Summary & Background

Summary:

The overall intent of this lesson is to help students understand what part of Texas that they live in, and the history behind the crops that grow in the Rio Grande Valley. The content is structured in a way that begins with teaching students about what agriculture is, a significant figure that expanding agriculture in the RGV, and how farming and agriculture end ups up in our shopping carts and benefits our economy. The students will explore ideas and take note of how places close to home have historical significance. Agriculture and farming is a way of life. For thousands of years people used it to feed their families, then communities, then expanded into a business and a way to feed the world. The harvesting, production, and manufacturing of agriculture is important for students to know because it creates job opportunities that stimulate our economy.

The students will also learn about the geography and climate of the RGV. This will encourage to think about what they know and notice about the world around them. This includes the kind plants they have seen growing, the hot, humid, and dry weather we have, and what kind of fruits and vegetables we can find at our local grocery stores.

Background:

The purpose of this lesson conducted was to teach students the importance of agriculture and teach students the history of John Shary, geography and climate in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas citrus, and how agriculture shapes the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande Valley is one of the richest farming areas of Texas and remains an agricultural gem with diverse, year-round production. The inspiration to create these lessons came from the agriculture the Rio Grande Valley provides. By educating our children on agriculture, we are able to tell the history on the Rio Grande Valley as it will set the foundation for settlements. With Texas being an agricultural state, the majority of our people are actively engaged in the profession of agriculture. In our public-school districts with 550,000 children, a large percentage return to the farm. Historical research has been conducted and it was found that 27% of children at seven years of age, preferred to live in the countryside, while only two percent of those at fourteen had the same desire. Adding these lessons on agriculture will create a vital interest in children and will teach children the history of citrus and how it ties to the Mission and Sharyland communities, well as the geography/climate of the Rio Grande Valley and how it plays a crucial role in producing agriculture. Furthermore, our lessons give a close look on how agriculture produces a more stable economy. Throughout the lesson, the crucial questions involve: What is agriculture? What kind of geography/climate does the Rio Grande Valley and how does this affect out agriculture? Who is John Shary? What is the Citrus Festival? Where can you find fruits and vegetables? The students will also learn how agriculture shapes economic sufficiency in the Rio Grande Valley. Within the lesson, we have incorporated subject that will contain keywords that include: climate, native, geography, sub-tropical, region, citrus, economic, reliability, irrigation, ploughing, harvesting.