Agricultural News
Gore Science Teacher Kim Pearson Honored as State's 'Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year'
Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:05:23 CDT
The 2013 Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year found out that she had won the honor several weeks ago when the Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom coordinators traveled to Gore to surprise Kim Pearson with the news. While she found out at that time about the honor, the formal presentation of various prizes that go with the title were presented this past week at the 2013 Ag Day at the State Capitol.
Pearson teaches middle school and high school science. In addition to her work in the classroom, Kim has been instrumental in organizing an Ag Day in her hometown, an event that has received attention from Oklahoma Horizon TV. Pearson has been called "an Ag in the Classroom pioneer".
Radio Oklahoma Farm Director Ron Hays spoke with Pearson during Ag Day activities at the state capitol. Pearson said there are so many opportunities to incorporate agriculture in her day to day science lessons.
"If we're talking about DNA, we will go out to a pecan orchard and pick up some pecans because every pecan has its own fingerprint just like a human. If we're talking about chemistry, we may be looking at leavening products and how to make cornbread. We make our own cornmeal. We go get our own corn out of the field and bring it and shuck it and shell it. Then we grind it before we do that. Those are some of the different things I try to bring into the classroom."
Pearson says students respond enthusiastically to the lessons.
"If I do it with one class, and they see that, being in middle school and high school, you have seven different classes a day, the other classes are like, 'We've got to do that!' I may not do it that day, but I promise them we will. Every student-it doesn't matter if they are 18-year-olds or 12-year-olds-they love agriculture."
Pearson says her "Ag in the Classroom" lessons help give students a real insight into where their food comes from.
"When I asked them where cornmeal came from, the first time we did the cornmeal, they didn't have a clue. 'The store?' was their answer. When we went and picked the corn, they still didn't understand what we were going to do with this piece of dried corn to get cornmeal. And then when we ground it up, they were like, 'That's cornmeal!' And, so, little things like that make a difference."
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear Ron Hays's full interview with Kim Pearson.
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