At a glance, the Wyoming Stewardship Project is:
– Focused on grades 2-5
– 12 full units exploring Agriculture, Minerals & Energy, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism
– Fully aligned to Wyoming Content and Performance Standards
– Units align horizontally across grade-level content and vertically in grades 2-5
– Units can be used independently without loss of integrity
– Units provide cross-curricular lessons and hands-on activities with content unique to Wyoming
– Thoughtfully written to highlight and engage Higher Order Thinking Skills
– A FREE gift to Wyoming educators and students
What exactly does all of this mean, and what is covered in each of the units?
To answer this question, we’ve summarized the main ideas covered in each of the units. After you’ve read the summaries, click the unit name – it will take you directly to the unit page to view and download the lessons and resources!
Second-grade students learn about Wyoming farms and how farmers practice stewardship in this unit of eight lessons. Lessons showcase the history of farming in our state, starting with the Homestead act, and go on to explore how farming technologies have changed over the years. Science experiments with plant seedlings help students develop a deeper understanding of how plants grow and the challenges farmers face as they produce our food. A hands-on engineering challenge centered around plant pollination rounds out this agriculture unit.
Second Grade students discover Wyoming’s mineral and energy resources in this unit of eight lessons. Students begin to understand the concept of renewable and nonrenewable resources and how they affect past, current, and future generations. Stewardship practices are explored through a hands-on simulation where students try to “reclaim” a broken piñata. Economic impact is introduced as students step into the roles of energy industry workers in a role-play scenario. The unit’s final lesson provides the opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge with a final project and presentation.
Second Grade students explore Wyoming’s unique lands through the eight lessons found in this unit. Developing an understanding of the difference between public and private resources sets the stage for an appreciation of our state’s unique spaces and opportunities. Students get hands-on with geography as they create 3-D models of terrain types found across Wyoming. Responsible use and stewardship come into play as students learn about careers in stewardship and discuss recreation rules in various settings. Wyoming’s State Parks are highlighted in the final project, where students develop a brochure sharing information about one of these parks.
Third Grade students learn about Wyoming’s livestock industry and how ranchers practice stewardship through this unit’s six lessons. Students identify livestock species and explore how Wyoming’s climate and open rangelands are suited to livestock production. Students get up and moving as they learn about rotational grazing, drought, predator management, and other challenges faced by ranchers. As the unit wraps up, students get to meet a steward from the livestock industry and practice their letter writing skills when they send a thank-you note to a rancher from their community.
Third Grade students discover Wyoming’s many energy resource options in this unit of eight lessons. Students learn to distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources as they explore Wyoming’s energy production industries. They will learn how Wyoming is unique in our variety of resources and identify authors’ points of view as they read samples of opinion texts related to energy sources. Wind turbine simulations provide real-life examples of force and motion and engineering design challenges. Students demonstrate their understanding of energy stewardship as they wrap up the unit by creating an acrostic poem about what it means to be a STEWARD.
Third Grade students learn about Wyoming plants, wildlife, and recreation in this unit of six lessons. Students discover different plants, wildlife, and recreational activities common in our state as they discuss, read, and share information. A game of tag provides the opportunity to practice math skills as students experience a wildlife population control simulation. The concept of invasive species is introduced as students explore another type of relationship between plants, wildlife, and humans; and learn about careers responsible for the stewardship of these resources. Stewardship challenges are again considered as the unit wraps up with an engineering design challenge focused on either wildlife or invasive plants.
Fourth Grade students explore the “what, where, and why” of Wyoming agriculture in this unit of seven lessons. Students review the history of agriculture in Wyoming and discuss stewardship challenges and choices made by previous generations. With this historical context in mind, students research current farming and ranching practices and make connections between where crops and livestock grow compared to Wyoming’s geography. They wrap up this research by exploring how advancements in technology impact the agriculture industry. Students are then introduced to the concept of cost-benefit analysis before putting that theory into practice in the unit’s final project scenario.
Fourth Grade students take a comprehensive look at energy production in Wyoming in this unit of eleven lessons. Students explore the concept of stewardship through the lens of mineral and energy production as they review the industry’s history in our state. Wyoming’s abundant energy resources provide a research topic as students learn more about oil, natural gas, coal, uranium, wind, and hydroelectric production before creating posters to share their knowledge. Students then discuss how this energy meets the needs of Wyoming and the United States. Armed with this knowledge, students compare and contrast the benefits and challenges associated with different sources of energy production. An engineering challenge rounds out their exploration before students present their knowledge in a “Minerals & Energy Fair” and write personal stewardship pledges.
Fourth Grade students discover Wyoming’s public spaces, unique landforms, and historical sites in this unit of seven lessons. Students explore how they can be stewards as they discuss who owns different areas of land in Wyoming, how each is used, and who is responsible for managing it. Management of public sites introduces discussion about past and present stewardship practices that ensure access for future generations. Students are challenged to find a solution for an engineering challenge relating to recreation to wrap up the unit.
Fifth Grade students are challenged to think about Wyoming agriculture through scientific, cultural, and economic lenses in this unit of nine lessons. Students race to become “Master Stewards” as they learn about many different aspects that go into making complex stewardship decisions. The study of how species interact within an ecosystem provides a scientific base for students to use when reviewing and making decisions for a series of real-world agricultural scenarios. Students are then challenged to consider cultural and economic factors as they navigate a “Choose Your Ag Adventure” scenario game. Having had the opportunity to explore multiple decision-making lenses, students are allowed to revisit previous scenarios before applying their new skills in a final challenge scenario and achieving the status of “Master Steward.”
Fifth Grade students get their hands dirty as they discover Wyoming’s mineral resources in this unit of six lessons. Students make personal connections with Wyoming’s mineral industry as they learn about mineral by-products they use every day. After learning the importance of mineral resources, students explore where they are found, how they are mined, and how mining affects the economy of our towns, cities, and state. Stewardship of our minerals and mines is explored through a hands-on-reclamation activity where students try to “mine” and “reclaim” a pan layered with oatmeal, marbles, shaving cream, and sprinkles. Students share knowledge gained during the unit as they create a public service announcement for their final project.
Fifth Grade students meet real-life stewards of Wyoming’s outdoor recreation and tourism in this unit of seven lessons. As students try to solve the puzzle of the “Mystery Steward,” they are introduced to nine different individuals and organizations who are stewards of Wyoming. Students learn about who owns and manages Wyoming lands, different stewardship challenges facing that management, and how stewardship decisions are made throughout the lessons. Close reading and observation during videos help students understand that good stewardship can take many forms. In the final lesson, students demonstrate their understanding of stewardship as they identify themselves as the “Mystery Steward” and write a paragraph describing their stewardship decision based on a chosen scenario.
Brooks Barker, 4th Grade, Uinta Meadows Elementary, Evanston
Bridger Hatling,
From Wyoming, To Texas, and Back To Wyoming, Andrew Joannides Named Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom’s New Executive Director
Ten students from across Wyoming submitted projects for the 2020 GIS Mapping Contest, bringing the program to a strong finish. Following school closures, we revised the GIS Mapping Program to fit a new remote learning environment. Now open to students of all ages, we are excited to have participants ages 4-17! Parents mentored their students creating projects that map everything from property boundaries and irrigation features to wildlife habitats and hiking trails. A panel of judges will be reviewing these creative projects, and we will announce the winner on June 17th. Thank you to everyone who participated this year!
5th Grade Students learn about stewardship in Yellowstone National Park as they simulate a geyser.
Erin Newton
