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Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is an educational program which encourages and enhances agricultural literacy in Grades K-8. AITC helps teachers, especially those with little knowledge of agriculture, integrate the study of this vast industry into existing curriculum.

The mission of the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is to promote, through education, an awareness and understanding of the importance of agriculture. Such an understanding will enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of all Virginians.

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	B is for Berry Strawberry history goes back over 2200 years ago. It is thought that the name "strawberry" came from the practice of growers spreading a layer of straw around the plants when the berries begin to form, or from the sellers who strung berries on pieces of straw to carry them to market. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 \| 6-8 Science \| History-Social Science
	A is for Acre According to the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary an Acre is a unit of area equal to 43 thousand 560 square feet or 4 thousand 840 square yards. To Virginia’s agriculture producers… an acre is their office. Grades 6-8 History-Social Science
	N is for No-till Planting For centuries, farmers have been associated with the plow, but in the last 25 years this piece of farm equipment is getting less and less use. Tilling the soil is the process of breaking up soil and turning it over in preparation for planting crops, but it can leave the soil vulnerable to the elements. Instead, farmers are opting for no-till planting, which conserves soil by reducing erosion. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 \| 9-12 Science
	V is for Vegetables Virginia produces a large variety of vegetables -- from tomatoes, to sweet corn, to potatoes. Vegetables make up 9% of crops grown in Virginia, and almost 3% of all agricultural commodities in the state. Producers are either harvesting or planting all kinds of vegetable crops at least 11 months out of the year in the Commonwealth. Grades K-2 Science
	S is for Soil Soil is critical not only for agriculture, but for the environment as well. Soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles combined with water, air and lots of micro-organisms. Not only does soil serve as a medium for plant growth, it helps to clean water, regulate the climate and purify waste. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 \| 9-12 Science
	U is for Land Grant University Virginia has two land grant universities: The Virginia State University in Chesterfield County and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. There is at least one land grant institution in each U.S. state and territory, and in Washington, DC. Grades 6-8 History-Social Science
	E is for Eggs Today's commercial egg industry grew out of the backyard chicken flocks of the 1800s. These flocks provided food for families. Professor Brad explains that the average hen lays between 250-300 eggs a year, and discusses the different grades of egg. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 Science
	T is for Tomato The tomato is native to the Americas, dating back as early as 700 A.D. Most people think of tomatos as vegetables, but it is actually a lovely, red fruit. This is because, generally, a fruit is the edible part of the plant that contains the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems, leaves, or roots of the plant. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 Science


	B is for Berry Strawberry history goes back over 2200 years ago. It is thought that the name "strawberry" came from the practice of growers spreading a layer of straw around the plants when the berries begin to form, or from the sellers who strung berries on pieces of straw to carry them to market. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 \| 6-8 Science \| History-Social Science
	A is for Acre According to the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary an Acre is a unit of area equal to 43 thousand 560 square feet or 4 thousand 840 square yards. To Virginia’s agriculture producers… an acre is their office. Grades 6-8 History-Social Science
	N is for No-till Planting For centuries, farmers have been associated with the plow, but in the last 25 years this piece of farm equipment is getting less and less use. Tilling the soil is the process of breaking up soil and turning it over in preparation for planting crops, but it can leave the soil vulnerable to the elements. Instead, farmers are opting for no-till planting, which conserves soil by reducing erosion. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 \| 9-12 Science
	V is for Vegetables Virginia produces a large variety of vegetables -- from tomatoes, to sweet corn, to potatoes. Vegetables make up 9% of crops grown in Virginia, and almost 3% of all agricultural commodities in the state. Producers are either harvesting or planting all kinds of vegetable crops at least 11 months out of the year in the Commonwealth. Grades K-2 Science
	S is for Soil Soil is critical not only for agriculture, but for the environment as well. Soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles combined with water, air and lots of micro-organisms. Not only does soil serve as a medium for plant growth, it helps to clean water, regulate the climate and purify waste. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 \| 9-12 Science
	U is for Land Grant University Virginia has two land grant universities: The Virginia State University in Chesterfield County and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. There is at least one land grant institution in each U.S. state and territory, and in Washington, DC. Grades 6-8 History-Social Science
	E is for Eggs Today's commercial egg industry grew out of the backyard chicken flocks of the 1800s. These flocks provided food for families. Professor Brad explains that the average hen lays between 250-300 eggs a year, and discusses the different grades of egg. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 Science
	T is for Tomato The tomato is native to the Americas, dating back as early as 700 A.D. Most people think of tomatos as vegetables, but it is actually a lovely, red fruit. This is because, generally, a fruit is the edible part of the plant that contains the seeds, while a vegetable is the edible stems, leaves, or roots of the plant. Grades K-2 \| 3-5 Science

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