In this reader students will learn what happens on the farm during each season, how corn is used and the harvest sequence.
This teacher’s guide is broken into different sections with suggestions of how to use the reader in the classroom and provide ideas on how to extend the learning of your students. This reader can be used in small groups or a whole group for reading or science. Depending on your readers, this magazine would be more appropriate to be read aloud to your students.
Activity
Introduce these words before you begin reading. Ask students if they have heard or recognize the words. Then, read the definitions and talk about them as a class. Do more of the students recognize the words now? See if students can use the vocabulary words in sentences.
Allow time for students to share their thoughts on the question that was asked. Teachers can write down their ideas on the board so it can be revisited after reading.
One Little Kernel
In this section it is important that students realize most corn farmers are growing dent corn, not sweet corn, like we buy at the store. Dent corn is “dented,” as referred to on page 2. It is dry, hard and considered a grain. This can be fun to talk about with the students. Help them learn that the main use for corn is for feed and fuel but also for thousands of other products we use in our homes. Corn just isn’t found in food products!
To expand learning watch Farm to Plate Video.
Do You Remember: Farm Vehicles Cross out any vehicle that is NOT used on the farm to grow or harvest corn. Students can revisit the inside of the reader to help with this activity.
Do You Remember: Drawing activity Use the space below to draw three steps of growing corn. Students can revisit the inside of the reader to help with this activity.
Follow A Bushel: Knowing what the measurement bushel means is TRICKY and hard to explain to little learners. The QR code leads to a video that explains what a bushel is and why farmers use this measurement.
This lesson is the work product of the Kansas Corn Commission. Our lessons are written in collaboration with Kansas teachers for use in the classroom. Teachers may copy and share this curriculum. Use of this product for commercial or promotional use is prohibited without express permission of Kansas Corn.
As the need to produce more food with less resources grows, it is important that future generations have a better understanding of agriculture and how corn farming and agriculture fit into our daily lives. That’s why the Kansas Corn STEM program provides lessons to teach science through the lens of corn. We are committed to providing free materials and training to support educators.
