That's So Corny: A Science Investigation Packet with Indian Corn 

That's So Corny!  Cover Page

If you have been reading my previous posts, you know that I just finished sharing my Science Experiments and Investigations Packet called: Let's Fall Into Science.  Then I decided to pull out some of those experiments and investigations separately to share on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

So, last year I decided to enter a Science Fair Project at my school. We did this as a class and we investigated with Indian Corn. The students really learned a lot about the Scientific Method and about growing corn.

 This is a very easy and engaging science investigation! 
You can teach this mini-unit during your theme of Natural Resources, Life Cycles, or Thanksgiving. I like to teach this min-unit in November when we are learning about Natural Resources and Thanksgiving. It goes perfectly together! 

This packet includes:

3 days of Lesson Plans with Mentor Texts
Corn Life Cycle Vocabulary Cards
Scientific Method Vocabulary Cards
Parts of a Corn Cob Vocabulary Card
Interactive Notebook activities for math and science
Craftivity: Corn in the Cornfield and Expository Writing
Science Investigation Log: That's So Corny!

So, here's how you set this investigation up: First you need Indian Corn, and if you cannot find some, Yellow Corn will do just fine. Just make sure to shuck it first before putting it into the Tupperware.  You also need 3 Tupperware containers filled with different natural resources: sand, soil and water. Here's a picture of my corn in their three different natural resources: 

Corn in Water, Sand and Soil 

How are going to hook your students in? You can set the stage by reading your first book of Corn by: Gail Gibbons. This mentor text is perfect to give an overview of corn before you start. 
You can use this scientific method fold-able for the students to ask their question and hypothesize about the corn. The students can glue this into their science notebook and fill it in as the investigation unfolds. Here is my fold-able. 

Scientific Method Fold-able

The students will start their investigation by observing the corn with a magnifying glass. You can set up the corn under a lamp, or next to your window on a shelf.  The students will hypothesize if the corn will grow better in the sand, water or soil. It's very interesting to see what they think will happen! Here is the page they can record their hypothesis: 

Hypothesis Page

Here are pictures of my students observing the corn in the different natural resources. They put their thumbs down if they didn't think it will grow, and put their thumbs up if they did think it will grow. They did this by table groups: 

Students Observing Corn

Students Observing Corn

Students Observing Corn

The students observed the corn for 8 days and recorded their data in their corn investigation log. This log also has a page for drawing conclusions at the end. Here is the cover page and one of the inside pages for data:

Cover Page

Data Page Day 1 

Also in the packet, the students can create a craftivity. I LOVE incorporating art with my science and social studies units. The students can write an expository piece all about corn and then make a cornfield using real popcorn!  Here is my craftivity: 

Corn in the Cornfield Craftivity 

Student Making the Craftivity

Students can also learn the parts of a corn cob using this vocabulary card:

Parts of Corn

In their science notebook, students can label the parts of corn, color, cut it out and glue it in.

Label the Parts of Corn

I hope you got some helpful ideas about growing Indian Corn in your classroom. If you are ever in a panic and need an easy, engaging science investigation for the science fair at your school, I definitely recommend this one! It is so much fun and the students LOVED it!
If you are interested in my packet, click below:

That's So Corny! An Investigation Using Indian Corn Grades 1-3

Love, Kara

Graphics Courtesy of: