Estimate the Volume of Corn
Objective:
Estimate the volume of corn on the cob and shelled corn.
Nebraska State Standards:
Math 2.4.5.d – Identify appropriate metric units.
Math 5.2.5.d – Measure volume.
Materials:
Ear of field corn for each group
Aluminum foil
Corn Estimate Sheet for each group
Small sticky circles for each student
Small containers for the shelled corn
Procedure:
Using aluminum foil, wrap the ear of corn. Start wrapping
from the top of the ear to form an aluminum foil cup. The
bottom of the ear (the largest end) should not be wrapped.
Remove the ear of corn from the aluminum foil cup. You
will have the shape of the ear of corn. Ask students to
estimate how full the aluminum foil cup would be in all the
corn was shelled off the ear and put in the aluminum foil cup.
Have the students place a sticky circle on the Corn Estimate Sheet
to show how full the aluminum foil cup will be with the shelled corn.
Have the students put their initials on their circle.
Next the students will shell the corn into a container.
Some questions: Are all the kernels the same size?
Did it make a difference if the kernels came from the
middle rather than the end of the ear?
Pour the shelled corn back into the aluminum foil cup. How full is the
cup? Why? Explain that the corn almost fills the aluminum foil cup
because the shelled corn is not lined up in rows. The cob is not included
in the aluminum foil cup, therefore the volume has increased.
Check the sticky circles on the Corn Estimate Sheets.
Who in each group estimated the closest?
Have students bring products to school that are made from corn oil, corn sweetener,
corn starch, etc.
Source: Unknown
Corn Estimate Sheet
full
3/4
1/2
1/4
empty