**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO RECRUIT 20 8TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS FROM SCHOOLS ACROSS SOUTHCAROLINA. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE: A) ENGAGE THE TEACHER FELLOWS IN AN IMMERSIVEPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE THROUGH A SUMMER TOUR HIGHLIGHTING MODERN AGRICULTURALPRODUCTION, THEREBY CONNECTING THEM TO AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS, CULTURE, AND INNOVATIONS. B)PROVIDE AN ONLINE GRADUATE COURSE FOR THE TEACHER FELLOWS TO DEVELOP LESSON PLANS AND TOOLS TOINTEGRATE THE AGRICULTURE AND HISTORY CURRICULA AND ACHIEVE STATE SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS FOR 8THGRADE STUDENTS, AND C) EVALUATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH TEACHER FELLOWS: (1) INTEGRATE HISTORY ANDAGRICULTURE IN THEIR SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULA; (2) IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURALSCIENCES (FAS) CAREERS; AND (3) USE SOCIAL STUDIES ACADEMY CURRICULA TOOLS FOR INQUIRY-BASEDLEARNING.THE PROJECT'S TARGETED AFRI PRIORITY AREA IS THE AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS AND RURALCOMMUNITIES (AERC) PROGRAM. THE SOCIAL STUDIES ACADEMY SUMMER TOUR ADDRESSES ALL OFTHE PROGRAM AREAS IN THIS PRIORITY BASED ON THE VARIETY OF RESEARCH AREAS AT CLEMSON UNIVERSITY'SRESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER (REC) SITES THAT WILL BE VISITED ON THE SUMMER TOUR. THE RECS WILL ALSO DEMONSTRATE THE BREADTH OF FAS FOR THE TEACHER FELLOWS.TEACHERS FELLOWS WILL BE ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING A WEEK-LONG TOUR OF SOUTHCAROLINA'S RECS, FARMS AND PARTICIPATION IN A FREE GRADUATE COURSE FROM CLEMSON. UNDER THEGUIDANCE OF THE PROGRAM CO-PIS, THE TEACHER FELLOWS WILL DEVELOP UNIT PLANS THAT REFLECT ON SOUTHCAROLINA'S AGRICULTURAL HISTORY AND HIGHLIGHT TODAY'S FAS CAREERS.