Illinois- A “Bountiful” Place in the World!
Promoting
Geographic Knowledge Through Literature Workshop
July 7-19, 2002
Illinois produces more corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs than just about any other place in the world. In addition, Illinois farmers produce dozens of unique grains, livestock, and specialty crops. Many Illinois agricultural products are found in items like paint, cosmetics, medicines, fuels, printing inks, chemicals, beverages and all kinds of foods. Illinois is certainly a “bountiful” place in the world!
Location, Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Movement, and Regions will be covered
#11- The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s surface
The students will:
1. Locate Illinois on a map.
2. Recognize the importance of Illinois farms.
3. Identify corn and soybean seeds and plants.
4.
List examples of foods and non-foods that come from corn, soybeans,
cattle and
hogs.
5. Compare and contrast products that come from cattle and hogs.
6. Compare and contrast products that come from corn and soybeans.
7. List some of the specialty crops grown in Illinois.
Heartland written by Diane Siebert (Harper Trophy publisher ISBN# 0-06-443287-4) other related picture books, reference books, maps, Internet access (optional), soybean seeds, corn seeds, pictures of soybean plants, corn plants, hogs, cows and examples of any available products made from soybeans, corn, hogs, cows and specialty crops.
1. Read aloud Heartland written by Diane Siebert.
2. Locate Illinois on the map. Discuss the Midwest region and why the land is so fertile.
3.
Through classroom discussion or pre-testing, find out what the students
already know
about Illinois farms and farm products.
4. Make a class list of questions that students have.
5.
Each student or group researches facts about soybeans, corn, cattle,
hogs, or
specialty crops. They gather examples of products, make
games, words searches,
crossword puzzles, etc and write reports to teach others
about what they have
learned.
Illinois- A “Bountiful” Place in the World presentation can culminate the unit of study by inviting parents and other students to listen and participate in activities developed by the class. This may be done by a rotation of the audience from group to group.
Either by a posttest or discussion, find out if the list of questions that the students had earlier have been answered. (If they have not, more research may be necessary. Perhaps they will have new questions now.) Individual assessment may also be done by interviewing students or assessing the presentation.