Agriscience is an introductory laboratory science course that prepares students for biology, subsequent science and agriculture courses, and postsecondary study.
Course Standards
Agriscience Investigation and Overview
1) Synthesize research on the historical importance and purpose of agriculture and agriculture
organizations, identifying major events, opportunities and technological developments
influenced by agriscience theories and practices.
2) Identify and review general common laboratory safety procedures including but not limited to
prevention and control procedures in agriscience laboratories. Incorporate safety procedures
and complete safety test with 100 percent accuracy.
Agriculture and Society
3) Gather and analyze information from multiple authoritative sources, such as the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Agriculture website and Tennessee
labor data, to summarize the economic impact of the agricultural industry. Describe major
career trends in Tennessee, the United States, and worldwide.
4) Determine how a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program functions as a method to
apply concepts of the scientific investigation process (i.e. conducting an Agriscience Fair
project). Compare and contrast the types of SAEs as related to their importance to the scientific
investigation process.
5) Conduct a research project or literature review exploring a specific social and/or political impact
on the agriculture industry at the local, state, national, or international level. For example,
explore how the increase in availability of genetically modified organisms has impacted crop
production and the green movement. Summarize findings in an informative essay. Revise, edit
or rewrite as needed to strengthen writing.
Fundamentals of Environmental Systems
6) Describe the biogeochemical cycles impacting the agriculture industry by creating illustrative
models and informative texts for the following:
a. Carbon cycle
b. Nitrogen cycle
c. Oxygen cycle
d. Water cycle
7) Critique the dynamics of biomass and energy flow in ecosystems by analyzing the major
components of a food chain. Analyze the structure of the relationships among the concepts of
carrying capacity, species populations, and organism interactions within multiple ecosystems
and natural habitats.
8) Produce an informative essay to distinguish between types of pollution and their sources,
defining and applying ecology- and conservation-specific terminology. Compare and contrast
important connections between pollution and its effects on environmental conditions (i.e.
water, soil and air), animal populations, and plant populations.
Fundamentals of Cell Biology
9) Compare basic plant and animal cell biology, including structure and function. Create a visual
representation that identifies cellular organelles and major cell processes.
10) Compare and contrast the roles of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids as they
relate to cell growth and cell reproduction.
Fundamentals of Genetics and Heredity
11) Determine the significance of and relationships between genes, chromosomes, proteins, and
hereditary traits. Analyze the role of genes in determining genetic make-up, gender, and
hereditary characteristics. Using systems of equations, explain the variation and distribution of
genotypes and phenotypes expressed in plants and animals.
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology
12) Using graphic illustrations and supporting text, identify and describe major animal body systems
(skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, and reproductive) to
establish a basic knowledge of their purpose, structure, and function.
Chemistry of Animal Digestion
13) Classify the types of digestive systems in domestic animals, and compare and contrast their
anatomical and physiological differences. Synthesize research on animal nutrition (using
academic journals or publications from Tennessee Extension Service) to produce an informative
narrative, including defining and applying nutrition specific terminology, to examine the stages
of digestion and associated processes.
14) Use the periodic table and the atomic chart to compare differences between ionic and covalent
bonding as related to digestion. Demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of the
complex chemical and biological processes involved in the digestion process including, but not
limited to, the following: elements, compounds, mixtures, and acids.
15) Research the relationship between metabolism, energy, and nutrition. Evaluate life stage and
activity level to determine the nutritional needs of animals. Differentiate types of rations to
maximize animal performance.
Fundamentals of Plant and Soil Science
16) Apply concepts related to the basic cellular and biochemical processes in plants to demonstrate
the following:
a. Create a graphic illustration of the parts and functions of plant cells
b. Use quantitative reasoning to balance chemical equations related to plant processes
c. Interpret the role of physics within the cohesion-tension theory and its significance to
d. Examine the roles of photopigments and the effects of different colors of light on plant
17) Formulate a hypothesis about the correlation between plant nutrient deficiencies and soil
composition. Conduct basic soil analysis to determine the chemical elements and nutritional
levels available in soils essential for plant growth. Draw conclusions about the ability of soils to
meet the nutritional requirements of plants.
Reproductive Systems
18) Research and develop illustrative models that compare and contrast the reproductive structures
of plants, drawing out key differences between sexual and asexual reproduction processes.
19) Describe the structure and function of different seed components and summarize their roles in
plant reproduction and propagation.
20) Describe the structures and functions of the male and female animal reproductive systems.
Compare and contrast the differences of the reproductive systems between small and large
animal species.
Principles of Power and Energy
21) Apply fundamental principles of physics as they relate to agricultural power and technology
concepts in order to demonstrate the following:
a. Analyze the relationship between speed, distance, and time
b. Relate the types of simple machines to the law of machines and mechanical advantages
c. Specify groups, sources, and forms of energy
d. Analyze the principle of heat energy and describe the way heat travels
e. Explain the law of conservation of energy
f. Explain the production of energy and relate it to the invisible light spectrum
Fundamentals of Electricity
22) Identify different methods by which electrical energy can be produced. Discuss the safety
hazards involved in each method as well as prevention and control methods relevant to
electrical power supplies. Justify the use of different precautions for the prevention or
management of electrical hazards and evaluate the efficacy of the prevention measures.
23) Utilize the appropriate instruments needed to calculate and measure voltage, amperage,
resistance, and wattage.
Fundamentals of Engines
24) Apply basic principles of thermodynamics to analyze the function of major components of
gasoline and diesel fuel engines.
25) Using quantitative reasoning and employing appropriate unit conversions, calculate horsepower
and thermal efficiency in internal combustion engines by creating systems of equations that
describe numerical relationships. 