Shucking Corn

Core Learning Experience + Supplies and Equipment

​​Place several unshucked ears or corn on the table. Can you guess what this is? What is inside? Check the shape, color, stem, strings. Have the children begin to peel the leaves down, one at a time, to see the kernels inside.

Possible/Expected Discoveries

  • ​There are many plants that can be grown in large or small areas, such as farms and gardens, which can be used to feed and nourish people and animals.
  • Corn is an important food for many people.   It is a plant, and grows from seed, or grain. Several ears grow on a stalk, which grows very high. 
  • We can use corn in many different forms. Some forms are: fresh, frozen, canned, cornmeal, masa, tortillas, cornstarch, corn syrup, popcorn, cornbread, corn oil, corn chips

Extended Learning and Other Curriculum Areas

  • ​​Create a collection or display of things that use or include corn. Make labels for them, and read them. Read the words on packets and cans, and relate the words and pictures to the contents.
  • Eat corn on the cob for lunch, dry out the cob, and make art prints with it. Use the ends, too. Examine and discuss the texture  
  • Obtain feed corn (for animals) and talk about the smaller hard kernels. Pull them off, use for counting, color sorting, creating a design with glue and paper.
  •  Make popcorn (over 3’s). 
  • Make cornbread and eat with butter and honey.
  • Play with cornstarch goop 
  • Finger paint with corn syrup plus food coloring. 

Activity Packs and Printables

Corn theme pack $3.75
Corn theme pack $3.75
Corn products discussion and matching game - print 2 copies.
Corn products discussion and matching game - print 2 copies.

Websites

​http://www.iowacorn.org/en/corn_use_education/fun_for_kids/
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/corn/
​www.kidsparkz.com/corn.html (Corn theme free printables)

Books

​Corn - On and Off the Cob by Allan Fowler.
The Runaway Tortilla by Eric A. Kimmel.
Corn is Maize by Aliki
Corn (What’s for Lunch) by Pam Robson