All About Corn
Looking for some fun ways to celebrate our Kentucky corn farmers? We have several ways for you to learn about this vital industry:
READ
Kentucky Corn Facts - Kyfoodandfarm.com
Corn is Amazing Booklet - Ky Corn Growers
Amazing Grains - A Study Guide - Ky Corn Growers
Corn Facts - PDF (Grades 4+)
A Dragonfly’s Tale - Ancient Zuni Legend
Book: Corn by Gail Gibbons
A Case for GMOs - Secondary Article from University of Kentucky with Reading Comprehension Questions
WATCH
Google Classroom Activities - CORN & Grains
All Kentucky Farms Feed Me Materials
Lesson for Kentucky Farms Feed Me Video (Original PDF)
PLAY
Bushels or Bust - “Bushels or Bust?” is a lesson and game your students are sure to enjoy. It teaches concepts of economics while testing practical math skills and decision making. Students will also understand how risky farming can be when faced with many unknown and uncontrollable factors, such as weather and markets. The game was developed for grades 5-12, but can be used with younger students if the math portion is figured for them. A computerized spreadsheet and line graph are available for help and as a visual of change in net profit when different scenarios occur.
CREATE
The Dragonfly’s Tale - Read the ancient Zuni story and make a corn husk dragonfly. Purchase cornhusks.
COOK
Kentucky Cornbread
Courtesy of the Kentucky Corn Growers Association
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup corn meal
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
OR use 1 1/2 cup self-rising corn meal instead of above
1/2 cup vegetable oil or butter
2 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup water
1 cup (1 small can) cream style corn
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix all ingredients in a medium sized bowl except cheese.
Pour half of the batter into a 9 x 13 inch glass or Pyrex baking dish.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Add remaining batter.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Alternate preparation methods:
If you want to use a cast iron skillet, place the oil in the bottom of the skillet, then fill with half the batter, cheese, and remaining batter. Cook on a stove top for just a few minutes until a few bubbles come up through the batter, then put in oven to bake.
If you like sweeter corn bread, skip the cheese and add a 1/2 cup of sugar or desired amount of a sugar substitute.
For a heartier corn bread, consider adding 2 extra eggs, spinach or broccoli (10 oz. thawed and well drained), onion, ham and bacon.
MORE LEARNING
Corn in the Classroom Lesson 1 - Which Came First, the Corn or the Kernel? - Grades K-12 Corn life cycle, structures, and processes such as photosynthesis and oxygenation.
Google Classroom - Parts of the Corn Plant
Corn in the Classroom Lesson 2 - Corn in the Food Web
Grades 5-8 Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
Google Classroom Version
Corn in the Classroom Lesson 3 - Corn in American History
Google Classroom friendly
www.kybiofuels.info - Learn about fuel ethanol and where it is made and sold in Kentucky. Includes links to curriculum.
Kansas Corn STEM - Lessons for K-12
Feed the World - Secondary STEM education modules from Ohio Corn