Agricultural Literacy Week - March 17 - 21, 2025

Please note we are also registering for March 24 - 28, 2025 to accommodate more schools.

The Cornell University New York Agriculture in the Classroom Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County invite you to participate in our annual Agricultural Literacy Week to be held in 2025!  Last year, over 2300 books were donated to school or classroom libraries and books were read by volunteers to thousands of second graders throughout New York State.  This program is suggested for elementary schools.

The selected book for 2025 is "The Pie that Molly Grew" by Sue Heavenrich and illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg.

Beginning with the planting of a single seed, join Molly on the journey of bringing a pumpkin to harvest. Under Molly’s watchful eye and care, each stage of growth – from the seed to the sprout to the leaves to the final fruit on the vine – is showcased. At the end, Molly’s lovely pumpkin is turned into a delicious pie to one and all to share in a celebration of gratitude. All from the seed that Molly sowed.

It is an honor to feature New York author Sue Heavenrich for our 2025 Agricultural Literacy Week program. Based in Tioga County, Sue is a lifelong lover of biology, gardening, and reading. A teacher of many sorts, Sue especially loves telling stories about the science she sees in her backyard, or in this case, her garden!

This year you have two activity options to choose from. Please select your option during registration.

Classroom kit will include supplies for 25 students. 

Pumpkin Pie in a Bag
In this activity, classrooms will make pumpkin pie in a bag. This classroom activity involves mixing ingredients in a gallon bag, piping the pie filling into individual cups, and dipping graham crackers to taste their creation. Please note this includes dairy.

Planting Pumpkin Seeds
In this activity, classrooms will be provided with the materials for 25 students to plant their own pumpkin seeds. This activity will use Jiffy Pellets and will be soil-free.

Start to finish the program takes approximately 40 minutes per classroom.

All activity materials are prepared by NYAITC and schools get to keep a copy of the book for their school or classroom library.

Dates and Time:

Please sign up for the day your school is interested in.  You may choose more than one day you are available.  If you can not select the day you are interested in, it is because that day has already been filled.   

Prior to your scheduled day you will receive a confirmation email with more details.

If at anytime you have questions, or need accommodations for persons with a disability, please contact nassaucounty4h@cornell.edu

To register for this event, please click the Register button below.  

History of New York Agriculture in the Classroom

Established in 1985, New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC) is a partnership of Cornell University, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the NYS Education Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the New York Farm Bureau.

Mission

Our mission is to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of how we produce food and fiber, what we eat, and how we live, by helping educators, students, and their communities learn about and engage with agriculture and food systems.

We work with pre-K through high school teachers, pre-service teachers, Cornell Cooperative Extension and other community educators, farmers and producers, volunteers, parents, and community partners to increase agricultural literacy in New York State.

What is Agricultural Literacy?

Less than 2% of our population actually produces food on farms, while nearly 20% of our nation's workforce is in some way, shape, or form involved in the processing, marketing, distribution, and sales of food and fiber products. We all rely on agriculture every day--from food we eat, fibers our clothes are made of, and other materials we use each day to agriculture's relationship with our environment, economy, and society. And yet, little is taught in most schools about agriculture and food and fiber systems. NYAITC aims to increase agricultural literacy while supporting opportunities for hands-on teaching and learning, meeting state standards, enhancing student achievement, and connecting with community.

What is New York Agriculture in the Classroom?

NYAITC envisions a day when educators, students, and communities in New York:

- Recognize the connection between agricultural production and the daily consumption of food and fiber products

- Appreciate the economic, social, historical, and scientific significance of agriculture in our local and global society

- Understand the complexity of today's agriculture and food systems

- Explore the many career opportunities in all areas of agriculture and food systems