A Celebration of Korn!

I have learned over the past few years that everyone possesses a degree of creativity and it's up to inspiration and passion for that creativity and innovation to be UNLEASHED!  I thank the #tlap crew for the continual doses of inspiration that they provide me that has led to some of my best lessons as an educator.
Today was particularly difficult coming up with how I wanted to present the new lesson.  It was Friday and I especially wanted to make what we did count after completing our last unit benchmark yesterday.  We were beginning a new chapter on Agriculture, Soil Science, and Pesticide Application.  Upon sifting through files from the teacher that previously taught the course, I came across a video WS for the Documentary "King Corn."   What an excellent way to begin the unit.  Coincidentally, it was also my birthday so the theme of "Celebrating Korn" would be a natural fit.  Students quickly bought in.
They enjoyed the documentary a lot more than I originally thought they would.  After the video they commented that it was "Better than we thought it was going to be!"  The documentary went through the month by month process of growing corn as well as where it goes once it's grown.  They showed the effects of raising grain fed beef vs. grass fed beef and it allowed for some great conversation.  I told students before they watched that their device was to be in "classroom safe mode" (much like airplane safe mode, but for the classroom).  It could be on their desk, but it had to be upside down and they weren't allowed to engage with it.  Students in my 3rd period class reminded their classmates to be careful, that they didn't want their phone Kornfiscated!   I am going to have to create a sign to hang in my classroom to reflect this. This turned out to be one of the most fun lessons I've ever taught as a result of the student buy in and the puns they created that kept the fun going.

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