Teacher Resources
Ag in the Classroom will present or loan Escape Boxes to be teacher-led. Escape Boxes are puzzles or games, often resembling mini escape rooms, that players solve to unlock secrets or compartments, offering a fun and engaging experience for individuals or teams. Contact Program Coordinator Melinda Colbert at 815-732-2191 or email charbm@illinois.edu.
Topics include:
- Careers
- Christmas Trees
- Corn
- Earth Day
- Illinois
- Pizza
- Pork
- Soil
- Soybeans
- Turkeys
Learn more about: Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom
Title
An Artifact Speaks
An Artifact Speaks is a dynamic educational program that immerses students in the fascinating world of ancient civilizations. The program introduces participants to the cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India, Greece, and Rome. Through a combination of storytelling, artifact exploration, and interactive learning, students gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and richness of these early societies. The program emphasizes the importance of historical inquiry, helping students understand how historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists use evidence to reconstruct the past.
Participants engage with a variety of primary sources, including artifacts, written materials, and oral traditions, to develop critical thinking and analytical skills. They explore how geography and climate influenced the development of civilizations, and how cultural practices, innovations, and belief systems shaped daily life.
An Artifact Speaks offers a memorable and meaningful journey into the ancient world. By encouraging students to think like historians and archaeologists, the program builds skills in observation, analysis, and interpretation.
Kits available for loan include Rome, Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India. Call the Ogle County 4-H office at 815-732-2191 for more information.
Explore Dig It Activity Books
A large number of plant species cannot survive without pollinators, and pollinators need plants. In this Dig It issue, youth work through activities, exploring the world of plant pollination, and getting to know more about pollinators. Dig it is available for use in both digital and print-friendly PDF versions. Visit the Dig It website for more information.
Trees are essential and greatly impact our daily lives. In this first issue, youth will learn facts about the trees they see around them. Activities are both great for days in the classroom or to take along on an outdoor exploration on a sunny day. Dig it is available for use in both digital and print-friendly PDF versions. Visit the Dig It website for more information.
Growing and consuming vegetables is an important part of understanding how bodies are nourished and plants are grown. In this Dig It issue, youth work through activities, exploring vegetable plants from seeds to harvest. Dig it is available for use in both digital and print-friendly PDF versions. Visit the Dig It website for more information.
IDNR Resource Trunks/Field Packs
Resource trunks/field packs from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Education are Illinois-specific units on 14 topics. Available for loan statewide, they are filled with items for hands-on learning. See the topics and descriptions below, which are available to loan through the Ogle County Extension office. Teachers, homeschooling educators, scout and youth group leaders, nature center personnel, librarians, daycare center staff, and families are among the people who can successfully use these resources. A two-week loan period is suggested. There is no charge to borrow the trunks/field packs. Lessons are correlated to the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core Standards, and Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards, as appropriate. Suggested grade levels are provided, but modifications can be made for other grade levels. Contact Melinda Colbert at 815-732-2191 or email charbm@illinois.edu.
The Field Trip Pack contains many items to assist your early childhood students as they explore nature. Hands-on equipment will encourage self-initiated learning. Ideas for incorporating natural resources activities into your lessons are also included. Suggested grades: preK - 3.
Illinois' Amphibians and Reptiles Field Pack's educational tools will help you learn about and observe these animals in their natural environment. Suggested grades: K - High School.
Illinois Invasive Species- Invasive species cause tremendous ecological problems. With the Illinois Invasive Species resources trunk, you and your students can learn why they are detrimental, how they arrived in Illinois, and what actions can be taken to control them. Field guides, books, lessons, DVDs, specimens, replicas, and other items are included. Targeted Grades: 7-12.
Illinois Trees- Want to learn more about the forest? Grab an Illinois Trees resources trunk! The trunks include many items teachers can use to instruct students about trees, forests, forestry careers, and the forestry industry. Targeted Grades: preK-10.
Illinois Wild Mammals- Are you teaching about mammals? Borrow an Illinois Wild Mammals resources trunk to supplement your lessons. Each trunk is filled with field guides, CD-ROMs, a DVD, fur samples, skulls, track and scat replicas, lessons, activity sheets, posters, and other items. Suggested grades: K - middle school.