Ag 3

Course Syllabus

1. Course Description:

Students will be introduced to the following subject areas. The students completing the unit will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

· Safe work habits

· Mechanical calculations

· Hand tool operation

· Project construction

· Working with metal

· Oxy-Acetylene welding and soldering

· Arc welding

· Mig wire welding

· Commodity Marketing

· Ag Sales and salesmanship

· Applied animal science

This class is one year in length and designed for junior level or higher students. There are no prerequisites for this class and above-average younger students may take this class without additional help.

2. Instructional Philosophy and Delivery Plan

Students will be expected to meet all the course goals listed below and be able to demonstrate their understanding of the underlying concepts. The instruction will be laboratory and application based with a minimum of lecture and demonstration. The teacher provides direction and manages the class, but gives students as much responsibility as possible for planning, designing, and doing research to complete projects. Community members will be used as curriculum support people and guest speakers.

The projects require students to use resources such as the library, technical manuals, journals and mathematics, science, and language arts teachers. The course requires student individualized project completion. Students will work in teams to complete several projects. This enables them to learn how to work independently planning, constructing and trouble shooting a variety of projects.

The evaluation and grading system is introduced at the beginning of the course to advise students of the standards they will be expected obtain to pass the course. The instructor conducts periodic class discussions to emphasize key points, check student understanding, and prevent gaps in overall progress. Students are called upon to explain selected concepts in class.

Student assessment will be based on group work, individual completion of projects, written reports, tests of students’ knowledge of important concepts and demonstration of important skills.

3. Course Goals

Students will learn how to:

· Research and chart commodities and make trades in the commodity exchange.

· Make mechanical calculations and complete a bill of materials.

· Operate hand tools safely and properly to plan and complete project construction.

· Work with metal to practice oxy-acetylene welding.

· Arc weld and wire weld sample flat, horizontal and vertical welds as well as project welds.

· Demonstrate selling and salesmanship skills.

· Identify breeds and parts of livestock to assist understand of livestock husbandry practices.

· Demonstrate leadership ability by participating in FFA activities.

· Evaluate land sites to determine a capability class and recommend land management practices.

4. Major Course Projects

· Students will practice land-judging techniques and attend the District 2 Land Workshop. Students will be able to complete the SD Land Judging Score Sheet.

· Students will complete a sales and salesmanship unit by researching and selling an ag product in class.

· Construct a metal project in the shop. Students will develop a scaled drawing of the project, complete with specifications. Students will complete a bill of materials, order materials from suppliers, construct, and finish the project. Assessment will be based on completion of the project to specified performance standards.

· Identify major parts and breeds of livestock before practicing judging techniques. District and State FFA CDE’s are available to practice the skills learned.

· Students will complete the Commodity Marketing Activity by researching and trading ag commodities.

5. Assessment Plan

Technical processes and procedures will be evaluated in the lab setting by the instructor daily. Proper safety practices and work ethic will be measured and scored daily also.

Grades for the course will be based on the following levels of performance.

A Independent Learner

Did research, designed and planned; applied academic skills; evaluated work and made adjustments; did quality work; needed little help from the teacher; sought and found resources independently; demonstrated knowledge with a grade of 94% or higher; produced a quality project.

B Semi-Independent Learner

Did research, designed and planned; needed some help from the teacher; did quality work with a few flaws; needed feedback from the teacher to realize work did not meet standards; redid work to meet standards; demonstrated knowledge and a grade of 86% or higher; produced a better-than-average project.

C Dependent Learner

Needed help to research; design and plan or had to be given a plan; relied a great deal on the teacher; had to be given procedures for performing tasks; required significant help to produce a quality product; needed help to evaluate a product; final product still did not meet standards; demonstrated knowledge with a grade of 78% or higher; and produced an average project.

D Very Dependent Learner

Similar to Dependent Learner but required more help, and produced a below average project. Scored at least a 70% or higher.

F Failure

Did not complete project; if projects were completed, they were of such low quality that they did not pass; failed to document procedures; did not show criteria for determining quality, scored less than 70% on knowledge tests; produced a poor portfolio or not at all.

Student Evaluation

Students will be evaluated as follows:

Evaluation Criteria Method of Education Points

Daily Participation Personal development, 30 %

Participation & behavior

Projects Design, written plan of 30 %

Procedures, quality of

Product, work ethic

Performance Competence of academics, 10 %

Performance and safety

Tests Tests/Quizzes 16 %

Final Examination Comprehensive, objective 14%

And practical exam