Kansas Corn STEM Launches “We Grow Corn!” Public Library Series
2-2-21: Kansas Corn STEM has launched a new public library program, aiming to provide Kansas public libraries with new resources based on the book, “We Grow Corn! Raising Corn on a Kansas Family Farm”. The series follows the book, with six units focusing on growing corn and its many uses. Kansas Corn STEM is supported by Kansas corn farmers through the Kansas Corn Commission.
Over the past five years, Kansas Corn STEM has been providing free supplies and training to K-12 teachers. While the “We Grow Corn!” book is being used by K-12 teachers, this series was created specifically for public libraries, making it different than what students would see in the classroom.
The “We Grow Corn” book was written with the goal to educate readers about how corn is grown and what it is used for. Agriculture is the largest industry in the state of Kansas and more bushels of corn are raised than any other commodity in the state each year. This series allows Kansas community libraires to offer this book to the public for the first time. Kansas Corn STEM has provided fun activities and other resources to get the readers excited and into public libraries across the state.
“The Kansas Corn STEM education team strives to create new programs to help educators. We are excited to expand our efforts beyond the K-12 classroom but now also in the community via public libraries,” Director of Education, Sharon Thielen, Ph.D. said.
Kansas libraries will be able to request kits through wegrowcorn.com and will receive the items requested based on the unit(s) they plan to implement.
Each kit will include:
- Instructions on how to use the Library Series
- “We Grow Corn! Raising Corn on a Kansas Family Farm” book written by Sharon Thielen, Ph.D.
- Social Media package for advertising (found at wegrowcorn.com)
- Poster for advertising
- Supplies for each unit (varies depending on which units were selected)
Each unit includes:
Instruction guide
Online video(s) to expand on the topic (available at wegrowcorn.com under each unit)
Activity supplies and instruction video
Corn Snacks for participants
Extension activity/TEACH-FLEX lesson
Online Challenge (available at wegrowcorn.com)