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This resource page serves as a comprehensive hub for educators and students to access high-quality, research-based materials for integrating STEM through Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR). It provides a curated collection of mini-units and lesson plans designed to foster scientific inquiry, problem-solving, and literacy across diverse agricultural contexts.
Visitors can explore a wide range of topics—from the chemistry of food science and the engineering of hydroponic systems to the ecological complexities of wildlife conservation and soil health. Each resource is structured to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application, offering downloadable worksheets, assessment plans, and instructional guides that empower learners to address 21st-century global challenges.
Integrated STEM Publications
Integrated STEM Publications
Explore the scholarly work that serves as the backbone for the BoilerSteam project. This collection of peer-reviewed journal articles and theme papers investigates how teachers perceive STEM integration, provides validated rubrics for evaluating integrated lessons, and demonstrates how agricultural technologies—like hydroponics and sensors—can facilitate effective interdisciplinary collaboration in the classroom.
Integrated STEM Mini-Units
Integrated STEM Mini-Units
Access a diverse library of mini-units developed by university students to bring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to life through the lens of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR). These resources are organized by scientific theme and include comprehensive lesson plans, student worksheets, and assessments.
Natural Resources & Environmental Science: Investigate the health of local ecosystems through studies of water quality, soil properties, and wildlife conservation.
Food Science & Engineering: Engage students in the chemistry and technology behind the global food supply, from apple preservation and dairy safety to the economics of coffee.
Plant, Soil & Ecosystems: Explore the "plumbing" of plant physiology, the mechanics of urban gardening, and the flow of energy through complex biological food webs.
Animal & Life Sciences: Discover the world of aquatic biology and entomology through units focused on responsible aquarium care and integrated pest management.
Global Systems & Sustainability: Challenge students to solve 21st-century problems using biomimicry, engineering design for the water crisis, and climate-resilient agricultural models.
Hydroponics & Controlled Environment Agriculture
Hydroponics & Controlled Environment Agriculture
Dive into our collection of hydroponics lessons categorized by Chemistry, Physics, and Photosynthesis. From calculating nutrient concentrations and building electrical circuits for water pumps to investigating how plants pull water from soil-free systems, these resources provide a complete STEM-integrated guide to modern farming. Click here to access the full suite of lesson plans, teacher guides, and student worksheets.
Food Science and Safety
Food Science and Safety
Explore the intersection of agriculture and consumer health through the lens of food science. This section highlights how scientific principles are applied to improve food quality, extend shelf life through innovative packaging, and ensure the safety of the global food supply from farm to fork.
Food Systems Thinker
Food Systems Thinker
Food Systems Thinker is an online resource for anyone who is interested in learning about food systems, especially high school students and older adults. While going through these lessons, learners will gain more understanding about sustainable food systems and practice systems thinking. The knowledge and skills are crucial in fostering learners to become a more responsible consumer and citizen.
The topics include in this website connect food systems topics with human health, the environment, economic, and community. The worksheets engage learners and offer the opportunity of reflection. Learners will be empowered to make healthy and responsible food choices that contribute to a positive change in the food systems.
Food System STEM Project Showcase
Food System STEM Project Showcase
This document is a Food System STEM Project Rubric developed by researchers at Purdue University. It serves as a comprehensive evaluation tool for scoring student project presentations and showcase submissions. The rubric is organized into several key assessment areas:
Problem Identification: Evaluates how well students identified and described a problem that can be solved using an interdisciplinary approach.
Connections: Measures the project's links to the local community, potential career paths, and out-of-school activities.
Systems Thinking: Assesses whether the solution addresses the four components of an agro-ecosystem: economic viability, social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and production efficiency.
Data & Solution: Reviews the variables collected and determines if the proposed solution is feasible, viable, desirable for the user, and innovative.
Presentation Design: Rates the professionalism, logical flow, and organization of the project's visual or video presentation.
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