22nd Ag Literacy Festival
Held at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Madison, Nebraska. March 25, 2025
This half day field trip will be offered to 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students and is available on a first come, first serve basis. Must pre-register by March 5.
The Ag Literacy program will provide an educational look at the different species of animals and crops that are raised on a farm. Students will be able to touch animals and learn about methods of caring for them. They will also learn about the by-products of animals and crops.
Standards: Contact for full list
Program Cost: $1 per student
Embryology
Students will be responsible for caring for the eggs during the 21-day incubation period and the baby chicks after they have hatched.
Resources for this project are:
- Supportive information
- Incubator
- Staff can make up to four visits
- One dozen fertile eggs
- Candling light provided, if available, for candling first and second week
Note: This is a time-consuming project. You must be willing to turn the eggs three times a day, some automatic turners are available, keep water in the incubator, monitor the temperature, candle, and clean the incubator thoroughly after the hatch.
Standards: SC.K.7.2, SC.1.6.2, SC.3.9.3, SC.4.6.3, SC.5.8.2, SC.6.6.2, SC.6.9.3
Program Cost: $30.00 per classroom. (Includes candling)
SET DATES (choose preferred month-dates will be set as date nears):
- $30.00 per classroom. (Includes candling)
- February 2025
- March 2025
- April 2025
Microbes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly..... Germs make me sick!
Younger grades
This project is designed to teach students about bacteria and the importance of good personal hygiene.
- Glo-germ activity and directions for washing hands properly
Standards:
Science: 1.2.1 & 1.7.1
Health: 1.1 & 1.6
Check-out cost: $5.00
Microbes: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly..... Germs make me sick!
Older grades
This project is designed to teach students about bacteria and the importance of good personal hygiene.
- Glo-Germ Kit
- Petri dishes filled with nutrient agar
Standards:
Science: 1.2.1 & 1.7.1
Health: 1.1 & 1.6
Check-out cost: $5.00
Wheat Science- Bread in a Bag
The plant science project will focus on the production and use of crops in agriculture.
Resource materials include:
- A hands-on session making wheat bread in the classroom.
Students work in groups of two or four. Each group makes two loaves of bread.
Optional: We can also make butter in the classroom by request for a small additional feed.
Standards: Science: 4.1.5, Math: 4.3.1, Social Studies: 4.1.9
Program Cost: $2.50 per group
NEW! Ozobots
Learn basic coding skills with a robot that can fit in the palm of your hand! Students will explore the engineering design process through this unplugged method using only markers and graph paper. Students will be able to build their program, test their course, work as a team, and troubleshoot while navigating a path. Dates: Anytime on request.
Standards: 4.1.4, 4.3.1, 4.6.1, 8.1.1, 8.1.2, 8.1.4, 8.2.1, 8.6.1
Program Cost: $25.00 per classroom - 2 lessons included
Caterpillar to Butterfly
This program is designed to be a three-week lesson allowing your classroom to learn about butterflies. Students will have the opportunity to study and observe the life cycle from a caterpillar to the amazing butterfly. During this process, youth will get to feed the caterpillars, observe the change from caterpillar to chrysalis, view the hatching process, and, finally, release the Painted Lady butterflies into nature. This project actively engages youth in science and will provide a rich, hands-on learning experience.
Standards: Science: 1.4.1 & 1.4.2
Program Cost: $20.00 for visit and all the supplies.
SET DATES: TBD – Will be in Spring Months of March/April.
What is an insect?
(Scalable from K-12)
Students will learn about the abundance of insects, parts of an insect, the life cycle of a butterfly, and view displays of insects as they explore the field of Entomology. The Entomology program requires one 30 minute session.
Standards: Science: 4.4.1, 4.4.2
Program Cost: No cost.
The Life Cycle of Lady Bugs
Even though Lady Bugs are cute, did you know they are predators? Bring this brand new science and fun-filled program to your classroom! Have the opportunity to learn and observe the transformation of a ladybug.
Program Cost: Cost includes 1 classroom visit and all supplies to hatch 10-12 ladybugs - $25.00/classroom.Splat! Helmet Safety
When talking about bicycle or skate board safety, this hands-on activity will demonstrate how a helmet protects the head, in this case, an egg.
Standards: ST 4.6.1, ST 4.6.2
Program Cost: $5.00
Anti-Drugs and Alcohol
“The Boy who was Swallowed by the Drug Monster” is an informative DVD program about poor choices a young boy makes that leads to his addiction. This is a 40 minute session.
Program Cost: $5.0017th Annual Geographic Information Systems Day
5th and 6th Grades
DATES November 7 and 8
This is designed to be a ½ Field Trip in Norfolk, Nebraska
Must Pre-Register.
SCHEDULE:
Registration and opening session with rotations between various sessions:
- Hurricane Maps
- Careers
- GPS Units
- Hometown Adventure
- Geography Jeopardy
DATE AND TIME: November 12 and 13. Afternoon sessions.
SITE: Nebraska Extension Office in Norfolk
TARGET AGE: 5th and 6th Graders
WHAT: Educational presentation on Geographic Information Systems and how they are used in Geography today.
COST: Free
Secrets of Service on the Job
Date: TBA
(online registrations due by January 31, 2025)
8:30am – 11:30pm
This is a half day virtual interactive education program.
This interactive character education program designed for 5th and 6th graders focuses on entrepreneurship. The workshop teaches the importance of customer service in the workplace and responsible ethical behavior needed in the community and on the job. Participants will have the avenue to express their view on character in a business, design a business selling pencils, learn marketing techniques and have fun while learning together. It is designed to enable youth to develop knowledge and life skills for enhancing ethical and responsible behavior in the business world and community.(this program is modified from the full day event for those familiar with this experience.)
Participants will:
- Provide a creative avenue for youth to express their view on character in business.
- Design a business as a team.
- Buy and sell a product.
- Have fun while learning together.
Standards: Social Studies: 4.8, 4.9, & 8.3.5
Reading/Writing: 4.3.1
Math: 4.1.5
Family & Consumer Science: FCS 06-12.11.1
Program Cost: $2.00 per participant & bring their own lunch
For more information about this event, please contact the Madison County Extension Office at 402-370-4040 or visit the website at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/nerec/northeast-nebraska-4-h-0/
3rd Annual … INSANE Science Day!
Imagine Now! STEAM & Nebraska Extension
Tuesday, October 8, Wednesday 9 or Thursday, October 10, 2024 at the Madison County Fairgrounds in Madison, NE.
The day will feature 2 tracks.
- AM track from 9am – 11:30am for Kindergarten - 3rd grade
- PM track from 12pm – 2:30pm for 4th Grade - 6th Grade
Program Cost: $6.00 per student
Food Fun!
Kindergarteners will enjoy learning about:
- Why food is important to good health
- The five food groups
- Healthful foods with the “Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie”
Let’s Eat Smart
3rd graders will enjoy learning about:
- Nutrients
- Food labels
- A balanced diet
- How to store food properly
Healthy Me!
Join the Dairy Council’s “Chef Combo” as he helps 1st graders discover:
- Why their bodies need food
- How their bodies use this food
- How to plan a balanced meal
Rate That Plate
4th graders will enjoy learning about:
- Nutrients
- Using MyPlate to make healthy food choices
- How eating healthy foods make them feel good
- Eating a healthy breakfast
MyPlate Party!
2nd graders will enjoy learning about:
- Why they need food
- The digestion process
- How to make healthful food choices
- The definition of a combination food
Food Science Investigator (FSI)
5th graders' curiosity will quickly peak as they investigate:
- What and why nutrients are important
- How to use MyPlate to select a balanced diet
- Different food labels and what they mean
- Food Safety
Magnets Stick Together
- Students will explore MAGNETS!
- Make predictions on what magnets will stick to, then test hypothesis.
- Variety of magnets will be available for students to use including Buzzing Magnets to create erratic buzzing and chirping sounds.
NE Early Learning Guidelines: S.02, LL.01, LL.02, M.0
Program Cost: $3.50 (group size limited to 25 or fewer)
Mindfulness
- 6 lessons are designed to help children build empathy, manage everyday emotions/stress and have fun.
- The activities are designed to be easy to learn.
- Lesson 1 will include making a stress bottle to be used throughout the school year. Teachers will need to provide enough water bottles for all their students to create the stress bottle.
- Lessons include a mindfulness story, hands-on activity and a physical activity.
NE Early Learning Guidelines: LL.01, LL.02, LL.04, LL.05, CA.03, SE.03, SE.02
Program Cost: $18.00 for 6 lessons
Demonstration Garden Tours
- Learn what fruits and vegetables look and feel like in the garden! Planing, weeding, watering and gathering…oh my!!
- Guaranteed to be a hands-on experience!
- Tours available fall, spring and summer.
NE Early Learning Guidelines: LA0.1, LA0.3.1, LA0.3.1a, LA0.3.2, LA0.3.2b, MA0.2.5
Program Cost: Free
Tasty Carrots
- Who loves carrots?
- Students will have the opportunity to observe, measure, and make predictions about this healthy snack.
- Students will participate in measuring ingredients for tasty carrot snack which will be eaten during the program.
- Reproducible handouts will be shared for teachers to send home with students
NE Early Learning Guidelines: S.02, M.03, LL.01, LL.02, HP.03, HP.04
Program Cost: $3.50 (group size limited to 25 or fewer)
Investigating Worms
- Worms are a great tool to teach science, math and sensory skills.
- Students will chart: worm knowledge, what they wonder, and conclude the lesson with what they learned.
- Plastic magnifying glass, scale, rulers, 2-way bug viewer, scoopers and sand shovels will be used to explore the worms.
- This hands-on experience promises to encourage science exploration!
NE Early Learning Guidelines: LL0.1, LL.02, LL0.02, LL.0.4, S.02, M.03
Program Cost: FREE, Available in fall and late spring
INVENTURE
5th – 8th Grades
The INVENTURE program will ignite an entrepreneurial spark in your students! Working in teams, they will create a product or service from a widget and learn basic business principles throughout the process. The capstone of the INVENTURE program will consist of teams pitching their business idea “Shark-Tank” style. This is a full day on-site or off-site school program for 50-125 students.
Plan a field day experience with us!
Program Cost: $15 per student
Mobile iGrow Educational Displays
Take a break and “Go Mobile” with your classroom students! Bring your students to the Mobile iGrow interactive display that is set up in your school. These traveling displays are available for 2 ½ weeks at a time, and will focus on different topics in agriculture.
4-H staff members will set up/take down displays and utilize the space you have available. Included with the displays are:
- A teaching guide to assist educators in leading a student discussion focused on display concepts.
- An activity sheet, tied to concepts from the displays, provided for all students. It can be used in the classroom or given as a take- home sheet for families.
*Complete unit correlates to Nebraska State Standards* Mobile iGrow displays and resources are funded by the AKSARBEN Foundation. These resources are FREE to Madison County Schools. Contact the Extension Office to get your school on the schedule.
- Survey results showed that 100% of students learned more about corn and have a better understanding of agriculture after the Mobile iGrow display.
- Local teachers commented: “They loved it! Hands-on and authentic learning in action.” “I hope we get more opportunities to do this.”
School Enrichment ProgramEarn $$ for your classroom!
Classroom teachers who have students participate in an Extension School Educational Program from this brochure/website will have the opportunity to exhibit “class” or “student” projects at the Madison County Fair.
Teachers will receive the premium $$ for their classroom entries!
Class Project: Exhibit of choice that illustrates what students learned during this program.
Premium: $10.00 per classroom exhibit. One entry per classroom per program.
IMPORTANT: Please drop off your classroom exhibits to the Adams County Extension Office on or before May 29.
Projects may be picked up at the close of the Adams County Fair during exhibit release on Monday, July 20th from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Any exhibits not picked up at the fair will be available at the Adams County Extension Office until August 31th. Exhibits not picked up by this date will be discarded unless other arrangements are made.
To register for this class complete the form below.
* - required field