Colorado Reader: Colorado Produce 2021-2022: Issue 4 | Page 10

Additional Enriching Activity

My Life as a Fruit or Vegetable - https :// agclassroom . org / matrix / lesson / 336 /

The purpose of this lesson is to provide students with an opportunity to enhance writing skills while simultaneously learning about the production and distribution of fresh produce . Explain to students that the goal of this activity is for each student to write a fictional , creative story about life as a fruit or vegetable . Each story should outline the life of one fruit or vegetable from the farm to the table .

1 . Brainstorming . As a class , generate a list of fruits and vegetables . Also , brainstorm a list of questions that students will need to answer as they write their story about the production and development of a specific fresh produce item . Questions that students answer in their stories may include :

• From where did I originate ?

• What is my biological classification ?

• To what other plants am I related ?

• How am I planted ?

• Where am I grown and why ?

• How am I grown ?

• What do I look like growing on the plant ?

• How am I harvested ?

• How am I transported ?

• What health benefits do I offer ?

• What potential problems could I cause , if any ?

• How am I stored ?

• How am I prepared / cooked ?

2 . Select a theme . Ask students to select one fruit or vegetable that will be the main character or theme of their stories . Each student should write about a different fruit or vegetable . Avoid duplicate produce items .

3 . Write a rough draft . Using resources compiled by you and your students , and the list of questions brainstormed by the class . Have each student write a story about the life of the fruit or vegetable . The story should be written in the first person narrative , with the fruit or vegetable telling the story .

4 . Peer editing . Have students edit each other ’ s work . Explain to students that this is an important step in the writing process and should be taken very seriously . ( Students could be assessed on the editing as well as the writing part of the lesson .) Assign each student a classmate ’ s rough draft . Tell students to edit for the following :

• Proper punctuation

• Content

• Spelling

• Proper sequence ( from farm to table )

• Accuracy of facts

5 . Rewrite a final version . Have students write final versions of their stories . Ideally , the final versions will include illustrations of each phase of the fruit or vegetable ’ s growth , development , and distribution . Encourage students to illustrate as much as possible . Advise students to include a title page and verso which includes publisher , copyright , etc . Other requirements should be discussed before the final writing phase .

6 . Sharing . Have students share their stories with classmates , family , friends , and anyone else who might be interested .

Answers :

Page 1 - Photo identification A . cantaloupe ; B . spinach ; C . potatoes ( fingerling ); D . chile peppers ( green ); E . beets ; F . cabbage ; G . onions ( red and white ); H . honeydew ; I . peaches ; J . plums ; K . green beans ; L . eggplant

Page 3 - Where are Your Favorites Grown 1 . Lettuce is grown near Fort Collins , Greeley , and Alamosa . 2 . Potatoes are also grown near Greeley . 3 . Onions are pictured three times on the map . 4 . The produce grown near Grand Junction and Delta are peaches , wine grapes , sweet corn , and apples . 5 . Peaches are grown near Grand Junction and Delta . 6 . Melons ( cantaloupe , honeydew , watermelon ) grow near Rocky Ford . 7 . This map shows 14 different types of fruits and vegetables grown in Colorado . 8 . Answers will vary .

Page 7 - Short-Answer Questions 1 . A lot of possible responses , including : greens , beets , broccoli , cauliflower , cabbage , chard , cucumbers , tomatoes , green beans , potatoes , spinach , summer squash , sweet corn 2 . False 3 . July-September 4 . All year 5 . A lot of possible responses , including : apples , honeydew , peaches , pears , plums , raspberries , strawberries , watermelon 6 . Answers will vary .