer service skills.	
01.06	Explain proper management techniques.	
02.0	Recommend appropriate agriculture communications concepts. The student will be able to:	
02.01	Sort and classify types of communication used in Agriculture.	
02.02	Create messages using various forms of communication.	
02.03	Generate a speech.	
02.04	Compare and contrast different types of media.	
02.05	Create a photo story.	
02.06	Demonstrate proper ethics in communication.	
02.07	Identify and compare regulating agencies.	
02.08	Evaluate careers in agriculture communications.	
03.0	Summarize skills used in landscape services. The student will be able to:	
03.01	Distinguish plants based on common and scientific name.	
03.02	Conduct a soil test.	
03.03	Construct an irrigation system.	
03.04	Compare and contrast landscape styles.	
03.05	Select plants based on environmental factors.	
03.06	Design a landscape.	
03.07	Model personal safety and knowledge of equipment.	
03.08	Explain proper procedures for applying pesticides and fertilizer based on Best Management practices.	
03.09	Inventory an ecosystem.	
03.10	Apply knowledge of invasive plants. 	
03.11	Apply knowledge of customer interactions	
04.0	Incorporate knowledge and skills involved with food science. The student will be able to:	
04.01	Explain the process from farm to consumer	
04.02	Investigate safe food handling practices, and their regulating agencies	
04.03	Document changes in food preservation and how it impacted our civilization	
04.04	Recognize food processing and packaging procedures.	
04.05	Explain how to develop and market a food product.	
04.06	Describe the components of a nutrition label	
04.07	Create and market a food product.	
05.0	Construct a floral design. The student will be able to:	
05.01	Compare and contrast historical and cultural contributions to design.	
05.02	Identify types of arrangements and products.	
05.03	Demonstrate knowledge of floral pricing.	
05.04	Verify flowers by common and scientific name.	
05.05	Assemble a floral arrangement.	
05.06	Summarize knowledge of inventory skills.	
05.07	Develop a marketing plan.	
06.0	Communicate skills gained from small, companion animal care. The student will be able to:	
06.01	Demonstrate knowledge of proper nutrition and health in small and companion animals.	
06.02	Differentiate between animal welfare and animal rights.	
06.03	Describe the training process for service animals	
06.04	Compare and contrast career opportunities available for companion animals based on animal type and breed.	
06.05	Explain proper care for a small animal.	
07.0	Recommend leadership and communication styles. The student will be able to:	
07.01	Explore the establishment and history of the FFA organization. 	
07.02	Analyze the characteristics and responsibilities of organizational leaders. 	
07.03	Demonstrate parliamentary procedure skills during a meeting.	
07.04	Evaluate a committee which has an assigned task and report to the class. 	
07.05	Demonstrate effective communication skills through delivery of a speech or conducting a demonstration. 	
07.06	Use a computer to assist in the completion of an agricultural project.	
08.0	Integrate the use of science, mathematics, reading, geography, history, writing, and communication in agriscience and technology. The student will be able to:	
08.01	Apply basic mathematics operations to solve agricultural problems. 	
08.02	Correctly use measuring devices and utilize measurements to solve agricultural problems. 	
08.03	Apply the scientific method to solve an agricultural problem. 	
08.04	Prepare written and/or oral materials using correct English grammar.	
08.05	Identify the main idea in oral presentations and/or written materials. 	
08.06	Locates, organizes, and interprets information from a variety of agricultural sources. 	
08.07	Describe the historical evolution of agriculture. 	
09.0	Recognize the value of responsibility, good work habits, and planning for career opportunities in agriculture services. The student will be able to:	
09.01	Identify attitudes and habits necessary to achieve career success. 	
09.02	Describe personality aspects to consider when choosing a career. 	
09.03	Identify the basic steps in career planning. 	
09.04	Develop basic career plan. 	
09.05	Identify and research career opportunities in agriculture and its related fields through a Foundational SAE.	
10.0	Identify components of network systems. The student will be able to:	
10.01	Identify structure to access internet, including hardware and software components.	
10.02	Identify and configure user customization features in web browsers, including preferences, caching, and cookies.	
10.03	Recognize essential database concepts.	
10.04	Define and use additional networking and internet services.	
11.0	Describe and use communication features of information technology. The student will be able to:	
11.01	Define important internet communications protocols and their roles in delivering basic Internet services.	
11.02	Identify basic principles of the Domain Name System (DNS).	
11.03	Identify security issues related to Internet clients.	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students. 

Florida Standards for English Language Development (ELD)
English language learners communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting. ELD.K12.ELL.SI.1

English Language Development (ELD) Standards Special Notes:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.   For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. For additional information on the development and implementation of the ELD standards, please contact the Bureau of Student Achievement through Language Acquisition at sala@fldoe.org.

Extended Student Supervision

Because of the production and marketing cycle of the agriculture industry, this program requires individual instruction and supervision of students for the entire period beyond the 180-day school year.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

FFA is the co-curricular career and technical student organization(s) providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered. 

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities as identified on the secondary student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 plan or postsecondary student’s accommodations’ plan to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.

In addition to accommodations, some secondary students with disabilities (students with an IEP served in Exceptional Student Education (ESE)) will need modifications to meet their needs. Modifications change the outcomes or what the student is expected to learn, e.g., modifying the curriculum of a secondary career and technical education course. Note: postsecondary curriculum and regulated secondary programs cannot be modified.