First- to third-grade teachers in North Dakota are being encouraged to apply for butterfly pollinator kits offered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Ag in the Classroom Program. The initiative aims to give students the chance to observe a live butterfly through its full life cycle.
“I encourage educators to take advantage of this opportunity to embed agriculture into their classrooms,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “Teachers and students will explore the world of butterflies. Butterflies are one of the top pollinators and without them, our food supply would be much different.”
Each kit contains lesson plans from the National Ag in the Classroom Matrix, a butterfly kit, and a National Geographic butterflies book. The lesson plans are designed for young students and focus on the role of pollinators in agriculture. Teachers are expected to use the kits and lesson plans in their curriculum by April 1, 2026. The department will distribute follow-up surveys in late April 2026 to gather feedback on the program.
The number of kits is limited, and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Only one kit will be provided per classroom. Applications are open until November 14, 2025, and can be submitted through the department’s website at https://www.ndda.nd.gov/AITCresources.
Educators with questions about the application process can contact Heather Lang, Agriculture Business Development Coordinator, by email at hlang@nd.gov or by phone at 701-328-2308 or 701-595-9120.
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