A brand new curriculum that uses music to teach young children about the importance of Pennsylvania’s number one industry is now available through the state Department of Agriculture.

The “Agriculture is a BIG Word” CD, which includes six lesson plans aligned to state academic standards and 13 easy-to-learn songs about milk, farming, planting a garden and barnyard animals is being offered by the agency for free.

Children can learn about agriculture through hands-on projects that teach how grocers get their food, what types of animals are found on a farm and how to plant and grow vegetables.

Although the target audience for the album and accompanying curriculum is preschool through 3rd grade, children of all ages will enjoy the songs, including the old favorite, “B-I-N-G-O.”

For more information, go to the Hands on Learning section of the Marketplace for the Mind website sponsored by the Department of Agriculture. The curriculum, songs and words can be downloaded for free.

To request a copy of the CD, contact Agricultural Education Coordinator Dr. MeeCee Baker at 717-705-9512 or c-mebaker@state.pa.us .

2/24/2006