Plant & Animal Sciences Pathway Provides Hands-On Learning Rooted in Local Industry
Spurger ISD’s Plant and Animal Sciences Pathway offers students a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience built around agriculture, floral design, and livestock science—fields that remain vital to Tyler County and rural East Texas.
Plant Science & Floral Design
The Plant Science pathway includes an accredited high school floral design course that also qualifies as an art elective credit. Students consistently report high engagement due to the hands-on nature of the class, with major projects completed approximately every six weeks. These projects often culminate in full floral arrangements, allowing students to apply both creative and technical skills.
During the first semester, students focus on complementary and contrasting color schemes, spacing, and balance, building a strong foundation in design principles. These lessons strengthen critical-thinking skills while preparing students for industry-based certification testing.
The pathway is structured as a four-year program, though many students complete it in three years. Course offerings include:
Floral Design
Advanced Floral Design
Greenhouse, Nursery, and Landscape
Beyond floral work, students study key agricultural concepts such as hay production, gardening practices, disease prevention, fertilization needs, and food plot management—all highly relevant to the local agricultural economy. Even at small scales, concepts like farm stands are explored as examples of how homegrown flowers, plants, and vegetables can support rural communities and local consumption.
Spurger ISD’s greenhouse has been a cornerstone of the program for over a decade, serving as a living classroom where students gain practical experience growing, maintaining, and managing plants throughout the year.
Animal Sciences
The Animal Sciences component introduces students to foundational livestock knowledge through hands-on and visual learning. Students study bovine and porcine anatomy, with classroom displays and projects reinforcing anatomical concepts. Realistic training tools—such as life-sized livestock birthing models—allow students to safely learn and practice procedures related to animal care and reproduction.
Together, the Plant and Animal Sciences Pathway provides students with real-world exposure to agricultural careers while developing practical skills, scientific understanding, and an appreciation for industries that continue to shape the local community.