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Popcorn Geography
Subjects
Grade
Brief Description
Use corn kernels to create a "Top Corn-Producing States" map or graph.
Objectives
Students will
Keywords
resources, natural resources, corn, popcorn, grains, production, economy, economics, fall, autumn, farm, farmer, rounding, place value
Lesson Plan
Corn is produced in most states in the United States. A total of 21 states produce at least 50 million (50,000,000) bushels of corn each year. In this activity, students use corn production data and corn kernels to produce a "U.S. Corn Production" map or graph.
Begin by sharing with students some samples of product/natural resources maps.
U.S. Crop Production Maps
Oil and Natural Gas Production in the United States
View the maps by
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Discuss how the maps show the products that are important to a particular area.
After talking about your state's map and its symbols, you might check out maps for neighboring states or for states in other parts of the country.
Next, provide an U.S. outline map for students to use to complete this activity. In addition, provide one of the following two work sheets (depending on the grade level of your students):
Extension Activities
More Map Resources
U.S. Crop Production Maps
These maps show production of a variety of grains.
Oil and Natural Gas Production in the United States
Discuss with students how this map illustrates the areas where oil and gas is produced.
Census 2010 Population Profile Maps
These U.S. Census maps do not show products; they show population. Students might find these maps to be of interest. Share with students the map of your state.
Assessment
Check students' maps for accuracy. Post the maps on a bulletin board.
Have students write a paragraph describing the meaning of the maps they created.
ANSWERS to U.S. Corn Production By State #1: Iowa - 17 kernels; Illinois - 16 kernels; Nebraska - 11 kernels; Indiana - 9 kernels; Minnesota - 8 kernels; Ohio - 4 kernels; Kansas - 4 kernels; South Dakota - 4 kernels; Missouri - 3 kernels; and Wisconsin - 3 kernels. ANSWERS to U.S. Corn Production By State #2: Colorado - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); Illinois - 1,600,000,000 (16 kernels); Indiana - 900,000,000 (9 kernels); Iowa 1,700,000,000 (17 kernels); Kansas - 400,000,000 (4 kernels); Kentucky - 200,000,000 (2 kernels); Maryland - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); Michigan - 200,000,000 (2 kernels); Minnesota - 800,000,000 (8 kernels); Mississippi - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); Missouri - 300,000,000 (3 kernels); Nebraska - 1,100,000,000 (11 kernels); New York - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); North Carolina - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); North Dakota - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); Ohio - 400,00,000 (4 kernels); Pennsylvania - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); South Dakota - 400,000,000 (4 kernels); Tennessee - 100,000,000 (1 kernel); Texas - 200,000,000 (2 kernels); Wisconsin - 300,000,000 (3 kernels).
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
MATHEMATICS: Representation
GRADES Pre-K - 12
NM-REP.PK-12.1 Create and Use Representations to Organize, Record, and Communicate Mathematical Ideas
NM-REP.PK-12.3 Use Representations to Model and Interpret Physical, Social, and Mathematical Phenomena
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Economics
GRADES K - 4
NSS-EC.K-4.1Productive Resources
NSS-EC.K-4.18 National Productivity
GRADES 5 - 8
NSS-EC.5-8.1 Productive Resources
NSS-EC.5-8.18 National Productivity
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography
GRADES K - 12
NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms
NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and Regions
Find more popcorn activities in Education World's article, Popcorn Isn't Just for Movies Anymore.
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