The Nebraska Pork Producers Association and the Nebraska Soybean Board are once again offering two entertainment-based educational packages free to elementary school teachers to help increase student awareness of the importance of agriculture to the state's economy.

The teaching aids, featuring a video and a Bingo card game, were introduced to elementary teachers statewide last fall and were well received by teachers who used them in their classrooms.

Food for Thought is a 22-minute animated video that teaches students in an entertaining way how hog farming is practiced in Nebraska, says Shane Meyer, NPPA president.

Nebraska Soybean, Pork Producers Offer Educational Materials To Schools

"Learning about the economy is an important fourth-grade curriculum objective," Meyer says. "The video tells the story of a suburban fourth-grader who knows nothing about hog farming or the economics and entrepreneurship that goes into running a successful business. He comes to appreciate what is involved in a successful hog farming business after he tours a working farm and meets a real-life farmer--and his fourth-grade daughter."

Food for Thought is accompanied by a complete lesson plan and a short video filmed on a real-life Nebraska hog operation to show real day-to-day farm life. The package has been approved by the Nebraska Department of Education.

Bingo is a two-in-one card game featuring "Pork Bingo" on one side and "Soy Bingo" on the other.

"Aimed at second-through-fifth graders, Bingo is a fun way for students to learn important facts about pork production, soybean farming and how science helps us use virtually every part of the pig and the soybean without wasting anything," says Greg Greving, Nebraska Soybean Board chairman.

The game comes with a set of 25 double-faced cards, game tokens, call-out cards, 25 worksheets and a classroom poster. The worksheets feature an 18-word crossword puzzle and a matching game that teaches students about the variety of helpful products made from pigs and soybeans grown in Nebraska.

The Food for Thought and Bingo materials were well-received by teachers ordering the packages during the 2012-13 school year, Greving says.

"As a primary teacher, I am always looking for new ways to actively involve my students in the academic lessons," says Sandra Seckel, a teacher at West Park Elementary School in Columbus. "The Pork and Soy Bean Bingo activity is a wonderful way to bring the connection of agriculture in Nebraska to my students. They were highly engaged while playing and the products that contain pork and soy bean products that my students use on a daily basis were reinforced through this activity."

Year-end surveys revealed all teachers responding to the Food for Thought follow-up survey indicated that the video met their expectations, while an overwhelming percentage of teachers indicated that they made good use of the accompanying worksheet. Nearly all responding teachers said they already had used the Bingo game in their classrooms. All respondents indicated they would use the game again this year, as well. Fully 97% said the materials were grade-level appropriate.

Some teachers even reported using the game during indoor recess periods.

Teachers can order the Food for Thought package at brokawmarketing.com/food-for-thought, and the Bingo game at brokawmarketing.com/bingo. Quantities are limited, so teachers are encouraged to order immediately.

For more information, contact Karen Brokaw at 402-432-2299, or by e-mail at [email protected]