Authors, Illustrators, & AITC: Stacy Innerst
Join illustrator Stacy Innerst for an engaging author event highlighting My Word, Lincoln Clears a Path, and Thomas Jefferson Grows a Nation, connecting history, agriculture, and storytelling.
Agriculture in the Holidays
Tis the season! Happy Holidays! With December upon us, it's time to celebrate just one more thing we are all thankful for… agriculture! Check out all of these winter- and holiday-themed lessons and resources.
NEW Christmas Trees Facts for Little Reader
Check out our BRAND NEW Christmas Trees Facts for Little Readers resource, perfect for the K-1st graders in your life to learn about Christmas Tree production!
Holiday Farm Bites
Check out our "Farm Bites" related to the holidays: "Christmas Trees," "Pecans," and "Maple" (in honor of Buddy the Elf's four main food groups). Learn about these commodities, how they're grown in Illinois, and even hear from real Illinois farm families.
Recommended Reading
Christmas Reads
"Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree" by Robert Barry
"Christmas Farm" by Mary Lyn Ray
"Christmas Day in the Morning" by Pearl S. Buck
"Pick a Pine Tree" by Patricia Toht
"Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree" by David Rubel
"Zetta the Poinsettia" by Alma Hammond
"The Legend of the Poinsettia" by Tomie dePaola
Winter Reads
"This Very Tree" by Sean Rubin
"Sleep Tight Farm" by Eugenie Doyl
"Zee Grows a Tree" by Elizabeth Rusch
"It's Winter! (Celebrate the Seasons!)" by Linda Glaser
"Over and Under the Snow" by Kate Messner
"Barn at Night" by Michelle Houts
Author Interview
Watch this brief interview with the author of "Pick a Pine Tree," Patricia Toht. This is one of Illinois Ag in the Classroom's favorite evergreen tree books! Check it out to hear about her holiday traditions, upcoming books, and more!
Poinsettia Lessons
What flower comes to your mind around the winter holidays? Here at IAITC that flower is a poinsettia! We have two poinsettia-themed lessons that have the perfect ag and science connections. In "pH Poinsettia," students will use a poinsettia as an indicator to test the pH of various products that can be found around the house. With "Paper Poinsettia," students will have a hands-on craft that allows students to learn about the parts of a poinsettia.
Evergreen Tree Lessons
The staple of most celebrating houses during the Christmas season is a tree. Check out these lessons that dive deeper in conifer trees (or Evergreens) to learn about the science behind them.
How to Grow a Christmas Tree
Watch this interview with Brian Helmig, a Christmas tree grower from McLean County, Illinois to learn more about how Helmig Tree Farm grows their trees!
Still looking for the perfect gift?
Check out more of our 'ag-accurate' book recommendations to keep your students' interest sparked all year long!
Authors & AITC: Michelle Schaub
What a fun way to learn about pumpkins and pollinators! Check out Michelle Schaub's new book "Pumpkin Smash" and already smash hit, "A Pathway for Pollinators." Enjoy ag accurate connections and lessons to use in your classroom!
2026 Teacher of the Year: Erikka Coletta
Congrats to Erikka Coletta, the 2026 IAITC Teacher of the Year!