TEACHER’S GUIDE C For use with the book The Fantastic Corn Quest. O R GRADES 2-3 Written by Selma Bartels and Jessica (Hinman) Hughes Graphic Design by Tara Grell N Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom LANGUAGE ARTS Nebraska State Standards: LA 2.1.3, 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.2.1, 2.2.2 1. Simile Activity: Have students complete the following: “Popcorn is like __________ because __________.” 2. Adjective Activity: Ask the students, “What does popcorn sound like when you chew it?” Have students think up sound words to describe the action. Suggest words like crunch, crack and squish. Have students think of adjectives to describe the taste. 3. Make a commercial to advertise popcorn/corn. 4. Create a recipe using popcorn. Name your new treat. 5. Before Reading Activity: Duplicate one copy of Activity Sheet A for each student. Draw a KWL Chart on large chart paper for whole group use. Have students fill out the K and W portions on their own sheet and then compile their answers on the large chart paper. 6. While Reading Activity: Duplicate one copy of Activity Sheets B1 and B2. Cut apart the cards. Also duplicate one copy of Activity Sheets C1 and C2 for each student. A. Vocabulary Cards – While the teacher reads the text, she/he will present the vocabulary cards as they appear in the text. Each will have a visual with the label and definition. B. Vocabulary Sheet – When class comes to a vocabulary word, each student will find the word on their sheet. As a class, read the word and definition. Each student will draw a quick sketch of the vocabulary word. 7. After Reading Activity: A. Complete Activity Sheet A – Have students fill in the ‘L’ portion with what they learned. B. Complete Activity Sheets C1 and C2 – Have students write a sentence for each vocabulary word under the definition of the word. C. Acrostic Poem – Duplicate one copy of Activity Sheet D for each student. Students will brainstorm and choose words that describe or relate to corn. They will choose one or more words that begin with the letters C, O, R and N. Example: Cows October Harvest Ripe Notebook Paper D. Corn Word Scramble – Duplicate one copy of Activity Sheet E for each student. Have students unscramble the words related to corn. E. Corn Crossword Puzzle – Duplicate one copy of Activity Sheet F for each student. Have students complete the crossword puzzle. F. Venn Diagram – Duplicate one copy of Activity Sheet G for each student. Have students list the similarities and differences of the characteristics of field corn and sweet corn. In the overlapping area, have students list the characteristics that they have in common. KWL Chart Name ________________________________ I Know I Want to Know I Learned Activity A Sheet CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom – Nebraska Agriculture CORN biodegradable kernel able to be broken down the part of the corn and become part of the Earth that can be eaten harvest husk to gather the ripened the part of the corn plant crop from the field that protects the kernels tassel ingredient the top of the corn plant food that is part of a that provides pollen mixture in cooking CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet B1 stalk ear the part of the corn plant the part of the corn where that provides support the kernels are found emissions combine a substance put a farm machine used into the air to harvest crops ethanol elevator a fuel made a large storage from corn building for grain CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet B2 VOCABULARY SHEET Name ________________________________ Word Picture Definition and Sentence Activity C1 Sheet biodegradable (adjective) able to be broken down and become part of the Earth a farm machine used to harvest crops combine (noun) the part of the corn where the kernels are found ear (noun) a large storage building for grain elevator (noun) a substance put into the air emissions (noun) a fuel made from corn ethanol (noun) CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom – Nebraska Agriculture CORN VOCABULARY SHEET Name ________________________________ Word Picture Definition and Sentence Activity C2 Sheet to gather the ripened crop from the field harvest (verb) the part of the corn plant that protects the kernels husk (noun) food that is part of a mixture in cooking ingredient (noun) the part of the corn that can be eaten kernel (noun) the part of the corn plant that provides support stalk (noun) the top of the corn plant that provides pollen tassel (noun) CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom – Nebraska Agriculture CORN ACROSTIC POEM Name ________________________________ Write an acrostic poem using words that describe or relate to corn. The words must begin with the letters C, O, R and N. C O R N CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet D SCRAMBLED CORN Name ________________________________ Unscramble the words below. All of the words are listed in the Word Bank at the bottom of the page. r a e e i c m b o n s e l a t s o l h t n e a s h k u v e s r a h t e k l r n e l e d b a g a i o r d b e l a s t k i s m e s i s n o n i t i n r g d e e l r o e v e t a WORD BANK biodegradable kernel harvest husk tassel stalk emissions combine ingredient ear ethanol elevator CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet E SCRAMBLED CORN r a e ear e i c m b o n combine s e l a t s tassel o l h t n e a ethanol s h k u husk v e s r a h t harvest e k l r n e kernel l e d b a g a i o r d b e biodegradable l a s t k stalk i s m e s i s n o emissions n i t i n r g d e e ingredient l r o e v e t a elevator CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet E Answer Key ALL ABOUT CORN Name ________________________________ Complete the crossword puzzle using the clues below. ACROSS DOWN 2. the top of the corn plant that provides pollen 1. to gather the ripened crop from the field 4. able to be broken down and become part of the Earth 3. a fuel made from corn 8. a farm machine used to harvest crops 5. food that is a part of a mixture in cooking 9. the part of corn where the kernels are found 6. a large storage building for grain 11. a substance put into the air 7. the part of the corn that can be eaten 12. the part of the corn plant that provides support 10. the part of the corn plant that protects the kernels 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet F ALL ABOUT CORN 1 h 2 3 t a s s e l r t v h 4 5 6 b i o d e g r a d a b l e n s n l 8 7 k g t c o m b i n e 9 e a r l v 10 r e h a n d u t 11 e m i s s i o n s o l e k r n t 12 s t a l k CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet F Answer Key FIELD CORN AND SWEET CORN Name ________________________________ Activity G Sheet Field Corn Sweet Corn Both CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom – Nebraska Agriculture CORN FIELD CORN AND SWEET CORN Field Corn Sweet Corn Both Activity Sheet G Answer Key Activity G Answer Sheet farm animals eat it ears of corn taller plant stalk humans eat it picked when kernels are roots dry and hard smaller plant husk used to make different picked when kernels silk food and by-products are soft and juicy leaves ethanol gas is made from corn starch from field corn tassel kernels CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom – Nebraska Agriculture CORN PICTURE SORT Name ________________________________ Cut out the pictures of products at the bottom of the page. Glue the pictures on the correct side of the sheet. Corn Product Non-Corn Product CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet H PICTURE SORT Corn Product Non-Corn Product CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet H Answer Key MEASURING STALKS Name ________________________________ Use a ruler to measure the height of the corn stalks to the nearest inch or nearest centimeter. CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet J MEASURING STALKS 7 inches/18 centimeters 3 inches/8 centimeters 5 inches/13 centimeters CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet J Answer Key LABEL THE PARTS OF A CORN STALK Name ________________________________ Label the parts of a corn stalk on the diagram using the words from the word bank below. WORD BANK Stalk Roots Silk Tassel Leaves Husk CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet K LABEL THE PARTS OF A CORN STALK Tassel Leaves Silk Husk Stalk Roots CORN – Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Activity Sheet K Answer Key CORNBREAD RECIPE Cornbread is a member of the quickbread family, which differs from biscuits and scones because it uses butter or shortening that is melted, not solid.