Materials
Corn on the cob, one for each child
Garbage bag
Pots
Hot plate or stove (adult only)
Butter
Plastic knife
Salt
Paper plates and napkins
Instructions
1. Show the children how to shuck corn, preferably outside because it will be a messy process. Provide a garbage bag for the children to put the discarded corn silk.2. While the children shuck their corn, point out the different parts of the corn. Husks are the outer coverings of the corn. (You may want to save the husks and dry them to use for a future art project.) Corn silk is the thread that is pulled away from the corn. They are sticky and sometimes hard to pull off. Kernels are the corn itself, and the cob is the hard core under the kernels. Explain to the children that they won't see the cob until after they eat the corn.3. Next, help the children wash their ears of corn and put them into a pot of water.4. Place the pot on a hot plate or stove and cook the corn in boiling water until it is tender (adult only).5. While the corn is cooking, ask the children where corn comes from and what it needs to grow. Discuss the different ways to buy corn (cans, frozen, fresh, and for popping).6. When the corn is ready, allow it to cool and put butter and salt on it. Enjoy!More to do:Take a field trip to a local farm to see corn growing in the field.
