Last month, Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) unveiled a brand-new ‘Grains of Saskatchewan’ interactive display. A new interactive display that will allow a more hands-on learning experience surrounding agriculture and crops grown in Saskatchewan. Sara Shymko, executive director of Agriculture in the Classroom, explains how hands-on learning can benefit when teaching about agriculture.
“When you grow up on a farm, especially a grain farm, you think that (agriculture) knowledge is pretty common and that’s not always true. This display is hands-on, and kids can actually see and touch and smell, it's very interactive, very hands on. They're also often surprised to learn the different products that are made from some of the crops that we grow here in the province and it's interesting because I would say adults also learn a lot.”
This new interactive display hopes to reach 15,000 students with this interactive display, helping spread knowledge about agriculture and the source of our food. This isn’t a new idea however, as there was an old display used in the same way. However, Shymko states, this brand-new one will be much more accessible for more people and also provide current information.
“We did have a really old grains display that wasn't very mobile anymore and it was pretty outdated, and agriculture has changed in the last 12 years. This display has updated information and is a lot more portable. We’ll be able to take it to more places and that's really important because we don't just want to focus on Saskatoon and Regina; all areas of the province should have the opportunity to learn about agriculture.”
AITC-SK have been pioneers in education surrounding agriculture and the importance that agriculture knowledge plays in informing about the source of our food. With lots of students not having hands-on access to a farm to gain that knowledge, Shymko reiterates the importance of having interactive displays like these to keep information accessible surrounding our crops.
“Since 1994, Agriculture in the Classroom has been developing resources and programs for students and teachers all across the province and we've really grown in the last number of years as the interest in agriculture has grown and as students have become more disconnected from the farms. Many kids today don’t have their grandparents' farm to go and that has huge implications when we consider the workforce in Saskatchewan is still tied very closely to agriculture.”
For more information about AITC-SK or the new ‘Grains of Saskatchewan’ interactive display, visit their website at www.aitc.sk.ca and follow them on their social media platforms including their Facebook page.