A middle school social studies teacher from Bettendorf, Beth Laughbaum, is recipient of the Iowa Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture award presented by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation.

Laughbaum competed against other elementary, middle and high school teachers to earn the honor. She was recognized at a ceremony at the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation board of directors meeting Dec. 13 in West Des Moines.

Laughbaum uses Iowa’s new social studies standards to integrate agriculture into her classes through the global issue of food supply. She asks students three essential questions:
• How do you feed 7 billion people?
• Does Iowa affect the world?
• How do economic decisions affect the happiness and prosperity of individuals, businesses and society?

Online simulation
“We start by discussing how much food we waste,” Laughbaum says. “Then we watch a video on food deserts. This gets them thinking and questioning. My students learn that agriculture is the greatest invention [and] discovery of all time and affected lives throughout history.”

Through the lessons, students participate in an online simulation called Journey 2050, a program of National Agriculture in the Classroom originally developed by Nutrien. Students explore sustainable ag, and they make inquiry-based decisions to see the ripple effect on social, economic and environmental factors locally and globally.

Farm families from Kenya, India and Canada guide students through interactive games, such as a virtual farm simulation and career avatar.

Plans and develops interesting programs
Laughbaum will receive a $500 stipend to support her continued efforts of integrating ag into her curriculum. She hopes to use the funds to take all her students on a field trip to a farm and experience agriculture firsthand. She will also attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference in Little Rock, Ark., in June.

Laughbaum is in her 16th year of teaching at Bettendorf Community Schools, where she has also organized archaeology projects, developed curriculum and planned school exhibition nights. She earned her degree from Ashland University in Ohio where she graduated cum laude.

In her current role, she facilitates social studies programs for middle-level students and provides students the instructional tools to research topics, investigate sources and complete projects. She designs and develops effective programs to meet the academic, intellectual and developmental needs of students.

Social studies standards were recently updated in Iowa. At Bettendorf Middle School, Laughbaum has worked with her colleagues to unwrap each of the new standards to gain a deep understanding of each standard. She led efforts to then develop student-friendly learning targets.

Lisa Reid is the principal at Bettendorf and says about Laughbaum, “I’ve had the opportunity to observe her in action, working with students, parents and staff. It’s through these observations that I can assure you Mrs. Laughbaum has mastered every teaching standard and is a talented educator.”

Runner-up from Essex
The runner-up for the award is third-grade teacher Jennifer Hardee from Essex Community School. Hardee will also attend the National Ag in the Classroom conference having part of her fees covered for her exceptional application.

Hardee has integrated agriculture into her classroom for at least 30 minutes every Thursday throughout the school year. Her students learn about apples, pumpkins, corn, maple syrup, Christmas trees, agricultural careers, beef, poultry, corn and soybeans, dairy, and pork. She hatches chicks in her classroom each spring and her students also participate in the High Steaks! Beef Marketing competition.

“Living and teaching in a rural community, it’s important that students know and understand the importance of the agricultural industry and how ag is no longer just farms and livestock,” says Hardee. “I want students to know where their food and clothing comes from and how their future jobs will probably tie into the agricultural industry.”

For information, visit iowaagliteracy.org.

Source: IALF