Students will soon get a hands-on farm experience in the classroom with NSW Farmers set to launch Ag Packs as part of the popular Kids to Farms Program.
The program, which is funded by the NSW Nationals in the federal government, aims to give every child in NSW two educational interactions with the agricultural sector before they are 12.
NSW Farmers has partnered with producers across the state to provide a range of farm experiences for primary-school aged students, and now the paddock is coming into the classroom.
“We know that 59 per cent of students learn what they know about food and fibre production from their teachers,” NSW Farmers President James Jackson said.
“We cannot underestimate the importance of our primary teachers in supporting our kids to engage with the agricultural industry.”
The Ag Packs are available for free to all NSW Primary schools and contain everything needed to run several experiments or activities, including pots, seeds, and soil samples. All ages are catered for with different levels of difficulty. Each pack is curriculum-linked and comes with student workbooks and a teacher guide.
The Kids to Farms initiative provides a critical awareness-raising opportunity and adds to the broader industry engagement opportunities, such as with Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia, in expanding access to and interest in further study in high schools.
“With agriculture part of the NSW Curriculum, we’re happy to help teachers provide a hands-on, interactive experience of Australia’s food and fibre production,” James Jackson said.
“Whether a child is in the middle of Sydney or up on the far north coast, they will be able to get a hands-on look at how farmers feed and clothe the nation.”
The Ag Packs can be ordered now by visiting kidstofarms.com.au/ag-packs
