And Another Thing CURRENT EVENTS, Drought Tolerant Corn (ANNUAL)

🔒 Annual Member Version If you can see it but can’t click it, it’s a VIP thing. Login if you are a member or UPGRADE to join the club. - - - ABOUT THIS WEEK'S CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE ⤵ 🌽 Drought Tolerant Corn: The Science of Surviving Dry Seasons A newly discovered corn trait could help plants survive drought without a single extra drop of water, and farmers already use proven techniques to fight the same problem from the ground up. This article introduces students to the stretch phenotype and the strategy behind dryland farming. Students will explore drought tolerant corn and dryland farming through: How the stretch phenotype's longer xylem cells and deeper roots help corn capture more water during drought How researchers confirmed the trait works using computer models, a greenhouse, and field tests in Pennsylvania and Chile How a genome-wide association study found genetic markers that could let breeders build the trait into new corn varieties What dryland farming is and how the water cycle explains why droughts happen Dryland techniques growers use to protect soil moisture, including no-till farming, crop residue, fallowing, and drought-hardy seed A great tie-in for: plant science, agricultural biology, and water cycle or earth science units. Utilizing current events in agriculture is always just another thing to do that you probably don't have time for. We got you. Hitting those literacy standards just another thing to do? We got you. The Student Handouts consist of reading passage, an informational graphic, associated vocabulary, comprehension questions, and a word puzzle. All answer keys included. Use it as a Bellringer Activity, Class Finisher, or save it for a Sub or on those interrupted/shortened schedule days that inevitably come up.