Contextualizing Science Learning through Agricultural Free-Choice Learning Opportunities in Your Backyard

Overview & Synopsis

Contextualizing science and STEM learning through agriculture can bring both science and agriculture to new audiences, and improve understanding of both fields. Such agriscience education benefits from informal education resources to support classroom work, but teachers may struggle to locate cost-effective free-choice learning resources in their area. This case study categorizes the various agriscience nonformal education resources that Gainesville, Florida, has to offer within the city limits and open to the general public. We found destinations and events through web searches, brochures, and ideas from local residents. Using constant comparative methods, we categorized 90 resources in 11 categories. While our study took place in a well-resourced part of the world, many resources we identified could exist with minimal infrastructure. This categorization will serve as a guide for teachers looking for local field trip destinations and informal agriscience education resources and for researchers interested in the spectrum of informal agricultural education or science education resources in their area.