suggested grade levels: 9-12
view Idaho achievement standards for this lesson
1. Students will learn how to use the Digital Atlas.
2. Students will be able to describe the history of agriculture in Idaho.
Use the Agriculture and Soils sections of the Digital Atlas. To get there: Click on Idaho Overview, then on Agriculture or Soils. Encourage your students to read through the material on agriculture and click on the various links and use the information to answer the questions.
These are links to access the handouts and printable materials.
agriho.pdf | agriAK.pdf | Agriculture or Soils
The sample questions below are shown in the printed handout.
We depend heavily on agriculture for our food and for many other resources. Agriculture in the Western states depends heavily on the availability of water. The soil, weather and other characteristics of an area are very important when deciding what type of farming should be done. Use the information you have obtained in class and from the Digital Atlas to answer the following questions to the best of your ability. Be sure to click on the Agriculture and Irrigation Map and explore the major products of Idaho.
1. If you are going to be a farmer, what types of factors would you have to consider for the land and area on which you would like to farm?
2. Before farming, what was Idaho's leading economic activity?
3. How did the "captive market" help farmers in the late 1800s and early 1900s?
Extra Topics: Agriculture