Vocabulary Words

There are seven vocabulary words to be found throughout the reader. They are bolded with a small explanation to help define the word. Print the vocabulary worksheet part 1 and 2. Students can use the worksheet to learn more about the words that will be used throughout the reader.

• Vocabulary Worksheet Coming Soon

Student Worksheet

• Print off the student activity guide that can be used while student go through the RFA ethanol journey.
• Vocabulary Worksheet Coming Soon

Inside

Page two highlights the uses of corn and how different parts of the kernel are used for different products. Using the information on the page, create a visual that can be used for the classroom by doing the following:

• Display a photo of an ear of sweet corn and an ear of dent corn.
• By each ear of corn, identify items made from each of the two different types of corn. This really helps students because they often think sweet corn is the type of corn used for most corn products when in actual fact, most products are made from dent corn.

“The Many Uses of Corn” poster found via the QR code can be projected on a screen for the entire classroom to see. You can use the corn comprehension questions as an assignment or to spark discussion.

Page three focuses on ethanol, from how it is produced to the possible careers it has to offer. The Renewable Fuels Association provides a virtual road trip. The included activity sheet can be used to go over the different aspects of ethanol.

Back Cover

On page four, the Corn Science Investigation provides a hands-on activity and allows for discussion about renewable and nonrenewable resources. It gives students the opportunity to talk about human activity, the impact and take the investigation further learning about ocean pollution of petroleum-based plastics. Students can also create a C.E.R. claim for how corn plastics may be more beneficial to our environment.

Ethanol and Its Role in Agriculture

Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is commonly used as a biofuel, which means it is made from renewable sources like plants. The most common plant used to make ethanol is corn, especially a variety known as dent corn. Ethanol is created by fermenting the sugars found in corn, turning them into alcohol. This process is similar to how yeast makes alcohol in bread. Once produced, ethanol can be mixed with gasoline to create a cleaner fuel for cars, reducing the amount of harmful gases released into the air. Using ethanol as a fuel helps decrease our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels like oil and coal. By using crops like corn to make ethanol, we can support sustainable farming practices and reduce pollution, making it an important part of a greener future.

Hands-On Activity Options

• Students can create utensils using the lab provided by Oregon State University. You can print copies or digitally assign. At the completion of their designs and test, feel free to have students create a product presentation to present their findings to the class.
• Students can create their own corn plastic using Kansas Corn STEM’s Corn Plastics lab. This lab features additional ways to create corn plastics.
• Newsela offers an excellent article on nonrenewable resources, including a writing prompt and 4-question quiz. Corn plastics is featured as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

Additional guide extensions comparing bio and petroleum based plastic with an engineering and design component:

• Oregon State University Bioenergy Education Initiative- Fantastic Bioplastic
• STEM Learning – Plastic Challenge