Pumpkin Fun Place a
pumpkin in a box and have students guess what it is
by feeling. Place
pumpkin in front of students and have them contribute
words to describe it. Have
students choose from three pumpkins which would be heaviest, middle, and
lightest, then weigh. Measure
circumference of same three pumpkins. Does the heaviest have the largest
circumference? Predict
which will have more seeds. Read The Little
Red Hen for a good illustration of wheat changing to flour. Common crops grown in Tennessee Corn: Over 800,000 acres grown in Tennessee
each year Average yield is 125 bushels per
acre There is a silk for every kernel When pollen lands on a silk it
travels down the silk to pollinate the kernel Corn is found in more than 3000
grocery items. Soybeans: A legume related to clover, peas, and
alfalfa 1/3 protein, twice as high as
meat 80% raised for animal feeds Wheat: Harvested with a combine which separates
the grain from the stalk which is used as straw. Most wheat grown in Tennessee is
winter wheat which becomes dormant when temps
fall below freezing. Wheat has been grown for 9000
years Check ingredients on
snacks, etc. for corn, wheat, or soybeans. Search the web for more information! Spiders: yesbugs@aol.com Corn: www.corn.org Soybeans: www.soybeans.org Wheat: www.wheatworld.org Homework! Have children create a “favorite” meal and
list which things come off the farm. Create
an ad for corn, wheat, or soybeans. Chocolate Spiders! 12 oz. chocolate chips Half of a 10 oz. bag mini
marshmallows Wax paper Thin licorice whips or pretzel
sticks Melt
chocolate, stirring until smooth, add marshmallows. Place on wax paper by the spoonful, add
licorice or pretzel legs.
