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4.4 Agriculture and Society

Date: 21 Aug 2006


Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology
4.4: Agriculture and Society


This page contains the criteria for teaching Agriculture and Societythat were developed in the PA Academic Standards. Clicking on a grade levelbelow will skip directly to the criteria for educators teaching at or belowthat grade. Clicking on the criteria will lead to all the teaching resourcesrelated to it.

Fourth Grade |Seventh Grade |Tenth Grade |Twelfth Grade

Grade 4 : Agriculture and Society (4.4.4)
Fourth Grade: 4.4A Fourth Grade: 4.4B Fourth Grade: 4.4C Fourth Grade: 4.4D
Know the importance of agriculture to humans.
  • Identify people's basic needs
  • Explain the influence of agriculture on food, clothing, shelter and culture from one area to another.
  • Know how people depend on agriculture.
Identify the role of the sciences in Pennsylvania agriculture.
  • Identify common animals found on Pennsylvania farms.
  • Identify common plants found on Pennsylvania farms.
  • Identify the parts of important agricultural related plants (i.e., corn, soybeans, barley).
  • Identify a fiber product from Pennsylvania farms.
Know that food and fiber originate from plants and animals.
  • Define and identify food and fiber.
  • Identify what plants and animals need to grow.
  • Identify agricultural products that are local and regional.
  • Identify an agricultural product based on its origin.
  • Describe several products and tell their origins.
  • Describe the journey of a local agricultural product from production to the consumer.
Identify technology and energy use associated with agriculture.
  • Identify the various tools and machinery necessary for farming.
  • Identify the types of energy used in producing food and fiber.
  • Identify tools and machinery used in the production of agricultural products.

Grade 7 : Agriculture and Society (4.4.7)
Seventh Grade: 4.4A Seventh Grade: 4.4B Seventh Grade: 4.4C Seventh Grade: 4.4D
Explain society's standard of living in relation to agriculture.
  • Compare and contrast agricultural changes that have been made to meet society's needs.
  • Compare and contrast how animals and plants affect agricultural systems.
  • Compare several technological advancements and their effect(s) on the historical growth of agriculture.
  • Compare different environmental conditions related to agricultural production, cost and quality of the product.
Investigate how agricultural science has recognized the various soil types found in Pennsylvania.
  • Explain the importance of particle sizes in different soil types.
  • Determine how water has influenced the development of Pennsylvania soil types.
  • Investigate how soil types have influenced the plant types used on Pennsylvania farms.
  • Analyze how soil types and geographic regions have impacted the profitability of Pennsylvania farms.
Explain agricultural systems' use of natural and human resources.
  • Analyze the needs of plants and animals as they relate to climate and soil conditions.
  • Identify the plants and animals that can be raised in the area and explain why.
  • Identify natural resources necessary for agricultural systems.
  • Compare the need for crop production to the need for animal production.
  • Define issues associated with food and fiber production.
Explain the improvement of agricultural production through technology.
  • Compare the technologies that have advanced agricultural production.
  • Explain how energy sources have changed to meet agricultural technology.

Grade 10 : Agriculture and Society (4.4.10)
Tenth Grade: 4.4A Tenth Grade: 4.4B Tenth Grade: 4.4C Tenth Grade: 4.4D
Describe the importance of agriculture to society.
  • Identify the major cash crops of Pennsylvania.
  • Identify what percentage of the United States' population is involved in the food and fiber industry.
  • Compare and contrast the influence of agriculture on a nation's culture, standard of living and foreign trade.
  • Identify laws that affect conservation and management of food and fiber production in the local area and analyze their impact.
  • Compare a contemporary economic issue in agriculture to its historical origin.
Assess the influence of agricultural science on farming practices.
  • Compare the practices of no-till farming to traditional soil preparation (e.g., plow, disc).
  • Analyze and explain the various practices of nutrient management on the farm.
  • Analyze and explain how farm efficiencies have changed human nutrition.
Explain the functions of the components of the food and fiber system.
  • Compare and analyze growing conditions in the United States to determine which plants and animals are most suitable to each region.
  • Compare the management practices needed for a commodity (i.e., production, processing, research and development, marketing, distribution and regulations.
  • Identify a commodity, its origin and its steps of production.
  • Compare and analyze the cost of a commodity to its production cost.
  • Identify and describe how food safety issues have impacted production in agriculture.
Analyze the efforts of increased efficiency in agriculture through technology.
  • Compare various technological advancements and analyze each for its contribution toward labor and cost efficiency.
  • Compare the current market value of both natural and alternative energy sources involved in the production of food and fiber.

Grade 12 : Agriculture and Society (4.4.12)
Twelfth Grade: 4.4A Twelfth Grade: 4.4B Twelfth Grade: 4.4C Twelfth Grade: 4.4D
Analyze the management practices in the agriculture business.
  • Define the components of an agriculture system that would result in a minimal waste of resources.
  • Identify the diversity in crop production and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of such diversity.
  • Research and analyze environmental practices related to agricultural systems.
  • Analyze the effects of agricultural practices on the economy.
  • Analyze the impact of nutrient management laws on Pennsylvania agriculture.
  • Assess the role of agriculture cooperatives.
Describe how agricultural science has influenced biotechnology.
  • Investigate how bio-engineered crops may influence the food supply.
  • Analyze the use of specific bacteria for the control of agricultural pests.
  • Evaluate the use of feed additives in shifting metabolism to increase muscle mass and reduce fat in farm animals.
Analyze and research the social, political and economic factors that affect agricultural systems.
  • Analyze the costs and benefits associated with agriculture practices and how they affect economic and human needs.
  • Analyze the costs and benefits of agriculture research practices in society.
  • Research the use of by-products that are the results of agriculture production (e.g., manure handling, bird feathers).
Analyze research and development activities as they relate to agriculture.
  • Analyze the role of research, development and technology as it relates to the food and fiber system.
  • Research and analyze energy sources used and/or generated by producing, processing and marketing agricultural products.