Lesson plans and learning materials that complement the DVD can be downloaded for free online at FFA.learn.com. These free materials, including lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, questionnaires, activity sheets and more, help students learn the ins and outs of FFA.
The free lesson plans are suggestions to help cover FFA highlights in the classroom. Lesson plan topics include:
- What is FFA?
- What is the three circle model?
- FFA mission, motto and salute
- Emblem and colors
- Levels of membership: Active, Collegiate, Alumni and Honorary
- FFA Code of Ethics
- What is the FFA creed and what does it mean?
- Official dress: Why, when and how to tie a tie
- FFA degrees
- Natural disaster relief for FFA chapters
Convention Housing is now open!
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From NAAE
NAAE Legislative Action Center
Got a minute? Check out the NAAE Legislative Action center, where you can find contact information for your state and national legislators, find out what's going on in Congress, contact the media, and more. This great resource is partially sponsored by the National FFA Alumni Association.
Click here to visit the Legislative Action Center
On Communities of Practice
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From CAST
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Friday Notes newsletter includes key stories regarding animals, plants, food safety, international issues, and general topics.
Academic papers and agricultural reports are also available for free download at the CAST website (http://www.cast-science.org/). Click HERE to access the June 17 issue of CAST Friday Notes.
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From U.S. Dept. of Education
Duncan and DC Students Talk on NPR
In an interview on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” Arne Duncan discussed plans to provide regulatory flexibility to states seeking relief from the No Child Left Behind law (NCLB) in exchange for enacting educational reforms.
During the live broadcast, the Secretary explained to students in the audience and to host Neal Conan, that doing nothing is not acceptable, and that “where states are raising the bar, where they’re doing the right thing by children, we need to provide them greater flexibility, and we need to meet them half way.”
The Secretary said the best way to fix NCLB’s problems is for Congress to reauthorize NCLB. Yet, with the new school year just months away, the Department of Education is considering ways to provide flexibility for states and districts.
For most of the interview, Duncan took questions from District of Columbia students about Duncan’s support for arts education, his perspective on why teaching quality varies so widely, and his opinion about lengthening the school day. Duncan also answered questions from listeners around the country, including questions regarding how to best serve students with disabilities and over-use of standardized testing.
Obama Administration Establishes White House Rural Council to Strengthen Rural Communities
The White House announced the establishment of the first White House Rural Council. While rural communities face challenges, they also present economic potential. To address these challenges, build on the Administration’s rural economic strategy, and improve the implementation of that strategy, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Rural Council.
“Strong rural communities are key to a stronger America,” said President Barack Obama. “That’s why I’ve established the White House Rural Council to make sure we’re working across government to strengthen rural communities and promote economic growth.”
The White House Rural Council will coordinate programs across government to encourage public-private partnerships to promote further economic prosperity and quality of life in rural communities nationwide. Chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Council will be responsible for providing recommendations for investment in rural areas and will coordinate Federal engagement with a variety of rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small businesses, and state, local, and tribal governments.
“Rural America makes significant contributions to the security, prosperity, and economic strength of our country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Rural Council announced by President Obama shows his continued focus on promoting economic opportunity, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of life for those who live in rural America. Together with the rest of the Obama administration, USDA has worked to support families and businesses in rural communities so that their success will pay dividends for all Americans.”
In the coming months, the White House Rural Council will focus on job creation and economic development by increasing the flow of capital to rural areas, promoting innovation, expanding digital and physical networks, and celebrating opportunity through America’s natural resources. The Council will begin discussing key factors for growth, including:
- Jobs: Improve job training and workforce development in rural America
- Agriculture: Expand markets for agriculture, including regional food systems and exports
- Access to Credit: Increase opportunity by expanding access to capital in rural communities and fostering local investment
- Innovation: Promote the expansion of biofuels production capacity and community based renewable energy projects
- Networks: Develop high-growth regional economies by capitalizing on inherent regional strengths
- Health Care: Improve access to quality health care through expansion of health technology systems
- Education: Increase post-secondary enrollment rates and completion for rural students
- Broadband: Support the President’s plan to increase broadband opportunities in rural America
- Infrastructure: Coordinate investment in critical infrastructure
- Ecosystem markets: Expanding opportunities for conservation, outdoor opportunities and economic growth on working lands and public lands
"Increasing college and career training for rural students of all ages is a rural imperative and a national priority if we, as a nation, are to continue strengthening our economy in all communities," said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Rural students are as smart, talented, and ambitious as children and adults anywhere in the world. We must work in a coordinated way to support rural schools, colleges, and career training organizations as they prepare the next generation of leaders who will stay to strengthen and in some cases reinvent their local economies."
Since taking office, President Obama’s Administration has taken significant steps to improve the lives of rural Americans and has provided broad support for rural communities. The Obama Administration has set goals of modernizing infrastructure by providing broadband access to 10 million Americans, expanding educational opportunities for students in rural areas, and providing affordable health care. In the long term, these unparalleled rural investments will help ensure that America’s rural communities are repopulating, self-sustaining, and thriving economically.
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