Teachers can learn ways to add pizzazz to their classroom strategies in math, social studies, language arts and science using agriculture as a teaching tool through Georgia Farm Bureau’s Ag In The Classroom Professional Learning Unit (PLU) course.

This fun, three-day course provides 20 contact hours and two PLU credits upon successful completion. It includes a field trip to learn about area agriculture and a variety of classroom resources for teachers to use. Instructors are GFB Ag In The Classroom Coordinator Donna Rocker and Gwen Hutcheson from the Georgia Council on Economic Education.

"We have been conducting the PLU courses in different locations around the state for several years," said Rocker. "The teachers have a great time learning about agriculture and sharing teaching ideas with fellow educators. They leave the class with a new network of friends and their teaching battery recharged."

The classes, which are targeted to teachers in grades K-8, are matched to state standards, are interdisciplinary and place particular focus on Georgia.

The course sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. each day. Two sessions are available:

• July 13-15 at the FFA/FCCLA Camp in Covington.

• July 19-21 at the GFB headquarters in Macon.

Registration cost is $39 and includes lunch each day. For more information, visit www.gfb.org/programs/aic/PLUCourses.htm. To register, contact Rocker at (800) 898-1911 (ext. 5365) or dhrocker@gfb.org.

Founded in 1937, Georgia Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization. Its volunteer members actively participate in local, district and state activities that promote agriculture awareness to their non-farming neighbors. GFB also has 20 commodity advisory committees that give the organization input on issues pertinent to the major commodities grown in Georgia.