Overview
Agri-Business & Technology
This 6-week Transition Year module introduces students to the science, business, and innovation driving modern agriculture. Students will explore farming as both a science and an enterprise, gaining insight into the role of technology, economics, and creativity in shaping the future of Irish agriculture.
Designed with a balance of teaching content, research tasks, group projects, fieldwork, and interactive games, this module is engaging, practical, and easy to deliver.
Format
Duration: 6 weeks
Delivery: Classroom-based with optional fieldwork/guest speaker
Assessment: Informal TY assessment through group projects, participation, and presentations
Final Showcase: “Shark Tank”–style pitch where students present their agri-innovation ideas
Module Structure
Week 1 – Farming Then & Now Introduction to agri-business and technology in agriculture.
Week 2 – Technology on the Farm Exploring drones, robotics, sensors, and innovations.
Week 3 – The Business of Farming Farm budgeting challenge and understanding agri-economics.
Week 4 – Careers & Fieldwork Guest speaker or field trip or Case Study to see agri-tech in action.
Week 5 – Shark Tank: Agri-Innovation Project Students design and pitch their own farm inventions.
Week 6 – Showcase & Wrap-Up Presentations, awards, and review games.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, students will be able to:
Explain the role of science and technology in modern farming
Understand farming as a business, including costs and sustainability
Work collaboratively to research, design, and present ideas
Explore career opportunities in agri-business and agri-tech
Apply creativity and problem-solving to real-world agricultural challenges
What’s Included
✔ Full 6-week scheme of work with detailed lesson plans, scripts & learning outcomes ✔ Student worksheets & resources for every lesson ✔ PowerPoint slideshows to support teaching input and improve engagement ✔ Interactive games & activities:
Timeline Challenge (Week 1)
Agri-Tech Top Trumps (Week 2)
Farm Budget Challenge (Week 3)
Career Profile Cards & Ranking (Week 4)
Pitch Planning Worksheet (Week 5)
Peer Feedback & Teacher Scorecards (Week 6) ✔ Agri-Tech Fact Sheets (robotic milking, drones, GPS, sensors, apps) ✔ Careers Pack with Irish examples + 8 detailed Career Cards ✔ Sheep Shepard video worksheet (Option C fieldwork task) ✔ All YouTube video links provided and integrated into lesson plans ✔ Quizzes & reflection tasks ✔ Assessment framework (70% teacher, 30% peer) + certificates for end-of-module awards
