| |
The following activities, suggestions and extensions may prove helpful
as students use the Quick Facts page to extend their background information
on corn.
Activities
- ADD A FACT: Cut and paste the text of the Quick
Facts page to a word processing document. As students learn more
about the history of corn, corn production, and the place of corn in
modern farming, students may add facts to each section of the list.
- CORN MATH: Because many of the "quick facts" include statistics related
to corn, introduce the Quick Facts
page by creating a math matching/estimation activity. For example, the
following facts were copied from the Quick Facts page with the corresponding
statistics listed below. Students should work in pairs, record their
"estimate" and go to the Quick Facts page to compare their answer with
the fact.
Facts:
An ear of corn averages ___ kernels in ___ rows.
A pound of corn consists of approximately_____ kernels.
____ bushels of corn produces approximately __________ kernels.
Each year, a single U.S. farmer provides food and fiber for _____
people - 97 in the U.S. and 32 overseas.
In the U.S., corn production measures more than ____ times that of
any other crop.
Over _____ of Iowa's corn goes to foreign markets. The rest is used
in other parts of the United States.
Stats:
2
800
7,280,000
16
55%
1,300
100
129
- CORN ALL AROUND US: Scientists are finding new uses for corn every
day. Have students create a classroom "corn icon" such as
a picture of corn found at this Web site or an original drawing. Produce
multiple copies of the "corn icon" and make available to students
by placing them in a "corn all around us" container. As students
discover objects in the classroom that could have been produced with
corn products, have them tape a "corn icon" to the object.
To name just a few, From
One Bushel of Corn... identifies the following common objects or
products students might find in their classroom:
- Adhesives (glues, pastes, mucilages, gums, etc.)
- Aluminum
- Batteries, dry cell
- Coatings on wood, paper & metal
- Crayon and chalk
- Gypsum wallboard
- Ink for stamping prices in stores
- Latex paint
- Paper board, (corrugating, laminating, cardboard)
- Paper plates & Cups
- Rugs, carpets
- Textiles
- Wallpaper
- CORN ESTIMATION: Most grain elevators will be willing to provide classroom
teachers with seed samples. Contact a local grain elevator and request
a small container of shelled corn. Place the corn in a sealed clear
plastic container. Have students estimate the number of kernels in the
container by writing their estimation on a slip of paper and placing
in a designated estimation box. Reviewing the Corn Math section of the
Quick Facts page may refine their
estimations. When all students have made an estimation, have each student
count a hand full of corn from the container. Use calculators to add
the total number of corn kernels found in the container.
- CORN GEOGRAPHY: Have students create a classroom display identifying
the major corn growing areas of the world. After reviewing Quick
Facts page, have students use one of the following online map sources
to create their corn growing area maps:
Xpeditions--Atlas
Perry-Castañeda
Library Map Collection
U.S.A.
Atlas: Maps and Geography of the United States
World
Atlas: Maps and Geography of the World
Maps
|
|
Teacher's
Overview
