1. Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) A well planned, supervised project, based on an agricultural principle, designed to provide for the application of concepts learned in class (hands on), to improve the literacy and skills and abilities required for a future career.

2. The project will be well planned and supervised All students will write a proposal for the SAE project. (handout) The project will be supervised by the teacher or, in the case of a work based learning experience, the onsite supervisor. 2

3. The project will be based on a natural resource and conservation category Soil Land use Agriculture Water Fish and wildlife Includes uncultivated plants Forest Energy Minerals Recreational 3

4. and designed to apply the concepts learned in class KEY CONCEPTS Preservation – An attempt to prevent the use of a natural resource – Aim is to “preserve” or keep it intact as it is or was Conservation – An attempt to use a natural resource in a way to minimize its use or waste – Aim is to maintain the resource in as good of condition as possible Carrying Capacity – The ability of an ecosystem to provide food and shelter for a given population

5. Food Web – A group of plants and/ or animals – related to each other by the fact that one feeds or depends for food on the next Management and Policy – economic, social and environmental factors Systems thinking – Interconnectedness – The whole versus parts

6. Students will select a project type based on level of classroom experience YEAR ONE (Natural Resources & Conservation) Exploration Research – non-experimental Communications YEAR TWO (Advanced Natural Resources & Conservation) Research Communications Production YEAR TWO OR THREE (Advanced Natural Resources & Conservation or NRC Special Projects) Research - experimental Placement Entrepreneurship 6

7. Students will improve the literacy and skills and abilities required for a future career This part is on your proposal and included in the final project Objective: This is the purpose of your project, which is usually either to answer a question or to test a hypothesis. Your project may also involve practicing or learning new technical skills. Materials: This section lists all the equipment needed to complete the investigation or set up your project. Procedure: These are the step-by-step instructions for doing the investigation or project. Learning Objectives: Answers these questions - What do you hope to learn from this project? What skills will you practice or learn? 7

8. This part is ongoing and included in the final project This part will be checked for a semester grade Data/Observations: Record all the information you collect and all the observations you make here. This is done each time you work on your project, and are recorded in your journal or on theaet.com LOG OF HOURS AND EXPENSES: you will record all hours spent on the project, with a description of the work done and the expenses incurred. Discussion: This is where you summarize the outcome of your project. Explain your results and observations, and describe what you think your data shows. Use your data and observations to make inferences. Also report whether your learning goals were met.

9. TIMELINEProposal DUE 10/18/2010 Semester grade check DUE 1/28/2011 Final Project DUE 5/27/2011 9