Lesson 1: Parts and Sounds of Corn (30-40 minutes)
Key questions
- What are the parts of a corn plant?
- What are the parts of an ear of corn?
- How can we describe them?
Learning Objectives
- The learner will describe and name the ear of corn.
Materials
- Ear of corn with husk
- Pictures of a mature corn plant (page S1)
- Paper
- Pencil
- Markers or Crayons
Guided Teaching
Introduction of Corn
Lay out page S7 in front of your child for them to examine.
Guided Questions
- What do you think the names of the different parts are called?
- What do you think the different plant parts jobs are?
Listen and help your child expand their knowledge. You do not need to give them the answers right now. At this time, it is all about exploration.
Bring your child’s attention to the ear of corn on the plant in the picture.
- Have you ever seen this in real life? If so, where?
- Do you know what this plant is growing? How do you know?
Explore an Ear of Corn
Lay out the corn with the husk still on it. Have your child explore the husk. They can turn it over and over, they can
peel layers back and see what they find!
Guided Questions
- Describe how it feels.
- Describe how it smells.
- Describe how it looks.
- Describe how it sounds.
- What did you find when you pulled the husks back?
- What did you find underneath?
- How does that feel, sound, smell, and look?
Name the Parts of an Ear of Corn
Using the corn with the husk still on it. Make sure that half of the husk is pulled back, exposing the corn kernels.
Put the corn with the husk on a piece of paper. Talk about the different parts of the ear of corn. You will use this
paper to label the parts of the corn.
- HUSK: The outside of the ear of corn is called the husk. It is the tan, papery feeling material on the
outside of the ear of corn. Break off some of the husk and put it on the paper. Write the word HUSK next
to it. The job of the husk is to protect the ear of corn from the elements like wind and rain but also to keep
animals from eating the kernels. Take the time to talk about how the husk looks, sounds and smells, feels.
Write these describing words under the word husk.
- SILK: In between the husk and the ear of corn are string like pieces. This is called the silk. Pull some of the
silk off and lay it on the paper to label it. Take the time to talk about how the silk looks, sounds, smells and
feels. Write the describing words under the word silk. (There is one silk for every kernel)
- KERNELS: The individual pieces on the ear of corn are called kernels. Take some of the kernels out to
allow for observations. Take the time to talk about how the kernels look, sound, smell and feel. Write the
describing words under the word kernel.
Guided Questions
- Out of all the parts we have talked about already, which part do you think we can eat?
- Where does corn come from?
- Where does corn grow?
- Who grows the corn on a farm?
Early Elementary Activity
Art/Science Activity
- Your child can make their own diagram of the ear of corn. Using a blank piece of paper, they can draw
what they see. Encourage them to color their diagram. Lastly, have them label the parts of the ear of
corn.
Phonics Activity
- Talk about how an ear of corn is sometimes called a cob. Have your child stretch out the word cob as
they sound out the three letters. Ask, what sound does the letter C make? What sounds does the letter O
make? What sound does the letter B make?
- Now talk about the word corn. Does corn start with the same sound as cob?
- On a piece of paper, write the word cob at the top. Below it, write the word corn. Encourage your child
to come up with more words that begin like cob and corn. Really stress the C/c sound you hear at the
beginning of the word.
Upper Elementary Activity
Art/Science Activity
- Your child can make their own diagram of the ear of corn. Using a blank piece of paper, they can draw
what they see with the ear of corn and half of the husk pulled down. Encourage them to color their
diagrams. Lastly, have them label the parts of the ear of corn.
Social Studies
- Through the guided questions it was discussed that farmers grow corn in fields. Research the closest farm
land near you. Is it close enough that you can go and look at it? If so, make notes about what the field
looks like right now, making sure to include the date. In a month you can revisit and see if the field has
changed.
- If you are not close to a farmer’s field, do some research on YouTube and find videos about farming. The
next time you go to the public library, look for books that talk about planting and farming.