Corn in Food

8th GradeHealth45 min

Learning Objective

I can identify different ways corn is used in food products.

Lesson Flow

Watch Video

11 min

The Corn Industry - Factory Farming, Processed Foods, and Ethanol

Good to Know

Guided Notes

9 min

Key concepts students will learn:

  • In 2018, the U.S. produced about two and a half tons of corn for every person living in the states, which is used in sodas, processed foods, and even gasoline.

  • Government involvement in agriculture began during The Great War to secure food production, but later commodity price and supply controls were introduced during the Great Depression to address oversupply and ecological damage.

  • The abundance of cheap corn led to the rise of high fructose corn syrup as a substitute for sugar, which is now a common ingredient in processed foods and has been linked to health issues like weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.

Practice

14 min

7 questions • Multiple choice & Short answer

Exit Ticket

5 min

Name three different ways corn is used in food products, as discussed in the video.

Teacher Guide

Get the complete package:

  • Answer keys for all questions
  • Differentiation strategies
  • Extension activities
  • Printable student handouts