The North Carolina Department
of Agriculture (NCDA) is pleased to welcome you to the AG's COOL Website.
Our goal is to bring current and specific agricultural information to
the user. Information on all Goodness Grows In North Carolina products
and commodities can be found and researched here.
Ever wonder why apples aren't
grown near the ocean? Want to know how much tobacco is really grown in
North Carolina? Want to know when North Carolina blueberries are season?
Interested in finding out how farming has changed over the years? All
these questions and more are answered within AG's COOL.
And as good as this website
is now, we're making it even better! As new information arises and new
statistical data is available, the site will automatically be updated.
New features will be added to ensure accuracy, interest and interactivity
among the site and its user. So make sure to bookmark AG's COOL to see
agriculture in cyberspace.
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Design
of AG's COOL.....
AG's COOL was designed with
the teacher and student in mind. The NCDA followed a strict guideline
when formulating the design of this website. Each section was based upon
outlines so that each part was easily recognizable and facilitates use.
Graphics were used wherever it would apply so that students would also
be able to easily access the site.
Though the NCDA encourages
the use of this website by any interested person, the total design of
the site is focused around North Carolina's fourth grade curriculum. To
ensure that most of the core curriculum guidelines were met, the NCDA
had all parts of the website relating to the classroom approved by the
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Sections of each
commodity outline and Teacher Tips solidly follow fourth grade core curriculum
objectives to guarantee that the website information would fit into teacher
lesson plans and could be accessed as a supplemental guide.
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In this section each of North
Carolina's commodities are represented. A click on one of the graphics
or Association name will bring up a wealth of information on the commodity
represented. Writing assignments have never been easier than with the
format represented here.
Each commodity is based upon
the same outline (crop and animal). Each outline contains information
broken down into the same groups: Association Name, Commodity History,
Regional Information, Production, Packaging, Shipping, Buying and Nutritional
Information. This is done not only for ease in accessing information,
but also for assigning reading and writing projects where teachers know
that whichever commodity a student chooses to research, it will contain
similar information based upon curriculum requirements.
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Though the actual teaching
experts are those in the classroom, the NCDA is proud to publish these
Teacher Tips. Through telephone and personal interviews, NCDA specialists
compiled the Tips from various fourth grade teachers, principals and superintendents
from around the state. All Tips were then reviewed by the appropriate
curriculum chief at NCDPI for matching activity with the curriculum goals
and objectives.
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Need more information, but
don't know who to contact? Want to schedule a field trip or invite a guest
speaker to class? This is the place to check. Though this list is always
growing and changing, you can bet the list found here is the most current
and up-to-date available. All commodity associations, contacts and phone
numbers are found here.
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AG's COOL also has kid-friendly
activities to enjoy for that down-time between lessons or at home after
school. Take a moment to see if you can conquer the games in Kids Korner
or send an e-mail to another school across the state. This is the place
to have fun and let imaginations soar.
So what are you waiting for?
Bookmark AG's COOL and use it in your daily lesson plans and for those
special projects. What easier and better way is there to learn about North
Carolina's #1 industry--Agriculture!
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