Full of Beans – Henry Ford Grows a Car

Thank you for recently attending a “Leading Kids to Ag Knowledge” workshop. We appreciate your willingness to share accurate agricultural information with local elementary school students.

One of the books we have chosen to help you deliver this message is “Full of Beans.” The book and accompanying educator’s guide are appropriate for 3rd-5th graders.

Choose any of the activities (briefly described below) in the educator’s guide then work with your county Farm Bureau to schedule a presentation and order related resources. Find contact information for your county on the Contact Us page.

Presentation resources:

Activities available from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Educator’s Guide:

  • Activity 1: Sorting Soybeans
  • Activity 2: Bean Seed Necklaces
  • Activity 3: Inside the Soybean
  • Activity 4: Seeing Soybean States
  • Activity 5: That’s a Lot of Soybeans!
  • Activity 6: Harvesting Technology
  • Activity 7: Soybean Crackers
  • Activity 8: Soybean Plastic

1)Sorting Soybeans

Objectives:

  • Students will identify products that do and do not contain soybeans.
  • Students will compare these products and how they are used in their daily lives.

Materials:

  • Sorting Soybeans handouts (one set per group)
  • Scissors (one per group)

Pre-planning email

2)Bean Seed Necklaces

Objectives:

  • Students will determine the resources needed for a soybean plant to grow.
  • Students will identify the signs of germination within a seed. Materials:
  • Soybean seeds (two to three per student)
  • 2” x 3” plastic bag (one per student)
  • Cotton ball (one per student)
  • Scissors
  • String
  • Hole punch
  • Water
  • Pipette / Dropper

Pre-planning email

3)Inside the Soybean

Objectives:

  • Students will examine the various layers of material found in a soybean.
  • Students will connect the material layers to the real-world products they are processed from.

Materials:

  • Rolling pins and plastic bags or food processor
  • Soybean seeds (2 cups per group)
  • Hot water •Glass jars (one per group)
  • Spoons (one per group)

Pre-planning email

4)Seeing Soybean States

Objectives:

  • Students will compare the climates of states which grow the most soybeans.
  • Students will deduct what resources and similarities contribute to the success of soybeans in those states.

Materials:

  • “Seeing Soybean States” handout (one per student)
  • Crayons or colored pencils

Pre-planning email

5)That’s a Lot of Soybeans!

Objectives:

  • Students will explain what the term yield means in the agriculture industry.
  • Students will brainstorm technology’s role and impact in the agriculture industry.

Materials:

  • “That’s a Lot of Soybeans!” handout (one per student)
  • Writing utensils

Pre-planning email

6)Harvesting Technology

Objective:

  • Students will brainstorm technology’s role and impact in the agriculture industry.

Materials:

  • “Harvesting Technology” handout (one per student)
  • Writing utensils

Pre-planning email

7)Soybean Crackers

Objective:

  • Students will discover what crops common household baking items come from.

Materials:

  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus some to non-stick the surface
  • 1/3 cup soy flour
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 tablespoons soy margarine
  • 3 tablespoons soymilk
  • Cookie cutter (2” diameter)
  • Medium sized bowl
  • Whisk
  • Fork
  • Measuring spoons and cups
  • Rolling pins

Pre-planning email

8)Soybean Plastic

Objectives:

  • Students will test how the amount of soybean oil affects a product.
  • Students will connect products they use daily to the soybean industry.

Materials

  • Small paper cups (one per student)
  • Craft stick to stir
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch per student
  • 1 tbsp water per student
  • 1/8 tsp soybean oil (vegetable oil) per student
  • Microwave

Pre-planning email

AFBFA Suggested Resources (Provided by county Farm Bureau via KFB Foundation for Agriculture grants)

  • Full of Beans-Henry Ford Grows a Car books and educator guides.
  • Food and Farm Facts, 1 book per classroom
  • Farm Fact Pencils, 1 per student
  • Food and Farm Facts Jr, 1 booklet per student
  • Related Ag Mags, 1 magazine per student in the following topics. Sold in bundles of 30.
    • Soybeans
    • Career
    • Snacks
    • Biotechnology
    • School Garden
    • etc.
  • Healthy snacks for each student

Additional Resources

  • These will vary by activity; see material lists above

What next?

The lessons provided offer several opportunities to present accurate ag information to elementary school youth. Your county Farm Bureau coordinator is aware of the training you have received, please contact them to order resources provided by KFB Foundation grants. If you are super motivated and looking for more lessons to present, check out our other Do-it-Yourself (DIY) options here.

After high school, should you continue your education at a community college or university in Kansas, consider joining a Collegiate Farm Bureau group. Click here to learn more about the Collegiate Farm Bureau.

If you have questions about the Student Trainers program, click here to contact us.