LESSON My Kentucky Home Provides What I Need
Grades 4 & Secondary Enrichment Social Studies, Science, Writing & Fine Arts
Components
Students will:
• Map natural resources and land types on maps of Kentucky. • Analyze the maps to determine: • how these resources and land types affect where agricultural businesses are located. • economic viability, opportunity, and limitations of certain areas.
Kentucky Academic Standards
Social Studies
2.18 Students understand economic principles 2.19 Students recognize and understand the and are able to make economic decisions that relationship between people and geography have consequences in daily living. and apply their knowledge in real-life situations. Students will: Students will: • develop an understanding of the nature • demonstrate an understanding of of limited resources and scarcity. patterns on the Earth’s surface, using a • use a variety of sources to investigate variety of geographic tools (e.g., maps, and trace change over time (e.g., draw, globes, charts, graphs. chart, map, timeline) in the production, • use information from print and non- distribution, and consumption of goods print sources (e.g., documents, and services (e.g., products made in informational passages/texts, Kentucky) interviews, digital and environmental) • investigate and give examples of to investigate regions of Kentucky. specialization and explain how it • investigate interactions among human promotes trade between places and activities and the physical environment regions of the United States (e.g., in regions of Kentucky. Kentucky imports and exports, Midwest exports corn, South exports citrus)
Science (NGGS) • Elementary - Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth (4-ESS2-2). Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features. • Middle & High School - Earth’s Systems ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface ESS3.A: Natural Resources
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Why is this important? The availability of natural resources, climate, and physical land characteristics determined where humans settled, and where civilizations and communities grew. It also determined and will continue to help determine where businesses locate. An abundance of resources, whether natural, human, or capital, impacts the economic success of a business and communities.
Kentucky has an abundance of natural resources (energy, land, water, and minerals), a moderate climate, and varying topography, which affects the availability of agricultural products across the commonwealth. With much focus on local agriculture, the goal is to help students understand that there may be opportunities as well as limitations on what can be produced in each area.
Resources & Materials Needed
The digital presentation and worksheets can be found at http://www.teachkyag.org/social- studies.html.
• Power Point Based Lesson/Teacher's Guide (PPT Download) • Regions Map Activity Sheet (PDF) • OPTIONAL - Descriptions of Kentucky's Regions (PPT Download) • Natural Resources Map Activity Sheet (PDF) • Ag Production Map Activity & Production Data (PDFs) • Locate the Farm Activity Sheet - Answer Key (PDF)
Students will also need crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
Activities and Notes
Ice Breaker: Let students look at the following photos and see if they can determine if the photos are of Kentucky landscapes. Answers are available at the end of the presentation if you need help.
Kentucky Regions Activity: Use the Regions Map Activity Sheet.
There are many ways that the land of Kentucky may be categorized, but natural resource availability is most closely related to geology and land surface features.
Physiography is the study of land surface features. The shape of land surface is controlled by the effects of weathering and erosion of the bedrock.
Kentucky is divided into several physiographic regions.
Have students draw the boundaries and lightly color in these regions on the activity map.
OPTIONAL: Physiographic descriptions of each region can be found in a separate presentation. Have students write down the major features of each on the back of their map or another sheet of paper.
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Natural Resources Activity: Use the Natural Resources Map Activity Sheet
Kentucky’s environmental characteristics made this area an appealing place for settlers. These features sustain us today.
Climate:
• Kentucky has a moderate climate, characterized by warm, yet moist conditions. Summers are usually warm, and winters cool. Monthly average temperatures range from a high of 87.6° F to a low of 23.1° F.
• Kentucky’s weather patterns are influenced by the Gulf of Mexico, especially during summer.
• Much of Kentucky’s precipitation falls in spring, the rainiest season. From south to north, precipitation decreases. Southern Kentucky receives the highest average precipitation, about 50” a year, while the north averages only 40”.
• Kentucky is in a path several storm systems follow. Storms happen year-round; however, most storms occur between March and September.
Water:
• Approximately 49 inches of precipitation falls on Kentucky every year. About 40 percent of this water runs off into streams, and 60 percent evaporates or is transpired by plants. This is called the hydrologic cycle.
• There are 13 major river basins containing more than 90,000 miles of streams.
• Kentucky has more navigable miles of water than any other state except Alaska.
• More than 60 miles of streams have been designated “Outstanding National Resource Waters” by the EPA and receive special attention under the Clean Water Act.
• One hundred fourteen miles of nine streams and 26,382 acres of land adjacent to these streams have been designated “Wild Rivers,” which have exceptional water quality and aesthetic character.
See link to Kentucky Water Fact Sheet (Ky Geological Survey) for more information.
Have students draw in the major rivers on their maps.
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Energy:
• Due to its geologic characteristics, Kentucky has a large supply of coal, oil and natural gas we use for energy (Ranked 12th in the nation for energy production).
• Kentucky ranks third in the nation for coal production.
• See link for the U.S. Energy Information Administration
• Kentucky ranked in the top five in the nation in 2015 for the lowest electricity prices. http://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/
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Land:
• Due to Kentucky’s climate, soils, and geologic properties, much of the land can sustain crops, grazing livestock, and forests.
• Land Use:
• Cropland (crops, pasture & idle): 30% • Grassland (not in farms): 14% • Forests: 46% • Special Use (Parks, Transportation, Defense, Industry): 5% • Urban: 3% • Miscellaneous (bare, swamp/marsh, exposed rock): 2% Source: USDA Economic Research Service
OPTIONAL – Have students make their own pie chart for land use.
Have students add green-colored dots to represent counties with 50% or more of land in farms, and brown-colored dots to represent counties with 50% or more of land in forests. There will be some overlap, as farms do have forested land as well.
Farmland Facts: Only 12 counties have less than 10% of area in farmland (Listed on presentation). Ask students 1) Which county has the highest population? 2) What is the topography like in the other counties?
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Kentucky Provides What We Need Food & Fiber:
Crop, pasture and forest land provides us food and renewable resources like wood and animal products (leather, fats, horn, and bone).
Due to Kentucky’s climate, most crops are grown in the spring, summer, and fall. Some farmers can extend the growing season by using greenhouses and plastic tunnels that hold in heat and moisture.
Kentucky’s Top Agricultural and Forested Products in terms of sales:
1. Poultry 6. Tobacco 2. Cattle 7. Wood 3. Horses 8. Milk 4. Soybeans 9. Hay 5. Corn 10. Wheat
Have students watch the video, Kentucky Farms: Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future.
Activities:
Writing Exercise - Write a short essay with the thesis “My Kentucky Home Provides What I Need” detailing the richness of Kentucky’s natural resources. Consider including why the early settlers may have found this area of North America appealing.
Art/Writing Exercise - Create a poster and a catchy slogan to entice people to settle in Kentucky in the late 1700s or move to Kentucky today. Decide which features would be best to showcase based on the basic needs of humans at that time.
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WHERE DOES KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE GROW?
Are crops and livestock are concentrated in physiographic regions? Place students in groups to map different agriculture products.
Use the Ag Products Activity Map & Data Sheets. Students will report where different crops and livestock are produced. Finished maps can be found on the next slides.
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Analysis Questions - You may need to reference your physiographic regions map.
• What crops and animals are concentrated in the center of Kentucky? Do those animals eat those crops? • Why do you think grains like corn and soybeans are grown in the western half of the state? Think about the characteristics of the regions in the west. • Based on the maps, what animal can be found in every region? Why? • Why may chickens and pigs be near the regions where grain is grown? • What counties are the same for milk and vegetable production? For what area (market) do you think those counties are providing food? • Which region has the fewest top agriculture counties? Why?
NOTES - Where does Kentucky agriculture grow? Crops and livestock are concentrated in geographic regions.
• Crops that require large equipment for energy efficient planting and harvest are found in the areas with flatter profiles. That land is more frequently found in the western half of the state. • Livestock that eat the most of those grains (poultry and pigs) will be raised near their food source to save money on transportation costs. • Grazing livestock, such as cattle, are concentrated in the Pennyrile and Bluegrass regions, which have more rolling hills less suitable for crop production. • Smaller grazing animals, such as sheep and goats, do not need as much space as cattle and horses. Goats eat plants in more forested areas. • Some products, such as vegetables and milk, are most often found closer to where they are processed and sold. The counties in the Pennyrile region most likely sell to Nashville, TN, where there is a greater population.
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WHERE’S THAT KY FARM? ACTIVITY - Use the Locate the Farm Activity Sheet.
Use what students have learned about Kentucky’s regions and resources, and have them try to match the Kentucky farm with its location.
An answer key is provided.
KENTUCKY FOOD AND FARM FILES Want to learn more about Kentucky agriculture? Check out www.kyfoodandfarm.com. This is a comprehensive collection of articles about Kentucky food, farmers, professionals, businesses, and organizations, and issues. Many are available in printable format with Common Core reading comprehension questions, or you may use a general set of questions for every article.
Kentucky Agriculture & Environment in the Classroom, Inc. | MY KENTUCKY HOME PROVIDES WHAT I NEED My Kentucky Home Physiographic Regions
Legend Jackson Purchase
Western Coal Fields
Pennyrile
Knobs
Bluegrass
Eastern Coal Fields
Teach KY Ag
Kentucky Agriculture & www.teachkyag.org Environment in the Classroom, Inc. My Kentucky Home Provides What I Need
Resources Map Legend Major Rivers, Streams, & Lakes
Land in Farms (>50%)
Land in Forest (>50%)
Coal
Oil
Natural Gas
Teach KY Ag
Kentucky Agriculture & www.teachkyag.org Environment in the Classroom, Inc. My Kentucky Home Agriculture Production
Top counties for ______
Teach KY Ag
Kentucky Agriculture & www.teachkyag.org Environment in the Classroom, Inc. Corn Soybean Acres Hay Acres More than 10,000 acres More than 10,000 acres More than 10,000 acres
Christian Breckinridge Daviess Shelby Barren Christian Union Trigg Christian Simpson Madison Taylor Daviess Shelby Graves Trigg Pulaski Anderson Graves Fulton Logan Ohio Fleming Wayne Henderson Crittenden Union Nelson Harrison Meade Logan Barren Henderson Larue Lincoln Woodford Hickman Nelson Hickman Muhlenberg Nelson Russell Calloway Larue Calloway Barren Shelby Rockcastle Todd Meade Todd McCracken Hart Clinton McLean Butler Fulton Crittenden Warren Franklin Webster McCracken McLean Livingston Monroe Bracken Warren Muhlenberg Ballard Marshall Bourbon Crittenden Carlisle Livingston Webster Meade Grayson Boone Ballard Marshall Warren Fleming Mercer Fayette Caldwell Grayson Carlisle Butler Washington Jackson Hardin Pulaski Hardin Grayson Breckinridge Larue Hopkins Taylor Caldwell Marion Adair Marshall Ohio Green Hopkins Pulaski Casey Morgan Simpson Marion Breckinridge Henry Spencer Hardin Ohio Bath Lewis Wheat Acres Vegetable/Melon Acres Mason Carter More than 5,000 acres More than 100 acres Marion Hopkins Christian Carlisle Todd Trigg Garrard Edmonson Logan Union Christian Casey Clark Butler Todd Fulton Allen Boone Owen Muhlenberg Graves Daviess Daviess Hart Boyle Livingston Calloway McLean Pulaski Madison Allen Oldham Simpson Nelson Shelby Clay Montgomery Whitley Warren Bath Lincoln Campbell Scott Carroll Hickman Marshall McCracken Harrison Metcalfe Cumberland Trigg McCracken Scott Barren Green Campbell Ballard Crittenden Fayette Laurel Laurel Daviess Caldwell Hardin Logan Greenup Grant Todd
Nicholas Trigg
Jessamine Graves Pendleton
Poultry #s Milk Sales Goat #s More than 1 million chickens More than $1 Million in sales More than 1,000 goats
Graves Muhlenberg Barren Pulaski Lewis Mercer McLean Clinton Logan Shelby Barren Carter Hickman Wayne Adair Hardin Warren Grayson Hopkins Meade Todd Mason Hart Larue Webster Adair Warren Mercer Grant Pulaski Calloway Butler Christian Grayson Franklin Hardin Ohio Fulton Monroe Washington Lincoln Breckinridge Breckinridge Christian Lincoln Simpson Allen Monroe Cumberland Marion Henry Daviess Grayson Metcalfe Garrard Carlisle Metcalfe Nelson Trigg Ballard Taylor Taylor Jackson Barren Warren Russell Edmonson Marshall Todd Fleming Bullitt Casey Allen Hart Cattle #s
More than 25,000 cattle Hog #s Barren Logan More than 1,000 hogs Madison Washington Pulaski Casey Daviess McLean Lincoln Grayson Larue Laurel Monroe Clark Warren Todd Bourbon Wayne Carlisle Breckinridge Fleming Harrison Hickman Casey Mercer Scott Logan Fleming Nelson Metcalfe Nelson Bullitt Marion Shelby Marion Allen Warren Montgomery Hardin Taylor Russell Bath Garrard Hardin Sheep #s Adair Green More than 1,000 sheep Allen Christian Breckinridge Mason Hart Mercer Boyle Taylor Breckinridge Adair Hart Bourbon Grayson Henry Shelby Pulaski Hardin Horse #s Fleming Fayette More than 5,000 horses Crittenden Washington Fayette Jefferson Casey Bourbon Scott Woodford Shelby
Where is that Kentucky Farm?
Use your natural resource and physiographic maps, as well as your knowledge about where crops are grown, to match the farms below to its location on the map to the right. Write the number of the farm 1 next to the correct 4 description. 6 8 9 2 7 5 3 ______The Thompson family ______The McCoun family ______The Bowling Family grows corn, soybeans, and raises corn, soybeans, wheat, raise beef cattle, goats, sheep, wheat in the Pennyrile region beef cattle, and hay near a pigs, and vegetables. Much of and in northern Tennessee. They metropolitan area. They sell their land has steep hills that are close to Hopkinsville, where their corn and soybeans to an is suitable for grazing. Their they sell their grain. Indiana grain terminal on the vegetable gardens are on the Ohio River to be exported to flatter ground. They want to ______The Smith family raises countries across the globe. The make sure their customers have several hundred Angus beef straw from their wheat is sold to access to locally-grown food in cows, hay, and grains on rolling local horse farms in their area. the Eastern Coal Field region. hills in the south central part of Kentucky. ______The Sanger family raises ______The Ragland family corn, soybeans, and wheat, and raises corn, soybean, wheat, ______The Gilkison family raises is the only farm in Kentucky that and many mother hogs. The beef cattle, corn, soybeans, and raises rice. Due to their location sows are kept in temperature recently started growing black on the Mississippi River in the controlled buildings so they stay raspberries to make jams under Jackson Purchase region, they warm in the winter and cool the Kentucky Proud label. They are able to flood the rice fields in the summer for comfort. The are on the eastern edge of the so it grows well. Their corn and Raglands’ ancestors purchased Bluegrass region. soybeans are sold to poultry and this land in the early 1800’s and hog farms. were neighbors to Abraham ______The Cecil family grows Lincoln’s parents. It is located fruits and vegetables for local ______The Luttrell famly raises between the Knobs region and customers and grocery stores corn, soybeans, beef cattle and the Mississippian Plateau. across the United States. They chickens. Their chicken ends have the largest watermelon up in grocery stores around the Learn more about other farm in Kentucky, and are country. They are located in the Kentucky farm familes at located near the Ohio River. Western Coal Fields and their kyfoodandfarm.com. They also provide farm services neighbors have oil wells on their Teach for their many neighbors who property. KY Ag
Kentucky Agriculture & grow grain crops. www.teachkyag.org Environment in the Classroom, Inc. Where is that Kentucky Farm?
Use your natural resource and physiographic maps, as well as your knowledge about where crops are grown, to match the farms below to its location on the map to the right. Write the number of the farm 1 next to the correct 4 description. 6 8 9 2 7 5 3 ______3 The Thompson family ______1 The McCoun family ______2 The Bowling Family grows corn, soybeans, and raises corn, soybeans, wheat, raise beef cattle, goats, sheep, wheat in the Pennyrile region beef cattle, and hay near a pigs, and vegetables. Much of and in northern Tennessee. They metropolitan area. They sell their land has steep hills that are close to Hopkinsville, where their corn and soybeans to an is suitable for grazing. Their they sell their grain. Indiana grain terminal on the vegetable gardens are on the Ohio River to be exported to flatter ground. They want to ______7 The Smith family raises countries across the globe. The make sure their customers have several hundred Angus beef straw from their wheat is sold to access to locally-grown food in cows, hay, and grains on rolling local horse farms in their area. the Eastern Coal Field region. hills in the south central part of Kentucky. ______5 The Sanger family raises ______8 The Ragland family corn, soybeans, and wheat, and raises corn, soybean, wheat, ______4 The Gilkison family raises is the only farm in Kentucky that and many mother hogs. The beef cattle, corn, soybeans, and raises rice. Due to their location sows are kept in temperature recently started growing black on the Mississippi River in the controlled buildings so they stay raspberries to make jams under Jackson Purchase region, they warm in the winter and cool the Kentucky Proud label. They are able to flood the rice fields in the summer for comfort. The are on the eastern edge of the so it grows well. Their corn and Raglands’ ancestors purchased Bluegrass region. soybeans are sold to poultry and this land in the early 1800’s and hog farms. were neighbors to Abraham ______6 The Cecil family grows Lincoln’s parents. It is located fruits and vegetables for local ______9 The Luttrell famly raises between the Knobs region and customers and grocery stores corn, soybeans, beef cattle and the Mississippian Plateau. across the United States. They chickens. Their chicken ends have the largest watermelon up in grocery stores around the Learn more about other farm in Kentucky, and are country. They are located in the Kentucky farm familes at located near the Ohio River. Western Coal Fields and their kyfoodandfarm.com. They also provide farm services neighbors have oil wells on their Teach for their many neighbors who property. KY Ag
Kentucky Agriculture & grow grain crops. www.teachkyag.org Environment in the Classroom, Inc.