agintheclassroom.comagintheclassroom.com/TeacherWorkshops/Fave Books.pdf · Author: JJones Created Date: 2/27/2013 11:41:43 AM

Lessons & Activities to Complement

Illinois Ag in the Classroom’s

Favorite Books

A Baker’s Dozen...and a Few More!

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom

2

Table of Contents

Farmer George Plants a Nation & L is for Lincoln

Pumpkin Circle & Pumpkin Jack

Oh Say Can You Seed & Seed Soil Sun

Tops & Bottoms & Who Grew My Soup

Snowflake Bentley & Water Dance

Anna’s Corn & Corn

Apples & The Apple Pie Tree

Extra Cheese Please & The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza

Christmas Tree Farm & The Tree Farmer

Awesome Agriculture for Kids Series

3-4

5-6

7-8

9-10

11-12

13-14

15-16

17-18

19-20

21-23


3

Farmer George Plants a Nation & L is for Lincoln

Farmer George Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomas (ISBN-13: 9781620910290)

George Washington as he's rarely seen. Besides being a general and the first president of the

United States, George Washington was also a farmer. His efforts to create a self-sufficient farm at

Mount Vernon, Virginia, mirrored his struggle to form a new nation. Excerpts from Washington's

writings are featured throughout the book, which also includes a timeline, resource section, as well

as essays on Washington at Mount Vernon and his thoughts on slavery.

L is for Lincoln by Kathy-Jo Wargin (ISBN-13: 9781585360161)

The home of one of America's most revered presidents is also home to American icons such as

the Ferris wheel and John Deere tractors. But even a lifelong "Illini" might not know the full story

behind the Tully Monster, The Northern Cross, or Old Quincy.

Wheat Grinding Activity

Illinois Learning Standards: 11.B.2a; 11.B.2b; 11.B.2c; 11.B.2d; 11.B.2e; 11.B.2f; 12.A.1a; 12.A.2a; 13.B.2b;

13.B.2c

Assessment Framework: 11.4.05; 11.4.06; 12.4.03; 12.4.05; 13.4.08; 13.4.09; 13.4.11

What You Will Need:

* Wheat stalks (from a farmer or decorative wheat from hobby stores)

* Salt or Pepper Grinder

Activity Instructions:

1. Go over the parts of the wheat stalk with the students to familiarize them with the parts so they can understand

the directions for dissection.

A. Stalk—the entire plant

B. Head—the part of the wheat plant that contains the kernels

C. Beard—the bristle-like parts of the wheat plant that cover and protect the kernels

D. Kernel—the seed from which the wheat plant is grown or that people harvest from the wheat plant to grind

into flour

E. Stem/Straw—the part of the wheat plant that supports the head and is known as straw after harvest.

2. Dissect the wheat using the following steps:

A. Hand out stalks of wheat to the students.

B. Break the head off the stem.

C. Make a straw out of the stem by breaking it to avoid the nodes.

D. Lay the wheat head flat on a hard surface and pat with your hand to shake out the kernels.

E. Have the students count their kernels.


4

3. Put the kernels of wheat into a salt or pepper grinder and have the students mill their wheat into flour. What sim-

ple machines are being used?

4. Talk about different ways to grind wheat. (ex: The Native Americans did it using rocks) Have students design

their own method of grinding wheat and then test their machines.

5. Talk about the uses of wheat flour to make pastas, breads, desserts, etc.

George Washington Cherry Pie

Illinois Learning Standards: 7.A.1a; 8.C.1; 13.A.1a; 13.B.1a; 13.B.1b; 21.B.1; 22.a.1b; 22.B.1; 24.A.1a; 24.A.1b

Assessment Framework: 7.3.05; 13.4.02; 13.4.11

What You Will Need:

* 2 small packages vanilla instant pudding * 2 cups milk

* 1 can cherry pie filling * 1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping

* Graham cracker crumbs * Whipped cream

* Small cups (3-5oz)


1. Put the vanilla instant pudding in a bowl or zip top freezer bag.

2. Add the milk and mix (or squeeze the bag) until thoroughly combined and slightly thickened.

3. Add the cherry pie filling and mix (squeeze) again.

4. Now add the whipped topping and gently combine.

5. Place a tablespoon of graham cracker crumbs in each small cup.

6. Fill the cup with the cherry/pudding mixture.

7. Top with whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Recipe provided by the Williamson County Ag in the Classroom Program

Additional Books & Resources:

IAITC’s Specialty Crop Ag Mag

Wheat Terra Nova Reader (www.agintheclassroom.org)

Machines mAGic Kit (see your County AITC Coordinator)

Bread Comes to Life: A Garden of Wheat and a Loaf to Eat by George Levenson (ISBN-13: 9781582462738)

From Wheat to Pasta by Robert Egan (ISBN-13: 9780516207094)

The Little Red Hen and the Ear of Wheat by Mary Finch (ISBN-13: 978-1902283340)

The Story of George Washington by Patricia A. Pingry (ISBN-13: 978-0824941888)

http://www.agintheclassroom.org


5

Pumpkin Circle & Pumpkin Jack

Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden by George Levenson (ISBN-13: 9781582460789)

We can be sure of this: It's a circle without end. It’s pumpkin seeds to pumpkins...to pumpkin

seeds again! This treat of a picture book comes cloaked in the colors of fall. Bouncy verse and

glowing photographs show a backyard pumpkin patch move through its natural cycle — a bug’s

eye and a bird's high view of seeds sprouting, flowers blooming, bees buzzing, pumpkins growing,

and then going back to earth.

Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell (ISBN-13: 9780807566664)

The first pumpkin Tim ever carved was fierce and funny, and he named it Jack. When Halloween

was over and the pumpkin was beginning to rot, Tim set it out in the garden and throughout the

weeks he watched it change. In the course of one year, a jack-o-lantern, discarded after Hallow-

een, decomposes in the backyard and eventually grows new pumpkins from its seeds.

3-D Pumpkins

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A.1a; 1.A.1b; 4.A.1c; 9.A.2a; 11.B.1a; 11.B.1c; 11.B.2c; 12.A.1b; 12.B.1a

Assessment Framework: 1.3.01; 1.3.06; 1.3.07; 1.3.13; 2.3.02; 2.3.10; 12.4.03; 12.4.04; 12.4.05

What You Will Need:

* Orange construction paper * Green construction paper

* Paper punch * 2 paper fasteners for each pumpkin

* Scissors


1. Begin by reading the Pumpkin Ag Mag.

2. Cut 3 strips about 1 in. wide down the short side of the orange paper.

3. Write a pumpkin fact on each strip.

4. Holding the strips together in a stack, use a paper punch to make 3 holes in the strips. Punch one in the middle

and one 1/2 inch from each end.

5. Cut strips of green construction paper into 1 inch by 1 inch squares. Punch a hole in the middle of these squares.

This will be the pumpkin’s stem.

6. Still holding the strips together, place the stem on top of the middle hole and put a paper fastener through the

stem and the orange strips of paper in the middle hole.

7. Bring the ends of the long orange strips and fasten them all together.

8. Spread out the paper strips to form a pumpkin.


6

Pumpkin Charm

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A.1a; 1.A.1b; 2.B.1c; 4.A.1c; 11.B.1a; 11.B.1c; 12.A.1a; 12.A.1b


What You Will Need:

* small Ziploc baggies * sand

* flower, insect and pumpkin confetti * blue, green and yellow beads

* pumpkin seeds * orange crinkle paper

* yarn or string


Start off with a small Ziploc baggie. Put the following items inside the baggie:

1. Pinch of sand: Pumpkins grow best in sandy soil.

2. Pumpkin seed: You can eat a pumpkin seed or plant it!

3. Flower: Pumpkins grow on a vine, but through pollination they start by growing inside the flower.

4. Insects: Insects like bees help pass pollen from one pumpkin flower to another. Many insects help gardens

grow.

5. Blue Bead: Pumpkins need water to grow. Pumpkins are 90% water.

6. Green Bead: A tiny green pumpkin starts to grow at the base of the flower.

7. Yellow Bead: Sunlight changes the pumpkin from green to yellow.

8. Pumpkin: Sunlight changes the pumpkin from yellow to orange. The orange color means the pumpkin is ready

to pick!

9. Orange Crinkle Paper: Pumpkins contain pulp and seeds. Plant the seeds in the ground and start the life cycle

over again!

Finally, punch a hole above the baggie’s seal. Then loop a string through the hole and tie it off. Now you have a

pumpkin charm to wear around your neck. Be sure to share everything you know about PUMPKINS!


IAITC’s Pumpkin Ag Mag

Pumpkin Terra Nova Reader (www.agintheclassroom.org)

Pumpkin Day, Pumpkin Night by Anne Rockwell (ISBN 0-8027-8696-0)

Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell (ISBN 080756667)

Pumpkins by Jacqueline Farmer (ISBN-10: 1-57091-558-X)

Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White (ISBN 0-8234-1320-9)

www.agintheclassroom.orgC:/Apps


7

Oh Say Can You Seed & Seed Soil Sun

Oh Say Can You Seed? All About Flowering Plants by Bonnie Worth (ISBN-13: 9780375810954)

With the able assistance of Thing 1 and Thing 2 -- and a fleet of Rube Goldbergian vehicles -- the

Cat in the Hat examines the various parts of plants, seeds, and flowers; basic photosynthesis and

pollination; and seed dispersal.

Seed, Soil, Sun: Earth's Recipe for Food by Cris Peterson (ISBN-13: 9781590789476)

Seed. Soil. Sun. With these simple ingredients, nature creates our food. Noted author Cris Peter-

son brings both wonder and clarity to the subject of agriculture, celebrating the cycle of growth,

harvest, and renewal in this American Farm Bureau Foundation's Agriculture Book of the Year.

Beanie Baby

Illinois Learning Standards: 11.A.2c; 11.A.2d; 11.B.2b; 11.B.2f; 12.A.2a; 12.E.2a

Assessment Framework: 11.4.01; 11.4.02; 11.4.03; 11.4.04; 12.4.03; 12.4.04; 12.4.05

What You Will Need:

* Jewelry size re-sealable bag (found in craft stores) * Crystal soil

* Hole punch * Water

* Measuring spoons * Soybeans

* Yarn


1. Punch a hole in the top of your bag.

2. Place a scant 1/4 teaspoon of Crystal soil into the bag.

3. Add one tablespoon of water.

4. Gently push in two soybeans.

5. Seal your bag firmly.

6. Insert the yarn to make a necklace.

7. Wear your beanie baby around your neck and under your shirt to keep it in a warm, dark place.

8. Check your beanie baby several times a day for germination and record the growth.


8

Growing Letters

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.B.2b; 1.C.2b; 1.C.2d; 2.A.2b; 11.A.2c; 11.A.2d; 11.B.2b; 11.B.2f

Assessment Framework: 1.4.09; 1.4.10; 1.4.13; 1.4.14

What You Will Need:

* Seeds * Glue

* Crayons * Construction paper

* Water bottle * Wax paper or cookie sheets


1. Cut large sheets of construction paper in half. One 1/2 piece of paper for each student.

2. Next, write each students’ name on the construction paper strip using the crayons. Older students can write their

own name.

3. Now have each student trace over their name with glue. Elmer's white school glue will work or a glue stick.

4. Once the student has traced his or her name in glue have them shake the seeds over the glue. If you use small

seeds like radishes, carrots or even grass seeds you can put them in shakers to help students place the seeds

easier. Old rinsed out plastic spice jars work really well.

5. Sit to the side to let glue dry.

6. Once the glue is dried, place the projects in Ziploc bags and spritz with water. Do not saturate the paper but do

get the seeds damp. The seeds should be kept damp to ensure growth.

7. Zip the bag and watch the seeds sprout!


IAITC’s Horticulture, Soybean and Specialty Crop Ag Mags

Soybean Terra Nova Reader (www.agintheclassroom.org)

Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo (ISBN 978-1-60060-442-3)

Oh Say Can You Seed? by Bonnie Worth (ISBN-13: 978-0375810954)

One Bean by Anne Rockwell (ISBN-13: 978-0802775726)

Pick, Pull, Snap by Lola M. Schaefer (ISBN-13: 978-0688178345)

The Super Soybean by Raymond Bial (ISBN 978-0-8075-7549-9)

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle (ISBN-13: 978-1416979173)

Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens (ISBN-13: 978-0152928513)

www.agintheclassroom.orgC:/Apps


9

Tops & Bottoms & Who Grew My Soup

Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens (ISBN-13: 9780152928513)

Hare solves his family’s problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear in this funny, energetic version of

an old slave story. With roots in American slave tales, Tops & Bottoms celebrates the trickster tra-

dition of using one’s wits to overcome hardship.

This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories)

Who Grew My Soup? by Tom Darbyshire (ISBN-13: 978-1412745444)

Who Grew My Soup? tells the story of young Phineas Quinn and his questions about the vegeta-

ble soup his mom serves for lunch. “I’ll not take one sip of this vegetable goop unless you tell me

this: Who grew my soup?” Much to Phin’s surprise, a man in a flying tomato balloon shows up to

answer this stirring question. Join Phin and magical Mr. Mattoo as they fly from farm to farm, learn-

ing about amazing vegetables and the farmers who grow them.

Tops & Bottoms

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A.1a; 1.A.1b; 2.B.1c; 4.A.1c; 11.B.1a; 11.B.1c; 12.A.1a; 12.A.1b; 12.B.1a


What You Will Need:

* Vegetable template (www.agintheclassroom.org) * 2 paper fasteners (brads)

* Colored pencils or crayons * Hole punch

* Scissors * Glue

* Two white paper plates per student


1. Have students color and cut out the vegetables from the vegetable template.

2. Next have students fold one plate in half and draw a line down the center of the plate. Color one half of the plate

blue and the other half brown.

3. Now have students glue the vegetables on the colored plate. The blue space will serve as the sky, so anything

that grows on “top” should be placed on the line “growing” into the blue, anything that grows from the “bottom”

should be placed on the line “growing” into the brown side of the plate. When finished, all the vegetables should

be lined up on the center line (fold) with the “tops” vegetables showing in the blue and the “bottoms” vegetables

showing in the brown.

4. Next, write on the second paper plate the words “Tops” and “Bottoms” in their corresponding place on the plate.

Now fold the plate in half and cut along the fold.

5. On the left side of the first plate (the one containing the vegetables) place a hole punch about 3 cm in on the line.



10

6. Lastly, place the two halves labeled “Tops” and “Bottoms” on top of each other and place a hole 3 cm in on the

left side. This hole should line up with the decorated plate. Line all the holes up and place a brad to secure the

plates. Now the bottom plate should have a cover. When the “Tops” is pulled up it should reveal the crops that

grow on top and the same with the “Bottoms.”

Tomato Spinner

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A1a; 1.A1b; 2.B.1c; 4.A.1c; 11.B.1a; 11.B.1c; 12.A.1a; 12.A.1b; 12.B.1a


What You Will Need:

* 1 brad * 1 small white dessert plate * Pencil

* Ruler (optional) * 1 red dinner plate * Color pencils or crayons

* Glue * Scissors

* Stem template from www.agintheclassroom.org or have students draw their own


1. Have the students divide the small dessert plate into eighths by drawing with a pencil and using the ruler as a

straight line guide. Plain white paper can be substituted for the small white dessert plates. Just have students

trace the large paper plate on a regular sheet of paper and cut it out.

2. Have the students write an Illinois specialty crop fact or facts about vegetables learned from the reading of the

Illinois Specialty Crop Ag Mag or Who Grew My Soup on each one eighth section.

3. Have the students cut a triangle out of the large plate. It should be 1/8th of the plate in size. It should look like a

pie slice and line up with the lines drawn on the small dessert plate.

4. Have the students attach the red plate to the front of the divided fact plate with a brad.

5. Have the students glue the tomato stem to the top of the tomato.

6. Now the students can turn their tomato spinner and review the facts about vegetables, especially tomatoes!


IAITC’s Specialty Crop Ag Mag

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola Series) by Lauren Child (ISBN-13: 9780763621803)

The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons (ISBN-13: 9780823420018)

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres (ISBN-13: 9780763640170)



11

Snowflake Bentley & Water Dance

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin (ISBN-13: 9780547248295)

From the time he was a small boy, Wilson Bentley thought of the icy crystals as small miracles.

And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crys-

tals. Bentley's enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but

his patience and determination revealed two important truths about snowflakes: first, that no two

are alike and second, that each one is startlingly beautiful.

Water Dance by Thomas Locker (ISBN-13: 9780152163969)

From a gentle mountain pond to a raging waterfall or from a silent ocean mist to a sparkling rain-

bow, dramatic text and paintings give water voice and substance in this tribute to water in all its

glorious forms. Inspiring and informative, Water Dance is a poetic introduction to one of nature's

most basic elements. Scientific facts about water and its role in our lives are included.

Water Cycle Bracelet

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A.1a; 1.A.1b; 11.B.1b; 11.B.1c; 12.A.2a; 12.B.1a; 12.B.1b; 12.C.1a; 12.E.1a; 2.E.1b

Assessment Framework: Standard 1A; 1.3.12; 1.3.13; 1.3.14; 1.3.15; 1.3.21; Standard 12A; 12.4.43

What You Will Need:

* yarn, leather, rope or pipe cleaner

* yellow, clear, gray, sparkling clear, white, brown, dark blue, sparkling blue, sparkling brown, and green beads


1. Give each student a piece of yarn, leather, rope or pipe cleaner.

2. Show the students that each colored bead represents a different stage of water in the Earth’s systems.

3. Ask the students to string one of each colored bead on their bracelet. Tell them to string the beads in any order

they like.

4. After the bracelets are complete, ask the students to show you their personal water cycle. For example, if their

beads are in the following order: clouds, puddles, plants, the students explain that the water started in the

clouds, then it rained and fell into puddles on the sidewalk, then the water evaporated and collected on the plants

overnight. Each student will have a different water story to tell.

The beads and what they represent are as follows: Sun (yellow) – the sun is the source of all energy on earth and powers the water cycle. Water Vapor (clear) – the part of the water cycle where water is suspended in the air or is steam and humidity. Clouds (gray) – when water vapor condenses but is still in the air.


12

Rain (sparkling clear) – moisture from clouds falls to the earth as a liquid. Snow (white) – moisture falling as a liquid in the frozen state. Erosion (brown) – rain causes erosion where soil is unprotected by vegetation. Soil particles are suspended in the water run off. Oceans (dark blue) – the Earth’s weather factory. Moisture evaporates from the oceans by the sun’s heat and is car-ried around the Earth by winds. Lakes (sparkling blue) – the way we like to see a lake. Collects water from streams, and also evaporates water into the atmosphere. Puddles (sparkling brown) – rain water collects in low spots, streets, sidewalks, and also collects pollutants (dirt, trash, automotive fluids, etc.) Puddles evaporate or go into storm sewers. Plants (green) – Plants take in water through roots and evaporate water into the atmosphere through leaves – a pro-

cess called transpiration.

Water Cycle in a Bag

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A.1a; 1.A.1b; 11.B.1b; 11.B.1c; 12.A.2a; 12.B.1a; 12.B.1b; 12.C.1a; 12.E.1a;

12.E.1b

Assessment Framework: Standard 1A; 1.3.12; 1.3.13; 1.3.14; 1.3.15; 1.3.21; Standard 12A; 12.4.43

What You Will Need:

* Sandwich-sized zipper seal bags * Permanent markers

* Aquarium rock * Tablespoon

* ¼ cup measuring cup * Water

* Packing tape * Water cycle illustration (www.agintheclassroom.org)


1. Place the copy of the water cycle illustration inside the bag and close the bag.

2. Using permanent markers, trace over all the black lines, including the numbers.

3. After completely tracing everything, remove the copy from the bag.

4. Add 2 tablespoons of aquarium rock to the bottom of the bag.

5. Add ¼ cup water to the bag.

6. Using wide clear packing tap, affix the bag to a window in direct sunlight and watch the water cycle work.


IAITC’s Water Ag Mag

A Drop of Water by Walter Wick (ISBN-13: 9780590221979)

Down Comes the Rain by Franklyn M. Branley (ISBN-13: 978-0064451666)



13

Anna’s Corn & Corn

Anna’s Corn by Barbara Santucci (ISBN-13: 9780802851192)

The music of the corn is beautiful to Anna, just like Grandpa's raspy, crackling voice. When winter

comes, though, Grandpa dies. Anna hangs onto the dried kernels of corn Grandpa had given her,

but she wonders if she will ever hear the corn's music again. Then she remembers her promise to

Grandpa.

Corn by Gail Gibbons (ISBN-13: 9780823422456)

What is the story behind corn? Corn is used in many favorite foods, such as popcorn, corn on the

cob, corn dogs, and cornflakes. This cornucopia of information in Gail Gibbons's tried-and-true

style presents the history and uses of corn as well as details concerning planting, cultivation, and

harvesting.

Corny Art

Illinois Learning Standards: 11.B.1b; 11.B.1c; 11.B.1d; 11.B.1e; 12.E.1c; 13.B.1e; 25.A.1d; 26.A.1e; 26.B.1d

Assessment Framework: 11.4.05; 11.4.06; 12.4.30;12.4.31; 13.4.13

What You Will Need:

* Cornstarch Packing Peanuts


1. Use the packing peanuts as an interest approach. Each student thinks of something different when they hear the

word “agriculture.” Have your students build something related to agriculture. To make it more interesting, give

your students some stipulations, such as:

Time Limit—Give your students 10 minutes to construct their idea of agriculture.

Height—You are looking for the tallest structure.

Sturdiness—Structures should be free-standing. When time is up, have them let go and then measure the

tallest structure that can stand on its own.

2. Another interest approach idea: Give students the title of an upcoming reading assignment or book. What does

each student think of when they hear that title? What will the book be about? Have each student construct their

idea.

3. For young students learning numbers or the alphabet, give them a piece of paper with a number or letter on it.

Have them “trace” the number or letter with corn packing peanuts by having them lick and stick them together.


14

Tassel to Table Chain

Illinois Learning Standards: 12.A.2a; 15.A.2a; 15.D.2b


What You Will Need:

* One individual-sized cereal box * Hole punch

* Construction Paper (Yellow, Green, Pink, Brown, Blue, Red, Orange) * Scissors

* Yarn (8 pieces, 6-8 inches each) * Corn kernels


1. Learn about corn by reading the Corn Ag Mag.

2. Have students make one of each item out of construction paper: kernel, corn, combine, cob, elevator, manufac-

turer, truck and grocery cart. These are available at www.agintheclassroom.org.

3. Instruct students to punch a hole on each side of the construction paper items, except the corn kernel, which

needs the top punched.

4. Have students create a chain by placing the items in the following order: kernel, corn plant, combine, cob, eleva-tor, manufacturer, truck, grocery store, cereal box.

5. Have the students place all the items in their cereal box. Then, starting with the kernel, they can slowly pull shapes out and share how corn goes from the tassel to the table.

Anna’s Corn

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A.1a, 1.A.1b, 1.B.1a, 1.B.1d, 1.C.1c, 2.B.1a, 2.B.1c, 12.A.1a, 12.B.1a, 12.B.1b, 12.B.2a, 12.E.1c, 13.B.1d

Illinois Assessment Framework: 1.3.13, 1.3.14, 1.3.23, 2.3.01, 2.3.07, 12.4.07, 12.4.08, 12.4.09

What You Will Need:

* Pouches (www.giftsintl-us.com) packs of 25 for $3.12

* Squirrel corn (Wal-Mart) $7.97 for about 20 ears


1. Have students hold an ear of squirrel corn in their hands. Talk about the different types of corn.

2. Students should shell (pull off) a few kernels of corn to place in their pouch. Remind students that before machin-ery took over the job, corn was shelled by hand.

3. Encourage students to take their corn home, plant it and watch it grow.


IAITC’s Corn Ag Mag

Corn Terra Nova Reader (www.agintheclassroom.org)

Cornbelt Harvest by Raymond Bial (ISBN 0-395-56234-1)


http://www.giftsintl-us.com



15

Apples & The Apple Pie Tree

Apples by Gail Gibbons (ISBN-13: 9780823416691)

This colorful book is packed with information, including cutaway views of apples showing their

parts, a diagram of an apple press, charts of varieties of apples, and step-by-step instructions for

planting and growing apple trees.

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall (ISBN-13: 9780590623827)

The changing seasons bring a tasty surprise in this bright picture book. Two young sisters watch

in fascination as their apple tree changes, from bare in winter to bursting with pink blossoms in

spring, and as robins build a nest. When autumn comes, the small green apples have grown big

enough for picking--and for pie!

Apple Blossom Tree

Illinois Learning Standards: 12.A.1a; 12A.2a; 12.A.1b; 12.A.2b

Assessment Framework: 12.4.01; 12.4.02; 12.4.04; 12.4.06

What You Will Need:

* brown & green construction paper * white & pink tissue paper

* scissors * red marker

* bee or bug sticker * glue sticks

* red bingo markers * brown marker


1. Trace the two treetops onto green construction paper and cut out. Two tops are needed for each tree.

2. Trace the tree trunk onto brown construction paper and cut out.

3. Lay one treetop on the table. Glue the tree trunk to this top. Then, match up and glue on the other top.

4. Cut pink and white tissue paper into small squares.

5. On one side of the tree, glue on crumpled tissue paper to represent blossoms.

6. Add a bug or bee sticker to the blossoms. Pollination must occur in order for an apple to grow. This growth first

starts in the flower. Label this side of the trunk “spring.”

7. On the other side of the tree, use the bingo marker to dab circle on the treetop. When the ink is dry, use the red

marker to create stems. Label this side of the trunk “fall.”


16

Apple Chain

Illinois Learning Standards: 12.A.1a; 12A.2a; 12.A.1b

Assessment Framework: 12.4.01; 12.4.02;12.4.04; 12.4.06

What You Will Need:

* 2 red paper plates per student (or plain white plates to be colored) * Crayons

* Scissors * Stapler

* Yarn * Construction paper (yellow, pink, brown and green)

* Hole punch * Tape


1. Cut out each item out of construction paper: seed, tree, blossom, bee, little green apple. Punch a hole on each

side of the items you made with construction paper. The brown seed only gets one hole punch.

2. Staple two red paper plates together around 2/3 of the edge. Leave the other 1/3 open.

3. Tape or staple a piece of yarn to the inside of the paper plates and extend the yarn out of the opening.

4. Add a stem and leaf to the red paper plates to make them look like an apple.

5. Tie the little green apple to the yarn coming out of the apple. Tie the bee to the little green apple. Tie the blossom

to the bee. Tie the bee to the tree. Tie the tree to the seed. These should all form a chain.

6. Tuck the green apple, bee, blossom, tree, and seed into the apple. Starting with seed, slowly pull shapes out of

the apple and tell the story of how apples grow.


IAITC’s Apple Ag Mag

Apple Terra Nova Reader (www.agintheclassroom.org)

Apple Picking Time by Michele Benoit Slawson (ISBN 0-517-88575-1)

A Song for Lena by Hilary Horder Hippely (ISBN 0-689-80763-5)

Bad Apple by Edward Hemingway (ISBN-13: 978-0399251917)

Hooray for Orchards by Bobbie Kalman (ISBN 0-86505-667-6)



17

Extra Cheese Please & The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza Extra Cheese, Please!: Mozzarella's Journey from Cow to Pizza by Cris Peterson (ISBN-13: 9781590782460)

When Cris Peterson's cow Annabelle gives birth to a calf, an amazing process begins. Now Anna-

belle can produce milk -- about 40,000 glasses of milk each year, or enough cheese to top 1,800

pizzas. Alvis Upitis's sparkling photographs document the cheese-making process -- starting on

the farm where Annabelle's calf is born and milking begins, then moving to the cheese-making

plant where the milk is heated and cooled, stirred and swirled, thickened, drained, and sliced, and

finally packaged for stores. Cris Peterson's personal and informative text explains the process in a

simple and engaging manner. A wonderful collaboration, concluding with the author's own recipe for pizza.

The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges (ISBN-13: 9780142301890)

The story of the industrious Little Red Hen is not a new one, but when this particular hen spies a

can of tomato sauce in her cupboard and decides to make a pizza, the familiar tale takes on a

fresh new twist. Kids will love following along as the hen, with no help from her friends the duck,

the dog, and the cat, goes through the steps of making a pizza-shopping for supplies, making the

dough, and adding the toppings. But despite their initial resistance, the hen's friends come through

in the end and help out in a refreshing and surprising way. In this version of the traditional tale, the

duck, the dog, and the cat refuse to help the Little Red Hen make a pizza but do get to participate

when the time comes to eat it.

Moo Masks

Illinois Learning Standards: 4.A.1c; 4.B.1b; 12.B.1b; 13.B.1d

Assessment Framework: 1.3.13; 1.3.14; 1.3.19; 1.3.20; 1.3.27; 12.4.01

What You Will Need:

* 1 Large dinner plate * 2 Small dessert plates

* String * Glue or Staples

* Crayons, markers, or colored pencils


1. Have the students cut one dessert plate in half.

2. Have the students staple or glue the other dessert plate behind the large dinner plate. They should draw eyes on

the dessert plate and a mouth on the dinner plate.

3. Next use the dessert plate that was cut in half to make two ears that are glued or stapled to the top of the dessert

plate with the eyes.

4. Have the students use the writing utensils to color the cow with black and white spots.

5. Have the students add an ear tag to their mask, using their birthdate in numerals.

6. Attach string to the side of the mask to allow it to wrap around their heads.


18

Pizza Garden

Illinois Learning Standards: 6.A.1b, 7.A.2a, 7.C.2b, 10.A.2a, 10.A.2b, 10.B.2d

Assessment Framework: 6.4.03, 7.4.02, 7.4.03, 7.4.04, 10.4.01, 10.4.02

What You Will Need:

* Stakes * String

* Oregano, parsley, basil, onion, pepper and tomato plants * Soil

* Shovel * Water


1. In your garden area, mark off a circle by putting a stake upright in the ground.

2. Attach a three and a half foot piece of string to the stake. Keeping the string tight, walk around in a circle and

mark the ground to show the garden's border. Divide the circle into six equal wedges. Each wedge will be approx-

imately 6.4 square feet.

3. In one wedge plant two or three oregano plants. Oregano is a perennial herb that gives pizza the characteristic

taste and wonderful smell. It may be used fresh or dried.

4. Parsley is a biennial herb that reseeds itself. Plant two or three plants in its wedge.

5. There are several kinds of basil varieties, but I recommend sweet basil for your pizza garden. Basil is an annual

herb and you can plant two to three plants in its wedge.

6. Onions can be planted from seeds or sets. Select red, white or yellow for your garden. Each set has four small

onion bulbs. Planting 10 sets would give you approximately 40 onions.

7. Plant one or two pepper plants in your garden. Plant any green, sweet, bell type of pepper. If you like hot, spicy

pizza, plan to also grow a hot pepper variety.

8. The final wedge will be planted with one tomato plant. A paste tomato variety, such as Roma, is recommended

for your pizza garden. Roma has small, oblong tomatoes with a thick meaty flesh.


IAITC’s Dairy, Pizza and Specialty Crop Ag Mags

Dairy & Pizza Terra Nova Reader (www.agintheclassroom.org)

Farmer George Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomas & Layne Johnson (ISBN-13 978-1590784600)

Hold The Anchovies! A Book about Pizza by Shelley Rotner & Julia Pemberton Hellums (ISBN 0-531-09507-X)

Pizza for the Queen by Nancy Castaldo (ISBN 0-8234-1865-0)

http://www.agintheclassroom.org/


19

Christmas Tree Farm & The Tree Farmer

Christmas Tree Farm by Ann Purmell (ISBN-13: 9780823418862)

Grandpa switches on the colored lights, puts up the OPEN sign, and the Christmas Tree Hut is

open for business. From the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve, people will come from all

over to find just the right tree. But most shoppers don't know that Grandpa and his family have

worked all year long planting, pruning, measuring, and tagging trees. This vibrantly illustrated book

shows the entire process from seedling to decorated tree as a warm-spirited family carries on a

holiday tradition.

The Tree Farmer by Chuck Leavell (ISBN-13: 9781893622166)

A Grandson confronts his Grandfather, a tree farmer, about how he can grow trees with so much

love and care, only to cut them down. But as they walk together through the trees, they discover

the majesty of the forest and enjoy the life journey of each tree. The Tree Farmer takes young

readers on a magical journey through the forest, in a tale of the gifts of trees and our responsibility

to care for trees, generation to generation.

The Learning Tree

Illinois Learning Standards: 1.A.1a; 1.A.2c;11.A.1d; 12.A.1a; 12.A.1b

Assessment Framework: 1.3.01; 1.3.02; 1.4.01; 11.4.03; 12.4.01

What You Will Need:

* Brown & green construction paper * Scissors

* Markers * Glue sticks


1. Trace your handprint onto green construction paper and cut out. A minimum of five hands are needed for each

tree.

2. Trace the tree trunk onto brown construction paper and cut out.

3. Lay one treetop on the table. Glue the tree trunk to this top.

4. On the front write MY TREE….

5. Now on the inside, write words that describe what you like or what you have learned about trees.

Lesson Extender: Turn the Learning Tree into the Giving Tree. Have each student write activities on each of the

leaves (hands) that they could perform that would help the environment. Examples could be recycling & composting.


20

3-D Evergreen Tree

Illinois Learning Standards: 12.A.1a; 12.A.2a; 12.B.1a; 12.B.2b


What You Will Need:

* Scissors

* Tape

* 3-D Evergreen Tree Templates (www.agintheclassroom.org)


1. Discuss this easy version of an evergreen tree life cycle with your students:

Cone: Evergreen tree growth starts with the cone. Through wind pollination, seeds develop on the seed

cone. In nature, these seeds mature and produce new evergreen trees, which can take several years.

Seedlings: Young trees or seedlings are planted in seed beds. Many evergreen producers purchase seed-

lings from specialty growers. The seedlings grow here until they are about 3 to 5 years old. After this time,

the seedling is replanted in a field.

Evergreen Tree: While in the field, the job of the tree is to keep growing. The evergreen grower takes care

of the tree by pruning and shearing it, which is like giving the tree a hair cut. The trees grow in the field for

several years until they are ready to be cut or harvested. In the spring, new trees are planted and the cy-

cle begins again!

2. Use the 3-D Evergreen Tree to review the life cycle:

Cut out the tree, including the tab at one edge.

Use a craft knife or scissors to cut a 1-inch slit along the outside edge of the tree.

Fold the tree in thirds along the dotted lines.

Then, insert the tab into the 1-inch slit.

Add tape along the side for extra reinforcement.


IAITC’s Tree Ag Mag

Christmas Tree Farm by Ann Purmell (ISBN 0-8234-1886-3)

I Can Name 50 Trees Today by Bonnie Worth (ISBN 0-375-82277-1)

Tell Me, Tree by Gail Gibbons (ISBN 0-316-30903-6)



21

Awesome Agriculture for Kids Series

Awesome Agriculture A-Z Books by Susan Anderson & JoAnne Buggey

Awesome Agriculture A-to-Z Books teach alphabet skills in an agricultural context. For school children in grades K-3.

The Story of Agriculture by Susan Anderson & JoAnne Buggey

The Story of Agriculture books explain the important grain crops and livestock grown and raised on farms. For

school children in grades 4-6.

Beautiful Bovine

Illinois Learning Standards: 4.A.1b; 4.A.1c; 4.B.1b; 5.A.1a; 10.A.1b; 12.A.1a; 12.A.1b; 12.B.1a; 12.B.1b; 13.B.1d

Assessment Framework: 1.3.04; 1.3.05; 1.3.06; 1.3.19; 1.3.20; 1.3.27; 3.306; 3.3.08; 12.4.01

What You Will Need:

* Surgical glove * Vest - leather/fur

* Yarn * Chewing gum

* Fly swatter * Plastic headband

* Cardboard * Four socks

* Sand paper * Four balloons

* Large bag * Elastic

* Yarn

Awesome Agriculture Beef Cattle

an A-to-Z Book

(ISBN 978-1-926781-08-2)

Awesome Agriculture Corn an A-

to-Z Book

(ISBN 978-1-926781-02-0)

Awesome Agriculture Pigs an A-

to-Z Book

(ISBN 978-1-926781-00-6)

Awesome Agriculture Soybeans

an A-to-Z Book

(ISBN 978-0-9811335-1-5)

Beef Cattle in the Story of Agri-

culture

(ISBN 978-1-926781-09-9)

Corn in the Story of Agriculture

(ISBN 978-1-926781-03-7)

Pigs & Pork in the Story of Agri-

culture

(ISBN 978-1-926781-01-3)

Soybeans in the Story of Agricul-

ture

(ISBN 978-0-9811335-2-2)


22


1. Assemble the pretend parts of a cow as follows:

Udder - Stuff the surgical glove with tissue. Attach yarn to tie around student's waist.

Horns and ears - cut cardboard in the shape of a cow's ears and horns, and attach them to a plastic head-

band.

Hooves - cut four cardboard hoof prints and attach them to the bottoms of the four socks.

Tongue - cut sand paper to hang around student's head. Attach yarn to tongue to hand around student's

head.

4-Compartment Stomach- Blow up four balloons and tie them together with yarn.

Tail - Tie fly swatter to a piece of yarn to tie around the student's waist.

Gum - give student a piece of chewing gum to chew as "cud.”

Hide - place the vest on students to represent the hide of a cow.

2. Place items in your bag once assembled.

3. Ask one of your students to volunteer to be dressed up to look like a cow. To avoid embarrassing any of your

students, ask your principal or another adult to be the volunteer.

4. Ask students to imagine what a cow looks like and what special parts it has that are different from a human.

What makes a cow a cow?

5. Ask students to suggest ways to make the volunteer look like a cow. As they come up with ideas, dress the

volunteer with the props in your bag. Share background information regarding each body part as you dress up

your volunteer.

Paper Bag Pig

Illinois Learning Standards: 4.A.1c, 4.B.1b, 12.B.1b, 13.B.1d

Assessment Framework: 1.3.13, 1.3.14, 1.3.19, 1.3.20, 1.3.27, 12.4.01

What You Will Need:

* Paper Bag Pig Template (www.agintheclassroom.org) * Pink paint or construction paper

* Paper bag * Glue

* Markers, colored pencils, crayons * Scissors


1. Print out the template (You can print the template on pink paper if you choose!)

2. If you do not print them on colored paper, color the pieces and cut them out.


23

Get familiar with your paper bag!

1. Look at your paper bag. It should be closed and flat like a piece of paper. Just like when they are brand new.

2. On one side, it's all smooth. This will be the BACK of your puppet. (It's important that all the kids get the back

and front straight at the beginning!)

3. On the other side there's a flippy tab (which is typically the bottom of the bag when you're carrying your lunch

around...) This flippy tab will be the HEAD.

4. Look at the rest of the front of the bag. (The 3/4 or so of the bag below the part with the flippy tab) This will be

the BODY.

5. OK, now that we're comfy with our bags, let's craft!

Putting your puppet together:

1. Print the template of choice and color in the pieces, as necessary.

2. If desired, take a piece of pink construction paper and cut it out to be the size of the body and glue it onto the pa-

per bag.

3. Cut another piece the size of the head and glue it onto the bag.

4. You can also cut a third piece the size of the back and glue it onto the bag.

5. Alternatively, you can paint your whole bag pink

6. Glue the eyes, snout, and ears onto the head.

7. Lift the side tab and put on a spot of glue. Attach the arm. (Or you can attach it to the front of the body if you pre-

fer.) Do the same with the other arm.

8. Cut the tail out in a spiral (follow the template dotted lines).

9. Turn the bag over and glue the center of the spiral to the bag.


IAITC’s Beef, Corn, Pork and Soybean Ag Mags

Beef, Corn, Pork and Soybean Terra Nova Readers (www.agintheclassroom.org)

All Around the Farm by Heather Alexander (ISBN-10: 0756629772)

Amazing Grazing by Cris Peterson (ISBN-13: 978-1590788684)

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Barnyard Hullabaloo by Giles Andreae (ISBN-13: 978-1589253872)

Farm Animals by Melvin & Gilda Berger (ISBN-13: 978-0545003940)

Mrs. Wishy, Washy's Farm by Joy Cowley (ISBN-13: 978-0142402993)


1701 Towanda Avenue

Bloomington, IL 61701

309-557-3334

www.agintheclassroom.org

http://www.agintheclassroom.org/

Documents

agintheclassroom.comagintheclassroom.com/TeacherWorkshops/Fave Books.pdf · Author: JJones Created Date: 2/27/2013 11:41:43 AM