Time

45 minutes-1 hours*

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

*Does not account for time to do the extension activity/TEACH-FLEX lesson.

Materials

• “We Grow Corn! Raising corn on a Kansas family Farm” by Sharon Thielen, Ph.D.
  • Focus on pages 12-15 (10 Minutes)
• Technology to watch:
  • Watch the Kernels of Knowledge Video: Harvesting Corn in Northeast Kansas (3:59)
  • Watch the Kernels of Knowledge Video: Harvesting Corn in Southwest Kansas (3:26)
• Activity: Harvest Activity (15-30 minutes)
  • 8 brown beads
  • 8 yellow tribeads
  • Long brown pipe cleaner
  • Short brown pipe cleaner
• Snack: Bugles
• Extension Activity/TEACH-FLEX Lesson (see lesson for material list)
• Technology for Online Challenge (10 Minutes)

Book

the reader has already read the entire “We Grow Corn!” book, this unit will focus on pages 12-15. On pages 12 the reader will be able to see what the corn plant looks like in the spring, summer and fall. Harvest happens in the fall when the corn plant is brown, and the kernels are dry. The reader will also learn that a bushel of corn weighs about 56 pounds. On page 13 the reader will see the steps it takes to harvest the corn crop. Pages 14-15 focuses on family and how harvest is a very busy time, so the family members usually meet in the field or shop for meals to be able to spend time with their farmer.

Remote learners can watch the author read the book online at wegrowcorn.com. Pages 12-15 are read between 9:36-13:01.

Videos

Kernels of Knowledge videos allow the reader of the “We Grow Corn” book to dig deeper into the details related to harvest. The first video shows the reader what harvest is like in Eastern Kansas and where the grain is taken when it leaves the field. The second video shows the reader what harvest is like in western Kansas. These videos provide a way for the reader to see inside and outside of a combine when it is cutting corn.

Watch the Kernels of Knowledge Video: Harvesting Corn in Northeast Kansas (3:59)

Watch the Kernels of Knowledge Video: Harvesting Corn in Southwest Kansas (3:26)

Activity

During this activity the reader will have fun creating their own corn plant. The corn plant in this activity is brown because many readers do not realize that when harvesting field corn the plants are brown and the corn is hard and dry. Field corn when dry is considered a grain. Farmers need the corn to be dry so that it can be stored and used to feed livestock or to make fuel. These are the two main uses for field corn grown in Kansas. Using the materials provided the end product should look similar to this:

Instructions

1. Take a long pipe cleaner and tie knot on end.
2. Place four brown beads and push to knot.
3. Make a V with pipe cleaner and slide on 4 more bead brown beads, push to base of V. The brown beads are your leaves.
4. Take short pipe cleaner and tie knot on end, place 8 tri beads and push to knot. This is your ear of corn.
5. Take ear of corn and place on V of long pipe cleaner and wrap around V. Remainder of pipe cleaner fold below the ear of corn to become your stalk.
6. Take remaining part of your long pipe cleaner and wrap around two times at the base of the ear of corn to make more sturdy then fold remainder of long pipe cleaner up behind ear of corn to become top of stalk and tassel. Loop back down and wrap around base again.

Discussion Points

This activity may be a little more challenging for younger readers when twisting the pipe cleaner to make the corn plant. This is a good activity to help with counting and following instructions. The main point of this activity to pay attention to the color of the plant and that field corn is not sweet corn which is what we buy from the store and eat. Field corn is hard and can be crushed to make other food products but most of Kansas’s corn is used for feeding livestock and making fuel.

Online Challenge

A breakout box challenge is a fun way to test the reader on what they learned. This can be done as a group or individually if they have their own technology device. Answer key on page 61 of the hard copy instruction guide.

Extension Activity/TEACH-FLEX Lesson

To keep the conversation going about corn here is an additional activity that can be used in the library or encourage your readers to complete at home. All materials use common products found at home. This activity also includes the book “Corn” by Victoria Blakemore which is read online by a Kansas teacher.