Name: Hour Date:

Date Portfolio is due: Why late? Final Score: + ✓ -

Day of Week Date If your project was late, describe why

Project Learning:
Agriscience Project/
Agriculture Pathways
Exploration
Introduction
One of the main goals of an Agriculture class is to increase scientific knowledge in any agricultural subject. The skills
gained by using the scientific method can be used in many classes and can be used in every day life.

You will select one of the AFNR (Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources) Pathways to research, experience,
experiment, and report on by the end of the semester. Some of you are in this class for the entire year, and your project
can cover the entire year, if you wish. You will be expected to put in a full school year’s worth of work for it.

Part of this project you will be expected to work on during regular school hours. This includes initial research, forming of
a hypothesis or question, study of existing research on your hypothesis, and even partial experimentation. In addition,
you will be expected to work on your Agriscience experiment for at least 25 hours outside of scheduled classroom time.

No matter how you choose to do this assignment, you will be required to make a presentation to Mr. Bierbrauer, your
fellow classmates, the school administration, and also the Bangor School Board, if time permits.

So, what is the purpose of this assignment? First of all, you are in this class because you want to learn more about the
scope of Agriculture, how it affects you, and how you can be a part of it. The purpose of this assignment is for you to
experience new things, to learn new things and gain new experiences. You might have a question to ask that requires
and experiment to answer. This is a project learning class, you will be expected to find your own motivation and research
the answers to your own questions.

If the 25-hour requirement is not feasible, you also have the option of completing a paper as an alternative. The paper
should be a minimum of 10 pages (typed, double spaced, 12pt font) and include 5 sources (1 source from the suggested
source list) and a works cited page. More details can be provided by your instructor if asked.

Complete the questions below use full sentences. Be prepared to discuss in class. Score: + ✓ -

1. In one sentence, summarize what this assignment will entail:

2. What is the purpose of this assignment? Why are you expected to do it?

3. What parts of this project will be completed during regular class hours?

4. What parts of this project will be completed outside of regular class time?
 5. What if you do not have 15 hours outside of regular class hours available? What other options do you have?

How do you feel about this project? Circle one: Excited Anxious Annoyed Other

Why?

Project Schedule & Deadlines

This completed packet will be due before your final exam. In the meantime, a deadline will be issued for each individual
“No matter how smart you are, educated people will think you’re a moron if
component of your portfolio to keep you on tasks. Smaller grades may be assigned to each individual component (this is
your grammar
your instructor’s choice)isbut
lacking.” – Scott
your final Adams,
Agriscience creator
project willofbeDilbert.
worth the majority of your total grade, or the same
total value as your final exam.

On top of the project you are planning on doing, you will also be expected to turn in weekly updates on how your
project/ job shadow/ experiment is proceeding. These will need to be submitted through Google Classroom, be a
minimum of one paragraph long, and be free of spelling and grammar mistakes.

This may be good news or bad news. It is bad news if you don’t intend to take this seriously. If you choose to do nothing
in the work time that I have given you in class, you will receive a failing grade for this class. You must work and show
proof of your work. If any student consistently fails to turn in assignments by the deadline, including the weekly reports,
they will be asked to leave the class and stop impacting the learning of others.

For your work, you can only get one of three grades:

+ = exceeded expectations. ✓= expectations were met but not exceeded. - = redo assignment

Typically a + gets a 100%, a ✓ gets an 80%, and a – gets a 0% until the project is re-done.

Check with you instructor and complete each of the following below. Score: + ✓ -

1. When is your pathway report due?

2. When is your initial hypothesis due?

3. When are you weekly reports due?

4. When is your previous research report due?

5. When is your revised hypothesis due?

6. When is your experiment proposal/ abstract due?

7. When is your experiment log book due?

8. When are your experimental findings due? _________________________

 9. When are your experimental extension ideas due? ________________________

10. When will you be presenting your work to your instructor and/or the class?

11. In order to get a 100% on each component and on the final project, what do you need to do?

Hint: the answer can be found in the information above.

In order to avoid having to re-do any part of this project, what do you need to do?

_____

AFNR Agriculture Education Pathways

There are 8 different AFNR Pathways, which we have already covered at the beginning of this class. They are listed as
follows:
- Agriculture Business
- Biotechnology
- Food Production and Processing
- Plant Systems
- Animal Systems
- Environmental Service Systems
- Natural Resources
- Power, Structure, and Technical Systems

You will use the descriptions of each pathway to choose which one you would like to explore. If you would like more
information, you may look up the Wisconsin Standards for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources information on the
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website :

http://cte.dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/cte/pdf/Ag_Section_IV.pdf

Or follow the link on Google Classroom.

Answer the following questions in complete sentences where possible.

What AFNR Pathway have you chosen for your Agriscience project? ___________________________________.

Why did you choose this pathway? Answer in complete sentences and go in depth. “It looked cool.” Is not an acceptable
answer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
How do you plan on exploring this pathway? Please describe a possible experiment and/or question that you could ask
and answer while exploring this pathway.

Scientific Method
The scientific method is an organized way to investigate, acquire new knowledge, correct misinformation. In order for a
method to be considered scientific empirical evidence must be presented either proving or disproving knowledge. The
key to a successful scientific experiment is correct observation of a good experiment.

Every scientific inquiry starts with a question about a subject. This

could start with something that you have observed, such as “I
wonder why deer are more active after a storm.” Or “I wonder
what will happen if I poke this skunk with a stick.” Both of these
questions are observable and can be answered by setting up an
experiment. There are many more examples in the National FFA
Agriscience Fair booklet attached to this packet.

Doing background research is important as well. Maybe someone

before has had this question and has already conducted an
experiment and has data that you can look at and maybe answer QuickTime™ and a
decompressor

your question. Maybe the existing data has answered your

are needed to see this picture.

question, but left you with another.

A hypothesis is the outcome that you expect if you conduct an

experiment. “I think that if I poke a skunk with a stick I will get
sprayed.” It’s an if-then statement. A hypothesis can be modified
many times during an experiment when new information
becomes available.

The key part to an experiment is a variable and a control. A

variable is what you’re testing or influencing. A control is an
unchanged portion so you can compare your findings.

Complete the following questions in complete sentences

1. What are the 6 parts to the scientific method? _____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is a hypothesis?________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the 2 parts of a good scientific experiment?_______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Agriscience Fair Project Hours- Expectations

In addition to classroom work, you are expected to do at least 25 hours worth of work outside of classroom time on your
experiment. These hours will need to be documented, thoroughly , in a experiment log of your choosing. This log can
either be electronic and submitted, or it can be hand written and periodically checked by the instructor.

NOTE: be safe! Never put yourself in a situation in which your safety might be compromised. NEVER go to an isolated
place outside the school with an adult that you do not personally know well. Never conduct an experiment without the
proper safety equipment or conduct an experiment that could cause you or another person harm.

Your experiment should be a legitimate scientific experiment, based on the scientific evidence and backed up by
evidence.

Your experiment should take 25 hours to complete. This can include research (outside of class) consultation with experts
in a scientific field, natural observations, and other portions pending instructor approval.

Agriscience Fair Project components- Expectations

Refer to page 13 of the Agriscience fair handbook for the project components of you Agriscience fair project. You will be
expected to complete ALL portions of the Agriscience fair project component to receive credit. The following is the
grading rubric for the final project report. In addition, students will be graded on weekly written updates, submitted
through google classroom, and period presentations throughout the semester.

Area Total Points Exceeded Met but did not Did not meet Points Earned
Possible expectations exceed expectations
expectations

Log Book The log book The log book is The log book is
accurately somewhat severely
documents all complete and incomplete
time spent shows that not all
working on the 25 hours were
Agriscience fair met
 project.

Title page Precisely Title vaguely Title poorly

describes the describes the work describes the work
with no more than and includes more
work with no
3 lines and 15 than 3 lines and 15
more than 3 lines words maximum. words maximum.
and 15 words All numbers, All numbers,
maximum. Page chemical elements chemical elements
includes and compounds and compounds are
Agriscience fair should be spelled not spelled out.
out. Page should Page should include
category and
include student student name,
division, student name, grade, grade, school and
name, grade, school and school school address.
school and school address. Minor Excessive spelling
address. No spelling or or grammar er-rors
spelling or grammar errors are are present.
present.
grammar errors.

Abstract Abstract is brief and Abstract describes Abstract is poorly

concisely describes the purpose, describes the
the purpose, methods, results purpose, methods,
methods, results and conclusion. results and
and conclusion. Abstract does not conclusion.
Abstract does not include title or Abstract includes
include title or cited references. title or cited
cited references. Abstract is longer references.
Abstract is no than one page. Abstract is longer
longer than one Arrangement than one page.
page. Arrangement makes the purpose, Arrangement
makes the purpose, procedure and makes the purpose,
procedure and conclusion vague. procedure and
conclusion clear. No Minor spelling or conclusion are not
spelling or grammar errors are clear. Excessive
grammar errors are present. spelling or
present grammar errors are
present.

Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction does

answers the answers the not answers the
question "Why was question "Why was question "Why was
the work done?" the work done?" the work done?"
and clearly states and vaguely states and does not states
the problem that the problem that the problem that
justifies the justifies the justifies the
research be-ing research be-ing research be-ing
conducted, purpose conducted, purpose conducted, purpose
of research, of research, of research,
findings of earli-er findings of earlier findings of earlier
work, general ap- work, general ap- work, general ap-
proach and proach and proach and
objectives. No objectives. Minor objectives.
spelling or spelling or gram- Excessive spelling
grammar er-rors mar errors are or grammar errors
are present. present. are pre-
Literature Review The review details The review poorly The review
what information de-tails what doesn’t de-tail
cur-rently exists information what information
concerning the currently exists currently exists
research project. con-cerning the con-cerning the
The information research project. research project.
listed are The infor-mation There is no
materials used in listed may or may information listed
the research and not be materials or it does no
mate-rial cited used in the reference ma-
include arti-cles research. Some terials used in the
about similar materials cited re-search. No
stud-ies, similar include articles information cited
research about similar includes articles
methods, history studies, similar about similar
of the research research studies, similar
area and oth-er methods, his-tory research meth-
items that of the research ods, history of the
support the area. How the re-search area.
current project might How the project
knowledge base complement ex- might
for the topic and isting information complement
how the project is not clear. existing
might information is not
complement
existing
information.

Methods and Clearly written to Not written Written poorly so

Materials ena-ble others to clearly to enable that others
repro-duce the others to repro- cannot repro-
results dupli- duce the results duce the results
cating the study. dupli-cating the dupli-cating the
Sec-tion is written study. Sec-tion study. Sec-tion is
in third person, may or may not not written in
encompasses all be written in third third person,
materials person, does not
required and encompasses all encompasses all
state the mate-rials mate-rials
hypothe-sis. If required and required for the
used, the statisti- state the research and the
cal procedure is hypothesis. The hy-pothesis is not
includ-ed. No statistical stated. The
spelling or procedure are statistical proce-
grammar errors included but are dure are not
are present. unclear. Minor included.
spelling or Excessive spelling
grammar errors or grammar
are present. errors are
present.
Results Results of the Results of the Results of the
project are project are project are poorly
summarized. incompletely summarized.
Trends and sum-marized. Trends and
relation-ships are Trends and relation-ships are
clearly ad- relationships are not ad-dressed.
dressed. No vague. No Data that is not
conclu-sions are conclusions are appropriately in-
made in this made in this sec- cluded as tables
section. Data that tion. Data that and figures and
can stand alone in can stand alone in lacks head-ing,
the form of tables the form of tables labels and proper
and/or figures are and/or figures are use of
included. sometimes measurement.
Tables/figures includ-ed. Captions are not
should have Tables/figures in-cluded for each
headings, labels should have table/figure.
and proper use of headings, labels Excessive spelling
measure-ment. and proper use of or grammar
Captions are in- measurement. errors are present
cluded for each Cap-tions are
table/figure and included for each
are at least 2 font table/figure and
sizes smaller than are at least 2 font
font in sizes smaller than
table/figure and font in
are single spaced. table/figure and
No spelling or are single spaced.
grammar errors Minor spelling or
are present grammar

Discussion and Conclusions are Conclusions are Conclusions are

Conclusion clearly drawn un-clearly drawn not drawn
directly from the directly from the directly from the
results of the results of the results of the
study and relate study and study and do not
directly to the partially re-late relate di-rectly to
hypothesis. Brief directly to the hy- the hypothe-sis.
recap of the pothesis. Brief No recap of the
results is included recap of the results is included
and shown how results is included or poorly shows
they were and shown how how they were
founda-tion of they were foundation for
the study. Sound foundation of the the study.
reasoning is study. Unsound Conclusions are
shown that rea-soning is not based on re-
conclusions are shown that sults or literature.
based on results conclusions are Dis-cussion
and literature. based on results poorly refers to
Discus-sion refers and litera-ture. the facts and
 to facts and Discussion refers figures in the
figures in the to facts and results section.
results section. figures in the Ex-cessive
No spelling or results section. spelling or
grammar errors Mi-nor spelling or grammar errors
are present. gram-mar errors are present.
are present.

References References listed References listed References listed

are significant, are somewhat are not
published and significant, significant, pub-
relevant sources. published and lished and
APA citation style relevant sources. relevant sources.
is used. No APA citation style APA citation style
spelling or is used. Minor is not used.
grammar errors spelling or Exces-sive
are present. grammar errors spelling or gram-
are present. mar errors are
present

Pictures/Display The project The project The project

display follows display follows display does not
the guidelines most of the follow most of
found on page guidelines found the guidelines
14 of the on page 14 of found on page
National FFA the National FFA 14 of the
Agriscience Fair Agriscience Fair National FFA
Handbook. Handbook. Agriscience Fair
Display is Some spelling Handbook.
organized, and grammar Many spelling
shows results errors may be and grammar
and pictures of present. errors are
experiment, and present.
is free of
spelling and
grammar errors.

Hypothesis
Use this worksheet as your initial hypothesis-planning guide. Answer all questions in complete sentences.

What AFNR pathway have you chosen to explore?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

For this question, take some time: In industries and jobs involved with this pathway, are there any improvements that
can be made? Is there a question about this pathway that you want answered, or can answer, with a scientific
experiment? Write down as many questions that you can think of. You may attach a separate piece of paper if you need
to.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the following space, write 3 potential hypotheses that would apply to the above question. Remember, hypothesis are
‘if ________ happens, then __________ will happen.’.

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Previous Research
Use this sheet as a guide. Your actual report will need to be typed and turned in via Google Classroom.
Original ideas are hard to come by. Most likely, someone has done an experiment just like yours before and has posted
their findings in a scholarly journal.

Assignment- Must find 5 sources of information that are relevant to your experiment. These sources must be
documented and cited in APA citation style. After each citation, you must write a one-paragraph summary of the source.

For example, lets say that my question is “I wonder which time of lawn will absorb the most CO2 from the
atmosphere?” And my hypothesis is “If I plant Kentucky bluegrass, then my lawn will absorb at least the amount of CO2
produced by my lawnmower.”

I find an article online from the Unites State Golf Association and properly cite the source.

Patton, A., Trappe, J., Law, Q., & Turco, R. (2015). Examining Turfgrass Species and Management Regimes for
Enhanced Carbon Sequestration. Retrieved August 19, 2015, from http://usgatero.msu.edu/v14/n1-3.pdf

I write a one paragraph summary on it.

“This study was put on by the United State Golf Association examining carbon sequestration of 5
different turfgrasses….”

I find at least four more sources and do the same thing.

Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

Before researching, what was your hypothesis?: ___________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

After researching, did you find a reason to change your hypothesis? Yes or No. ____________

If yes, what is your new hypothesis? ____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Abstract
An abstract is a brief summary of your project, which concisely describes your purpose, methods, results and conclusion.
Your abstract may include potential research applications or future research. It should be no longer than one page and in
paragraph form. Because this is the first page of your project report, it will be where the reader forms an opinion on your
work. In your abstract, arrange your points as 1) Purpose, 2) Procedure, 3) Conclusion. These sections would include
materials used, effects of major treatments and main conclusions. Do not include discussion, citations and footnotes, or
references to tables and figures or methods.

Please follow the format above to create your abstract. In your abstract you should also state your hypothesis. This is the
portion of the project where you get to describe your project, how you got the idea for your hypothesis, the struggles
and challenges to create and implement it, and your findings after your experiment. You can also include a section that
describes how you might create an extension on your project to perform a new science experiment.

In your abstract include the following:

- The background information of your experiment (how you came up with the idea)

- The reason why you are performing this experiment

- How you performed your experiment (materials, times, description of the experiment, etc.)

- Conclusions (what did you learn from your experiment)

- The abstract should be no longer than one page, 12 point font, double spaced.

Findings and Extensions

This section should include the results of your experiment. This can be presented in any way that would best show the
data of the project. This could be a written report, charts, Excel spreadsheet, or anything else that could accurately show
your experiment findings. You report must show all of your findings, even it’s not what you thought you were going to
get.
After presenting your findings draw conclusions of what you think your data means. For example, if you experimented
with different lures while fishing for Bluegills, present your data on the fish caught then explain why you think you got
the numbers that you did. BE SPECIFIC in this section.

After you present your findings and draw conclusions from them, speculate on how you could do an extension on your
experiment. How could you change this experiment, or continue with it, to find new or more information. This section
should be at least a half page long, 12 point font, double spaced.

QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.