A worm pest eating corn
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) - Corn
Grade 3
Pests are plants, animals, insects, or germs that cause problems for humans. They can be a major problem for farmers seeking to grow crops, like the insect pests in the video. However, farmers and scientists have worked together to come up with solutions to help prevent these pests from eating corn and other crops. Corn bred with a certain genetic trait are less attractive to pests. We will explore how this is possible in this lesson.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
I can explain how variation in a certain trait for corn allows some of the species to survive while others have a greater chance at dying off.
- How does variation in traits make some organisms of the same species more likely to survive than others?
- What is a GMO and what advantages do GMOs have over non-GMOs?
Maryland Farm & Harvest Clip
- What are earworms and how do they harm corn?
- What is Bt corn and how is Bt corn different from other corn?
- What trait does Bt corn have that makes it able to survive better than other corn?
- What are the benefits of Bt in corn production?
Vocabulary
Supplemental Enrichment Activities
Designing Solutions
Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops Graph
Analyze the graph. Inform students that HT and Bt crops are both genetically engineered to have certain qualities.
Upon interpreting the graph, have a discussion about how crop practices have changed over time and why this is the case.
Variation in Corn Color
Explore another trait among corn, which is the kernel color. Ask students what they observe from the image and why some corn appears different from others.
How Are GMOs Made?
Show the flyer from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about GMOs and Bt corn to students. Go through the parts of the flyer with them, showing how they explain new words and phrases, use simple numbered lists and bullet points, and use images to illustrate the subject.
Have students make their own consumer awareness flyer on how Maryland farmers protect corn. Encourage them to use what they learned in the lesson and use some of the flyer design elements they observed in the FDA flyer.
Career Connections
