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Articles & INSIGHTS



Garlic: From Ancient Roots to Alberta Agriculture (and Keeping Vampires Away)
Few plants have a story as rich—and as flavourful—as garlic. Known as the “stinking rose,” garlic has been treasured for thousands of...


Sunshine, Sunscreen, and Agriculture: A Surprising Connection
What most people don’t realize is that agriculture plays a starring role in your sunscreen bottle. Many of the key ingredients that protect, nourish, and moisturize your skin are grown by farmers — including right here in Canada.


Back to School Means New Clothes — And a Story of Agriculture
For many families, the back-to-school season is marked by sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks, and of course — new clothes. But behind every cozy sweater, pair of jeans, or cotton t-shirt is a story rooted in agriculture.


Agriculture Education in Every Classroom: Why It’s Not Just for Agriculture Schools
More Than Farming When many people hear “agriculture education,” they picture tractors, barns, and rural schools. But agriculture isn’t...


Storytelling Our Way to the Farm: Top Tips for Connecting Students to Agriculture in the Classroom
A Story to Begin Imagine a student opening their lunchbox. Inside is a sandwich with Alberta beef, lettuce from a greenhouse, and a slice...


What Gen Z Food Preferences Teach Us About Canadian Agriculture
Why This Matters for the Classroom Gen Z students are shaping the future of food in Canada. Their choices—guided by sustainability,...


From Field to Salon: The Hidden Connection Between Agriculture and Cosmetology
At first glance, agriculture and cosmetology might seem worlds apart. One conjures images of fields, crops, and livestock, while the...


Red Barns: A Timeless Connection to the Land and the Classroom
There’s something about a red barn on the horizon that stops us in our tracks. Even in today’s world of steel sheds and GPS-guided...


Food Trucks: A Rolling Classroom on Wheels
When you think of a food truck, your mind probably goes to sizzling street food, colourful menus, and the excitement of trying something...


What the Nanaimo Bar Can Teach Us About Agriculture
Few desserts are as uniquely Canadian as the Nanaimo Bar — a no-bake treat made of three distinct layers: a crumbly base of chocolate,...


Food Offerings in Ancient Times: Honouring Gods and Ancestors
From the dawn of human civilization, food has been more than nourishment. It has been a symbol of gratitude, reverence, and connection...


From Harvest Feasts to Summer Outings: The History of Picnics and Their Roots in Agriculture
Picnics are more than just eating outdoors — they are a celebration of food, land, and community. From their origins in Europe to their...


The History of Blueberries: From Wild Berries to Global Superfruit
Blueberries may be a staple in muffins, smoothies, and breakfast bowls today, but their story stretches back thousands of years. These...


A Look Back: Farming in Alberta, 1957
We recently uncovered a gem from Alberta’s agricultural past—a 1957 booklet titled Farming in Alberta. This little piece of history...


Seed Necklace Experiment
Germination is the first stage of plant growth, where the seed sprouts through the seed coat. For this to happen, seeds need certain...


Teaching Agriculture This Semester? Don’t Worry—We’ve Got You!
The semester is here, the lesson plans are piling up, and your to-do list already feels longer than harvest season. If you’ve been tasked...


Growing Deeper Learning: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy in Agriculture Education
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a framework that organizes learning into six levels, from foundational recall to higher-order thinking skills. In agriculture education, using these levels can help you scaffold lessons, guide questioning, and design activities that move students from knowing about agriculture to doing something with that knowledge.


Back to School Farm Fun Ice Breakers
Ice breakers can be a fun way to engage students and get them excited about learning, especially if the theme is related to farming. Here...


Why Alberta Leads Canada in Potato Production
Did you know that potatoes are Alberta’s largest vegetable crop? These humble tubers are more than just a dinner table staple—they’re an...


Grazing Lands in Alberta: A Vital Part of Our Agricultural Landscape
When you think of Alberta, vast prairies and open grasslands often come to mind. These landscapes are more than just beautiful—they play...


What’s in the Field? A Closer Look at Alberta’s Crops — and Why They Matter
Every time you drive past a field in Alberta, you’re passing by more than just plants in the ground. You’re seeing the start of your food...


Blended Learning: Bringing Agriculture To Life!
When applied to agriculture, blended learning offers an exciting opportunity to make lessons more engaging, relevant, and hands-on for students of all ages.


Summer is the Perfect Time for Ice Cream – and to Learn Where It Comes From!
Nothing says summer quite like a scoop of ice cream on a hot day. But have you ever stopped to think about how that creamy treat makes its way from the farm to your cone? Behind every delicious bite is a fascinating process that connects Alberta’s dairy farms, local creameries, and the people who love creating something sweet.


Summer: The Perfect Season to Taste, Explore, and Connect Farm to Fork
Summer: The Perfect Season to Taste, Explore, and Connect Farm to Fork.


What Is Agriculture?
Growing More Than Food: The Foundation of Our Lives When you hear the word agriculture , what comes to mind? Rows of crops stretching...


Core Ideas That Grow Into Curiosity: Teaching Through Agriculture
Every great question starts with a core idea — a spark that lights the path to discovery. In today’s digital world, where students are...


Summer Road Trip Ag Bingo
Turn your Alberta road trip into a fun learning experience about agriculture! Our bingo sheet adds a twist to your journey. Spot cows,...


Curiosity Gardens: Growing Wonder, One Question at a Time
Not all classrooms have soil or sunlight. But every classroom can grow something powerful — curiosity. Welcome to the idea of Curiosity...


Soil Your Lessons: Why the Best Classrooms Get a Little Dirty
Let’s face it — the best learning doesn’t always happen inside the lines. Sometimes, it takes root in the mess, the questions, and the...


Backgrounder: What Is Sustainable Agriculture?
A Teacher’s Guide to a Big Idea That’s Shaping the Future What It Means: Sustainable agriculture is a way of farming that meets our needs...


Growing the Future: Why Ag Careers Matter for the Next Generation
What if the future of agriculture isn’t in the fields—but in the hands of curious young minds? From drones in the sky to data in the...


🐝 Pollinators at Work: Why Bees, Butterflies, and Beetles Matter More Than You Think
When most of us think about farming, we picture tractors, fields, and harvest. But there’s another kind of worker making it all possible...


From 10 Days to a Lifetime: Turning Stampede Spirit into Year-Round Agricultural Learning
Photo Credit: Calgary Stampede Photo Credit: Calgary Stampede Every July, Calgary comes alive with the energy, excitement, and traditions...


Farm Fun Bingo
Every day is a great day to celebrate agriculture, the food we love and the people who produce it! Join in the fun with a game of BINGO....


Food for Thought: How Agriculture Education Builds Critical Thinking and Digital Literacy
Today’s students are growing up in an information-saturated world. Every day, they scroll past headlines, marketing claims, and viral...


Teaching Climate Action That Matters: Why Agriculture is the Missing Link
Sustainability. Climate change. Carbon footprints. These topics are top of mind for educators and students alike — and for good reason....


Right Outside the Door: How Agriculture Education Supports Place-Based Learning
In a world filled with screens and fast-paced information, students need more than just knowledge — they need connection. That’s why...


Soak Up Summer Break, Prep for Fall: 5 Easy Ways to Bring Ag into Your Classroom
Summer break is here for Alberta Teachers— and you’ve earned every minute of rest, reset, and sunshine. But we also know that for many...


Growing Futures: How Agriculture Education Builds Career Connections in the Classroom
What do drone pilots, food scientists, climate analysts, animal health technicians, and agri marketers have in common? They’re all part...


Planting Wellness: The Role of Agriculture Education in Supporting Youth Mental Health
Mental health is an essential part of student well-being — just as important as physical health or academic success. As educators, we’re...


Growing Deeper Learning in Your Classroom: How Agriculture Education Enhances eLearning
In today’s digital world, learning can happen anywhere — on a screen, in a classroom, or in a field. But in a sea of online content and...


AI in Agriculture Education: A Tool, Not a Replacement
Empowering teachers. Enhancing student learning. At Ag for Life, our mission is clear: to support teachers and bring agriculture to life...


Alberta Seasonal Fruit & Vegetable Charts
From juicy berries to crisp veggies, our Alberta Seasonal Fruit & Vegetable Charts show you what’s in season and when! Download them...


Bee-lieve It or Not! 10 Sweet Facts About Honey Bees.
Here are 10 fun and fascinating facts about honey bees—perfect for curious kids (and adults too!): 🐝 Bees have five eyes – Two big ones...


🍅 10 Fun Facts About Tomatoes
Fun facts to test your tomato IQ: Tomatoes are actually fruits! Even though we usually eat them like vegetables, they grow from flowers...


Ag 101 Mini-Lesson: What's Grown in Alberta
Grade 7 Science Ag 101 Shorts are bite-sized video lessons that explore the basics of agriculture — from food and farming to...


Understanding the Last Frost Date and Hardening Off Seedlings
🌱 What is the last frost date? Proper timing plays an important role in moving your seedlings outside. Transplanting them too early can...
Understanding Soil
🌱 The Importance of Soil Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic materials (both dead and living organisms), air, and water. Soil is one...


Parts of a Plant
🌱 Parts of the Plant Each part of a plant has a special role in its overall function. If any part of the plant is not functioning...


Sowing Seeds of Sustainability This Earth Day
Each year on April 22, Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the planet we call home. For...
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