The leaves are falling, and so are the pecans
Pecans start falling from Oklahoma trees this time of year. In 2010, pecans ranked number 11 in value of all Oklahoma commodities, and Oklahoma ranked number 6 in the nation in the production of pecans. Every pecan has a distinctive pattern, just like human fingerprints. More about pecans, with lessons and activities...
Green Corn Dance, Hidatsa, painting by George Catlin, 1835-37
November is Native American Heritage Month
Before the Pilgrims had their famous Thanksgiving feast in 1621, native people all over the continent had been holding their own feasts of thanksgiving for the harvest for thousands of years. Learn more, with lessons and activities...
Red Dirt Groundbreaker: Henryetta Vann
When the Europeans first encountered the Five Civilized Tribes in the eastern part of the continent, they were living in agricultural villages. Men were hunters and warriors, and they cleared land. Women cultivated fields and raised children. Women held very high status in these communities. They owned virtually all the family possessions, including the home, the fields and the crops. Read more...
Oklahoma Vegetable of the Month: Broccoli
Thomas Jefferson introduced broccoli in the US. He recorded his planting of broccoli on May 27, 1767. Although broccoli has been grown in the US for over 200 years it did not become a popular food until the 1920s, when Italian immigrants began planting and selling it. Broccoli was a popular vegetable in ancient Rome. More about broccoli, with activities...
Oklahoma Fruit of the Month: Pears
Pears were among the Oklahoma crops big enough to report in the 1900 census, a few years before statehood. Today pears are not grown commercially in the state but they can still be found in home gardens and for sale in some farmer's markets. More about pears, with activities...
Look for Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom at these events in November:
2—Del City Elementary After School Gardening project
7-8—NSU Broken Arrow Campus Reading Methods Class
9—OSU Tulsa Science Pre-Service
11-12—OSU Weekend Class
14—Safe & Healthy Schools Conference, OKC
19—Childcare Conference, Miami
For information about onsite training in your school or any of these events, contact one of our training coordinators.
America Recycles Day is November 15
November is National Novel Writing Month
Challenge students to write 50,000 words in 30 days.
Sandwich Day is November 3rd
John Montague, born in 1718, was an English nobleman who loved to play cards. Once in 1762 he played cards at a men's club in London for 24 hours straight. More on Sandwich Day, with activities...
November 14 is the birthday of Claude Monet, painter of gardens and haystacks.
November 24 is Thanksgiving Day
The holiday we celebrate as Thanksgiving is a harvest feast. All over the world, throughout history, people have celebrated the end of the hard work of harvest by feasting on the fruits of their labor. More about Thanksgiving, with lessons and activities
- American Indian Heritage Month
- Things to do With Your Leftover Pumpkin
- Sandwich Day is November 3
- November 14 is Claude Monet's Birthday
- National Novel Writing Month
- America Recycles Day
- Ag in Art: Two Pears, Georgia O'Keeffe (November 15 is Georgia O'Keefe's birthday.)
Things to Do With Your Leftover Pumpkins
Turkeys
Turkeys are not a major agricultural commodity in Oklahoma, but wild turkeys are abundant in our state. Some of the first records of Oklahoma turkeys are found in the writing of Washington Irving. In his 1832 book, A Tour on the Prairies, he describes large turkey populations near what is now Oklahoma City and Tulsa. More about turkeys, with lessons and activities