Time

20-45 minutes

The amount of time will vary depending on the age group that is participating.

Materials

• “We Grow Corn! Raising Corn on a Kansas Family Farm” by Sharon Thielen, Ph.D.
  • Focus on pages 8-11 (10 Minutes)
• Videos to watch:
  • Kernels of Knowledge Video: Growing Corn in Northeast Kansas (3:13)
  • Kernels of Knowledge Video: Growing Corn in Southwest Kansas (4:03)
• Activity #1: Water Cycle Bead Bracelet (10-20 Minutes)
  • Water Cycle Coloring Sheet
  • Pipe cleaner
  • 3 clear beads
  • 3 green beads
  • 3 blue beads
  • 3 yellow beads
  • 3 white beads
  • Crayons or markers
• Optional: The Water Cycle Coloring Sheet
• Activity #2-Online Breakout Box Challenge
  • Electronic device to project challenge
• Activity #3-Parts of a Corn Plant
  • Materials to make the plant such yarn, tissue paper, construction paper, etc.
  • Paper and pencil or crayons
• Suggested Snack: Tortilla Boats

Book

If the students have already read the entire “We Grow Corn!” book, this unit will focus on pages 8-11. On pages 8-9 the students will learn that corn needs heat and water to germinate. They will also learn how weather can impact the success of the crop because farmers always worry about the weather. Many students do not realize how tall a corn plant can get (as tall as a basketball goal) and that one kernel will produce around 800 kernels.

On pages 10-11 the students will learn about scouting which is the process of walking through the fields and determining what the plants need to grow healthy. They will learn about the role of a sprayer and irrigation. This leads to the activity for the day which focuses on the water cycle. In Western Kansas many farmers use irrigation to water their crops because they don’t receive as much rainfall. In Eastern Kansas farmers rely on rainfall to water their crops.

Videos

Kernels of Knowledge videos allow the students to dig deeper into the details related to growing corn. The first video focuses on what is needed for the corn crop to grow in eastern Kansas. The second video focuses on growing corn in western Kansas with the focus being on the use of a center pivot sprinkler system to irrigate the crops. The students will be able to see what it is like to be in a field monitoring the growth of the crop.

Kernels of Knowledge Video: Growing Corn in Northeast Kansas (3:13)

Kernels of Knowledge Video: Growing Corn in Southwest Kansas (4:03)

Activity #1-Water Cycle Bracelet

During this activity, the students will be able to make the connection on the importance water plays in growing a corn crop. The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water and at what stage the water reaches the corn plant.

Instructions

1. Lay out the pipe cleaner and fifteen beads.
2. Look at the water cycle coloring sheet and start with evaporation.
3. Place the clear bead on pipe cleaner first.
4. Follow arrows around the sheet and place the next color bead on pipe cleaner.
5. Repeat the process with the remaining beads by adding them to the pipe cleaner.
6. Wrap pipe cleaner around wrist and tie ends to make bracelet.
7. Optional: color The Water Cycle Coloring Sheet to review the cycle again.

The Water Cycle | The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Videos For Kids – YouTube
Relating the content from the video back to Kansas

During corn growing season which is April-September the most common form of precipitation is rain, which is very important because it waters the corn plants. The excess water that is not used by the plant is collected in Kansas lakes or seeps through the soil to be collected as ground water. The Ogallala Aquifer, one of the world’s largest aquifers that holds ground water, is located in part of Western Kansas and expands into neighboring states. This is where many western Kansas farmers get their water to irrigate the crops. Farmers make sure they only use the water they need so the amount of water in the aquifer is maintained.

Activity #2- Online Breakout Box Challenge

This challenge can be done as a large or small group. Each group will need an electronic device to access the online challenge. If done in a large group, project the challenge onto the screen and designate one person to enter in the guesses. The first time they do an online challenge it may seem difficult but the more challenges they complete the easier and more fun they will become.

Answer Key

We Grow Corn! – Growing Corn

• ABC Lock- R,A,I,N
• Direction Lock – Right, Down, Left, Left, Right
• Shape Lock – Circle, Triangle, Star, Diamond, Square

Activity #3- Parts of a Corn Plant

How many of the students have seen a corn plant? Help them identify and learn about each part of the plant and its function.

Activity

• Before you watch the video ask questions like: Has anyone seen a corn field? What does a corn plant look like? Can you name the parts of the plant?
• Watch the video: “Parts of the Corn Plant.”
• Ask: What words do you remember from the video? What parts of the plant did you already know about? Does this corn plant have any of the same parts as other plants?
• Have the students draw their own corn plant or break into groups to create a 3D corn plant model.
• Review parts of the plant one at a time to help them label their plant.

Take the Quiz

Watch the “Quiz on Corn Plant Parts” video. Pause it throughout so the students can answer.

Optional Online Breakout Box Challenge

If time allows there is an online challenge that goes with this activity.

Parts of a Corn Plant Answer Key

• Color Lock- Blue, Brown, Yellow, Black, Green
• ABC Lock – C,O,R,N,C,O,B
• 123 Lock-5,2,4,1,6
• ABC Lock – S,E,E,D,T,O,S,T,E,M

Out the Door

On the way out the door, the students will need to tell you one part of the corn plant, using the correct terms discussed today.