Resources
FARMtastic
FARMtastic, is an agriculture experiential learning activity hosted by the Mississippi State University Extension Service. This unique educational program is designed to involve second, third and fourth grade students in hands on learning about the agricultural industry in Mississippi.
- Applicable: Teachers and students
- Age/Grade: Grades 2-4
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Experiential agriculture activities
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Curriculum and traveling exhibit
- Cost of Curriculum: Free
- Contact Info: Ms. Julie White, Extension Associate II, Department Information, School of Human Sciences, Physical Address, 116 Lloyd-Ricks-Watson (255 Tracy Drive), Mississippi State, MS 39762
Mailing Address: PO Box 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Mail Stop: Mail Stop 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Contact Information: Phone: 662-325-8195, Fax: 662-325-8188, Email: j.white@msstate.edu
iFarm
Come to iFARM to experience the amazing world of farming in a fun and hands-on learning environment. From tractors to cows to trees to drones…we will have an exciting week that will show you just how amazing Mississippi Agriculture is. Campers will tour MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences departments, visit local farms, meet local farmers, explore agriculture careers, and participate in STEM activities all while having fun and learning about where their food and clothes come from.
- Applicable: Teachers and students
- Age/Grade: Grades 5-8
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: STEM, Career Exploration, Food, Fiber
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Camp, farm tours
- Cost of Curriculum: n/a
- Contact Info: Ms. Julie White, Extension Associate II, Department Information, School of Human Sciences
Physical Address: 116 Lloyd-Ricks-Watson (255 Tracy Drive), Mississippi State, MS 39762
Mailing Address: PO Box 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Mail Stop: Mail Stop 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Contact Information: Phone: 662-325-8195, Fax: 662-325-8188, Email: j.white@msstate.edu
Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree (PLT) professional development workshops provide comprehensive curriculum aligned with state academic standards that enables educators to use the outdoors as an extension of the classroom.
"The national PLT website provides access to the Project Learning Tree store where educators can purchase curriculum as well as access a variety of free activities. Through contacting me, educators are able to request a professional development workshop for their school or school district. Workshops are free of charge for formal educators, and all participants receive a curriculum guide consisting of 96 pre-made lesson plans and CEUs if needed." - Emma Winterhalter
- Applicable: Formal educators working in classroom settings, Preservice students training to become teachers, Natural resource professionals who want to share their knowledge effectively, Nonformal educators who work at zoos, parks, or with youth groups such as Boy Scouts, FFA, 4-H, or Envirothon
- Age/Grade: Mainly grades K-8, High school resources are availble upon request
- Standards Aligned: K-8 Environmental Education Guide aligned with MS College and Career Readiness science standards
- Subject Area/Resources: Science, biology, environmental education, STEM, agriculture
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Curriculum, workshops, variable actvivity resources, lesson plans
- Cost of Curriculum: Through attending a workshop, participants will receive PLT curriculum for free. There are also variety of free activities on the national PLT website. If educators want to receive PLT curriculum without attending a workshop, they will be charged according to which guide they want.
- Contact Info: Emma Winterhalter, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Mississippi Forestry Association, Email: ewinterhalter@msforestry.net, Phone: 601-946-5336
Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences
The museum's education team draws from their diverse backgrounds in education and research as they share the Museum's resources with visitors and through outreach efforts. For schools across the state, they distribute instructional materials and present hands-on, interactive educational programs and teacher training workshops.
- Applicable: Community, teachers, students, etc.
- Age/Grade: PreK- 12
- Standards Aligned: Mississippi K-2 Common Core Standards, Mississippi Cross-curricular K-12 state education standards
- Subject Area/Resources: Hands-on activities, natural resources, wildlife, fisheries
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Workshops, field trips, tours, resource kits, downloadable resources/curriculum, camps
- Cost of Curriculum: n/a
- Contact Info: Museum Contact: Phone: 601-432-2400, Address: 1505 Eastover Drive, Jackson MS 39211 Transparncy MS
Regional Contact: North Regional Office, Phone: 662-563-6221 or 662-563-6222, Fax: 662-563-6224, Address: PO Box 100 ENID, MS 38927, 457 CR 36 ENID, MS 38927
Central Regional Office (Turcotte Lab): Phone: 601-859-1818, 506 HWY 43 South Canton, MS 39406
South Regional Office: Phone: 601-783-2911, Fax: 601-783-2926, Address: 1201 N Clark Avenue Magnolia, MS 39652
Museum Go Wild!
The museum understands that while everyone needs to know about nature, not everyone can make it to the Museum. That's not a problem for the Museum's outreach team and partners. Through a wide range of specially designed programs, projects, and events, the Outreach Team brings the Museum to school children and adults statewide.
- Applicable: Community/Various
- Age/Grade: K-Adult
- Standards Aligned: National Science Education Content Standards and the Mississippi State Frameworks
- Subject Area/Resources: Inquiry -based programs about wildlife
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Classroom programs, presentations, live animal demonstrations
- Cost of Curriculum: n/a
- Contact Info: Regional Program Contact: Southwest: Sabrina Cummings, Conservative Educator, Email: sabrina.cummings@mmns.ms.gov, Phone: 601-576-6000
Southeest: Meaghan Huseman, Conservative Educator, Email: meaghan.huseman@mmns.ms.gov
Northwest: Jackie Henne-Kerr, Mississippi Delta Outreach Conservation Educator, Email: jackie.kerr@mmns.ms.gov, Phone: 601-576-6000
Northeast: Debora Waz, Northeast Mississippi Educational Outreach Naturalist, Email: debora.waz@mmns.ms.gov
Visit Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences - Statewide Outreach
Mississippi Forestry Commission
The Mississippi Forestry Commission offers educational workshops and public outreach programs that help educate Mississippians of all ages on best management practices, fire prevention, and forest stewardship.
- Applicable: Students, community members, etc.
- Age/Grade: Various
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Forestry management, fire prevention, forest stewardship
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Workshops, outreach, activities
- Cost of Curriculum: Free
- Contact Info: Shannon Coker, Director of Communications, 601-624-9830, Email: scoker@mfc.ms.gov
Coastal Research & Extension Center
The CREC is structured to provide education and outreach for Mississippi coastal residents regarding almost every aspect of the coastal environment - fisheries, seafood processing, aquaculture, wetland management, marine industry, recreation, economics and law.
- Applicable: Community/Various
- Age/Grade: Various
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Fisheries, seafood processing, aquaculture, wetland management, marine industry, recreation, economics and law, floral design, beef, coastal conservation, forestry, fruit and nut, MS Estuary, Nursery, horticulture, and vegetables
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Programs/Workshops
- Cost of Curriculum: n/a
- Contact Info: Phone: 228-388-4710, Fax: 228-388-1375, Mailstop: 9385, Address: 1815 Popp's Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532
Soil & Water Conservation Commission
The Misssissippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission effectively guides, promotes and demonstrates conservation, development, and protection and proper utilization of the soil, water and related resources of the state.
- Applicable: Community/Various
- Age/Grade: Various
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Soil & Water Conservation
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Programs/Workshops, field days, farm tours, assemblies, camp
- Cost of Curriculum: n/a
- Contact Info: Tel: 601.354.7645, Fax: 601.354.6628, Address: 680 Monroe Street, Suite B, Jackson, Mississippi 39202
MSU Summer Horticulture Camp
The Mississippi State University Departments of Plant and Soil Sciences and Landscape Architecture are providing an outstanding opportunity for young adults between the ages of 15 and 17. The seminar will provide high school students exposure to the many different fields of horticulture and landscape architecture and will include hands-on learning opportunities in landscape architecture, floriculture, floral design, nursery management, turf, vegetable production and fruit production.
- Applicable: High School Students
- Age/Grade: Ages 15-17
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Camp
- Cost of Curriculum: $200/per student
- Contact Info: Richard L. Harkess, Horticulture Professor, Mississippi State University, Dept. Plant and Soil Sciences, 528 Rice Hall, Box 9555, 180 Magruder Street, Mississippi State, MS 39762, TEL: 662-325-4556
MSU Conservation Camp
Mississippi State University's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the College of Forest Resources and the MSU Extension Service annually provides 3 educational and experiential summer youth camps focused on wildlife conservation, land management, and outdoor recreation. The goal of these camps is to form connections between youth and the environment and build public support for wise use of natural resources. Unlike many youth programs, these camps are grounded in educational as well as recreational activities. Research indicates this camps are successful and improving participants conservation knowledge and in recruiting participants to conservation careers and recreational users of wildlife and fish resources. Youth interact with university faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, and wildlife and fisheries professionals, enabling them to learn from experts and increase their awareness of wildlife management needs and wildlife- and fisheries-related careers.
- Applicable: Teachers and students
- Age/Grade: Camp: grades 11 & 12, Other resources: grades 3-12
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Conservation & Wildlife
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Camp, Curriculum, Professional Development/Workshops
- Cost of Curriculum: Curriculum/Resources - Free Camp - Prices vary depending on camp
- Contact Info: Leslie Burger, PhD, CWB, Assistant Extension Professor of Wildlife Science Undergraduate Coordinator, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Address: Box 9690, Mississippi State, MS 39762, Email: Leslie.Burger@msstate.edu, Phone: 662.325.6686
Wood Magic Science Fair
The Wood Magic Science Fair™ (WMSF) is an exciting and innovative program aimed specifically at elementary school students. It seeks to educate students about the tremendous importance of wood and wood products to each of us individually and to the economy of the nation. The WMSF is an attempt to change some of the common misconceptions concerning the depletion of trees and to improve the visibility of the forest products industries and emphasize their status as environmental conservators. The WMSF originated at the Forest Products Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University and is beginning to spread to other states.
Our program was initiated in response to the common misconceptions that many students have about the use of forest resources. Students are taught that wood is renewable, recyclable, biodegradable, and durable, and that we are currently growing more trees today in the United States than ever before. They participate in hands-on experiments such as making plywood and paper, and testing the strength of wood. Since its inception, the Wood Magic program has been presented to over 80,000 participants and requests for the program continue to increase.
- Applicable: Students/community
- Age/Grade: Grades: 3-4
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: This program covers most facets of the forest products industries in Mississippi such as lumber, plywood, particleboard, pulp and paper process, house film, daily wood products, chemistry of wood, strength of wood, termites, wood anatomy, SmartThumper IPhone App, tree identification (Dendrology), etc.
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Science Fair
- Cost of Curriculum: Various prices please contact.
- Contact Info: Edward D. Entsminger, Research Associate II, Certified Associate Wildlife Biologist (AWB®), Certified Associate Fisheries Professional (FP-A), Certified Wetland Professional In Training (WPIT), Department of Sustainable Bioproducts (DSB), Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762-9820, Office Phone (662) 325-4028, Cell Phone (937) 260-1378
Mississippi Blues Trail Curriculum
The Mississippi Blues Trail attracts blues fans from around the globe who are seeking a deeper understanding of the musical style that lies at the base of so many other forms of music. By drawing upon the tremendous amount of content on the individual markers, the Mississippi Blues Trail Curriculum project brings the blues to the classroom, where today’s youth can learn more about this original art form as well as of the experiences of the men and women behind the music.
The curriculum is based in an arts-integrated approach to learning. It is divided into six core areas: Music, Meaning, Cotton, Transportation, Civil Rights and Media. Three lesson plans are included for each core area, totaling 18 lessons. Ideally, a teacher will use the curriculum as a semester-long project (4 months), sharing one lesson per week. However, the curriculum is written so that lessons can be taught individually.
- Applicable: Students
- Age/Grade: Grades: 4-12
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Music, Meaning, Cotton, Transportation, Civil Rights and Media
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Curriculum
- Cost of Curriculum: Free
- Contact Info: 455 N. Lamar Street, Suite 2A, Jackson, MS 39202, Phone: (601) 359-6030, Fax: (601) 359-6008
Mississippi Bug Blues
Mississippi Bug Blues is an educational outreach program dedicated to teaching the residents of Mississippi about native insects, invasive insects, biodiversity, the environment, conservation, and much more about the natural world. MS Bug Blues operates primarily virtually for the foreseeable future. Connect with MS Bug Blues on social media for updates on virtual camps, workshops, and other opportunities.
- Applicable: General public, students
- Age/Grade: All grades, emphasis on grades 3-5
- Standards Aligned: n/a
- Subject Area/Resources: Invasive species impact (including agricultural and economic), native ecosystems, and most things insects!
- Type (Curriculum, camp, virtual tour, etc.): Educational videos, curriculum
- Cost of Curriculum: Free
- Contact Info: Beverly Keasler, Coordinator, BCHEPP, Email: bkm105@msstate.edu, Phone: 662-325-2085, Dr. JoVonn Hill, Assistant Research Professor, Email: jgh4@entomology.msstate.edu, Phone: 662-325-2988