Grade 2 Unit 1-Lesson Plan 1 -7
• The lesson plans for Grade 2 meet many of the learning outcomes for
Grade 2. Students will explore and develop critical thinking skills as they
engage in the multidisciplinary lesson plans.
• The unit introduces the concept of energy with activities that reinforce
food is a form of energy that is healthy eating is essential for growth and
development.-GLO: B3, D1, D4, E4
• Student actvities of growing and eating corn shoots enables them to
observe and record the process of aplant growing
• 2-1-07 Students will understand the food that humans eat come from
plants and animals, and understand the complexity of supply chains
involved. GLO: B1, B3
• Students will also learn about the energy inputs required for different
types of food.
• We conclude with Lesson 7 introducing the concept of sustainability and
food security
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Teacher Notes
• Please allow 2-3 days for seeds to sprout
• Please allow 10-16 days when sprouted seeds
are planted for the shoots to be harvested
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Grade 2 Kit Contents
Lesson Plan 1- One ear of corn
Lesson Plan 2 –Corn seeds (pop corn seeds work), paper or
Styrofoam cups and water
Lesson Plan 3 – Soil and water, Light source to put planted
seeds under. Compact fluorescent light bulb s work well.
Styrofoam cups work well as pots use the strainer cups and
put another one under it for water to drain into
Lesson Plan 4,5, 6, 7 – None required
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Lesson Plan 1
• Energy
• Illustrates concept of corn seed as an
incredibly versatile energy seed
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Energy Is the Ability To Do Work
Energy comes in different forms:
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The Sun is a form of energy that plants use
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The Corn Seed
• Corn seeds have large amounts of energy
stored in them.
• When a farmer plants corn seeds they can
harvest the seed for many uses.
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The Corn Seed
Corn seeds contain energy.
• A corn seed is an energy seed with many uses.
• When the sun shines there is energy in the sun’s rays.
• The plants (corn seed) uses the suns energy to grow.
•
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Corn The Energy Seed
• Corn plants store the
sun’s energy in their
roots, stalks, leaves and
ears.
• From a seed a corn plant
may grow 3 meters high.
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Corn The Energy Seed
• The corn seeds have many uses.
• Eating corn and popcorn provides energy
for your body.
• This energy will help you grow and move
and think.
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Corn The Energy Seed
• Corn can be ground and fed to livestock.
It is used as feed for cows, pigs and
chickens.
• This energy will make the animals grow
fast and large.
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Corn The Energy Seed
• You can dry the corn stalks by hanging them.
• The dried corn can be burned in your woodstove
• The energy in the corn seeds release heat to keep you warm on winter
nights.
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Corn The Energy Seed
• You can put the corn seeds into a large container.
• The seeds will change from a solids into gas that
you can burn for cooking or heat.
• Some farmers heat their barns
with this gas called methane.
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Corn The Energy Seed
Corn seeds can be changed into a liquid that
can provide energy to drive cars
It is the same process that can change grapes
into wine.
This fuel is called ethanol and is sometimes
added to gasoline.
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Corn is seed that has many uses. The energy in the seed can be used for many things
Why don’t you plant some corn seeds and explore the ways you can use the energy
in the plants you grow.
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Can you draw a picture showing the many uses for corn seeds?
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Let’s dry seeds on a husk of corn.
After the seed are dry
We can plant the seeds in our garden.
We can also plant them indoors for corn shoots
1. Pull back husks and complete drying in cool, dry location
2. String the corn up by the pulled-back husks. You can do this by
braiding the ears together, or simply by tying the husks to a
string.
3. Wait 60 to 90 days, and take down the string of corn. To see if
the corn is dry enough to be stored as seed, gently pluck at a
few kernels with your finger. If the corn breaks free from the
cob, you can now store it as seed
4. Take each ear of corn and twist it over a paper bag. Grabbing
hold of your corn cob, turn one wrist one direction, and one
the other direction. The corn seed kernels should fall off into
the paper bag
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Can you write the down some of the uses of corn?
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Lesson Plan 2
• Lets plant some corn seeds.
• But first we need to soak
them in water.
• The seeds will get bigger in
the water and start
growing.
• Students get to make
Styrofoam Cup Strainers
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As you can see, a seed of corn really is an energy seed.
Why don’t you plant some corn seeds and explore the ways you can use the energy
in the plants you grow.
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Let’s plant
some corn
seeds and
grow some
popcorn
shoots
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Put some corn seeds in a cup add water and soak them
overnight
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Let’s put the seeds that have been in water overnight in a cup.
Make holes in the bottom of the cup with your pencil.
Make a lid for the cup with paper or cardboard.
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Rinse and strain the seeds 2 or 3 times a day
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Now you can rinse the seed easily in your strainer
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Lesson Plan 3
• Students germinate the corn seeds
• Plant the sprouted seeds in soil.
• Students can print name on the pots
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Rinse and strain the seeds 2 or 3 times a day until the corn seeds sprout
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Rinse and strain the seeds 2 or 3 times a day until the corn seeds sprout.
When the seed sprout, they will look like this and are ready to plant
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Plant the seeds in your Styrofoam cup with the holes
Remember to cover the seed with soil.
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• Add a little water
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Sunlight
• You can use indoor light to replace the sun
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Instructions for Growing Corn Greens
Continue to water to keep soil moist
When the corn emerges and have two leaves,
cut them and rinse.
Eat the stems as well,
great in salads or garnish on sandwiches
Rinse your shoots well before eating
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Lesson Plan 4
• Students learn observation and recording skills
–Draw and write their observations as the
plants are growing
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Observe the planted seeds for next 8-12 days
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Growing Corn Greens
On what day did the seed come out of the soil?
On what day did the first leave show?
On what day did you see two leaves?
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Growing Corn Greens
On what day did the seed come out of the soil?
On what day did the first leave show?
On what day did you see two leaves?
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Growing Corn Greens
On what day did the seed come out of the soil?
On what day did the first leave show?
On what day did you see two leaves?
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Growing Corn Greens
On what day did the seed come out of the soil?
On what day did the first leave show?
On what day did you see two leaves?
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Lesson Plan 5
• Students learn about the nutritional benefits
of corn shoots
• Learn how to harvest safely
• Discuss the taste and learn why it is so sweet
Rinse your shoots well before eating
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Green Corn Shoots
Healthy
Tasty
Easy to make
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.
They are up to 30% percent
protein by weight.
Vitamins A, B, C and E
Calcium, Chlorophyll, Iron,
Lecithin, Magnesium,
Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus,
Potassium
Trace Elements
Protein: up to 30%
.
TASTE GREAT AND ARE HEALTHY!
Put them on sandwiches, salads or in soup.
Eat them anyway you want to.
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Rinse your shoots well before eating
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How do they taste
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Why do think they are so sweet?
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Why do think they are so sweet?
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The young plant has simple sugars in it.
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Lesson Plan 6
• Students develop critical thinking skills as they
explore the energy inputs into different food
groups.
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• How much energy does it take to make our food?
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• Which food takes more energy to make?
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• Corn shoots we planted the seeds and harvested
them
• If we grow corn in a garden we can get seeds from
the corn plant
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• How much energy does meat take?
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Do you think meat takes lots of energy?
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Can you draw or print all the steps it takes to make beef?
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Lesson Plan 7
• Introduces students to concept of
sustainability and food security
• Benefits of gardens
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Your garden is a healthy fun way to provide your family
and community with food.
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Growing your own food does not cost very much
money. So it has economic benefits.
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$$$$$
Why is growing your own food good for the
environment ?
See the next 5 slides to
promote discussion
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Can you write a short story on a carrot travelling
from a farm in California to your kitchen table
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