Link 'Ems

Agricultural by-products are an essential ingredient in the lives of modern Americans. However, many people overlook the link between by-products and a commodity. That growing lack of knowledge leaves consumers unaware that much of what they use beyond food and fiber has an agricultural origin.

Link 'Ems, an activity connecting a raw commodity with one of its by-products, encourages students to match two seemingly unrelated items linked today through modern technology. The pairs matched up in the Link 'Ems activity help students explore the relationship between agriculture and commonly-used items - like crayons!

To organize the Link 'Ems game:

• Collect samples of each of the raw commodities (walnut, wood, corn, wool, soybean) and each of the by-products (sandpaper, rayon, packing peanut, lotion, crayon).
• Mix them together in one display.
• Separate students into small groups.
• Ask students to select the raw commodities.
• Challenge students to use reasoning and deduction to correctly link the raw commodities and the by-products. If teams don't agree, suggest an improptu debate in which each team defends its conclusions.
• Use the information in the Link 'Em graphic to explain the actual links.

For a twist, use this activity at an in-service or staff meeting to underscore just how deeply agriculture influences life today.

Download

Link 'Ems (PDF, 175 KB)