Lesson Plan
Norman Borlaug Lesson Plans (3rd - 6th grade)
PART A
Estimated Time: 75 minutes
Purpose of the Lesson
To introduce students to Norman Borlaug, his contributions to the wheat industry, and vocabulary terms used in the industry.
Lesson Objectives
As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:
Give a short biography through paraphrasing.
Follow directions through verbal instructions.
Listen to and collaborate with classmates.
Take legible notes and communicate effectively with each other about relevant information.
Suggested CDE Standards
Grade 3:
Writing Strategies 1.1 Create a single paragraph:
a. Develop a topic sentence.
b. Include simple supporting facts and details.
Writing Applications 2.2 Write descriptions that use concrete sensory details to present and support unified impressions of people, places, things, or experience
Grade 4:
Reading Comprehension 2.2 Use appropriate strategies when reading for different purposes (e.g., full comprehension, location of information, personal enjoyment).
Writing Applications 2.3 Write information reports:
a. Frame a central question about an issue or situation.
b. Include facts and details for focus.
Grade 5:
Writing Strategies 1.3 Use organizational features of printed text (e.g., citations, end notes, bibliographic references) to locate relevant information.
Writing Applications 2.3 Write research reports about important ideas, issues, or events by using the following guidelines.
a. Frame questions that direct the investigation
b. Establish a controlling idea or topic.
c. Develop the topic with simple facts, details, examples, and explanations.
Grade 6:
Writing Strategies 1.6 Revise writing to improve the organization and consistency of ideas within and between paragraphs.
Writing Applications 2.3 Write research reports:
a. Pose relevant questions with a scope narrow enough to be thoroughly covered.
Lesson Activity
Time 0-5 min:
Give Background Information
Show CWC 2 minute video Link: https://youtu.be/y1-aiZzURO8
Ask students to verbally discuss why the high-yielding, short-stalk wheat might be an important wheat variety.
Time 5-45 min:
Student Groups & Vocabulary Posters
Divide students into four groups
Provide each group with the vocabulary cards, ensure they have both the word and definition
Students work together to match the word with each definition
Each group will produce a poster with a “vocabulary table” (5 rows 3 columns). They will write the word, definition, and draw a picture that represents the term. See example here.
Hang up the posters
Allow groups to rotate to each poster to take notes and write down all 20 vocabulary terms and definitions (no drawings)
Time 45-65 min:
Reading Page and Writing Assignment
Have students to return to their seats and pass out Reading Page
Allow students to read the Reading Page independently
Time 45-65(cont.) min:
Students will write a narrative of an interview with Norman Borlaug, based on the reading. The interview should include the following:
When did Borlaug win the Nobel Peace Prize?
Why did he win the Nobel Peace Prize?
How did he become interested in his work on high yield agriculture?
What difference did his work make in the world?
Other information students found interesting.
Time 65-75 min:
Closing Options
Student volunteers will perform their interviews for the class
Students share their interviews with their desk neighbors
Adaptations
Make a Vocabulary Quiz for a check for knowledge.
Allow students to use internet resources to research more information on Norman Borlaug
Have students pair up for an interview assignment and perform them in the following class period.
Vocabulary List
agriculture: the science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock
cereal: relating to grain or to the plants that produce it
climate: the average weather conditions of a particular place or region over a period of years
crop failure: reduction in crop yield to a level that there is no marketable surplus or the nutritional needs of the community cannot be met
developing nation: a nation with a low level of material well being
dwarf: an animal or plant much below normal size
energy: the capacity for doing work
environment: the surrounding conditions or forces that influence or modify: as a : the whole complex of factors (as soil, climate, and living things) that influence the form and the ability to survive of a plant or animal or ecological community
food value: the useful quality of a particular food
gene: a part of DNA or sometimes RNA that is usually located on a chromosome and that contains chemical information needed to make a particular protein controlling or influencing an inherited bodily trait or activity or that influences or controls the activity of another gene or genes
grain: the edible seed or seed like fruit of grasses that are cereals
harvest: the gathering of a crop
high-yield: producing a large amount
insensitive: not readily affected or changed by the action of a certain thing
maturity: full development
pesticide: an agent used to destroy pests
plant breeder: someone who propagates plants under controlled conditions
population: the whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region
resistant: capable of withstanding the force or effect of
stalk: a plant stem especially of a plant that is not woody
Assessment
Can the students retell why Norman Borlaug received a Nobel Peace Prize?
Can students explain why dwarf wheat is a better variety compared to long-stalked wheat?
Can students distinguish the definitions of resistant, stalk, and grain?
Materials & Resources
Tear-Away Posters
Markers
Vocabulary Cards
Reading Page
Lined Paper
Writing Instrument
Norman Borlaug Lesson Plans (3rd - 6th grade)
PART B
Estimated time: 25 minutes
Purpose of the Lesson
To quantify impact of Norman Borlaug’s impact and reinforce ideas from Part A.
Lesson Objectives
In this lesson, students will be able to:
Use division operations to calculate final answer
Convert unit of tons to units of pounds
Listen to and collaborate with classmates
Suggested CDE Standards
Grade 6:
Ratios and Proportional Relationships (7.RP) Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.
Grade 7:
Ratios and Proportional Relationships (7.RP) Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas and other quantities measured in like or different units.
Recognize and represent proportional relationships between quantities.
Lesson Activity
Time 0-5 min:
Give Background Information
Recap main ideas from language arts lesson; ask students to explain why the dwarf wheat was an important invention
Provide a few “hints” on the board: 1 ton is equal to 2000 lbs
Time 5-20 min:
Student Groups & Solving Problems
Divide students into groups
Provide each student with the Problem Page
Students work together to solve the problems. They may discuss the critical thinking question together as a class for a variety of ideas
Time 20-25 min:
Discussions
Have student volunteers reveal the correct answers
Have each group share their answer to the last question
Adaptations
Assign worksheet as a homework assignment, discuss answers in the next class meeting (provide the ton to lbs ratio)
Have students complete the worksheet independently
Materials & Resources
Problem Page
Writing Instrument
Printable Version:
