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Lesson 2: Where's the Soy?

There are a number of agricultural products that have broad uses in our society. You may want to research a product that is particularly important in your state rather than using soybeans. Examples of other products that work well include wheat, corn, cotton and rice. Click here to read a firsthand report from a classroom that investigated corn.

To prepare, read Background Information

Objectives
 Students will:

  • Learn that soybeans are ingredients in a large number of common edible and non-edible products.
  • Learn how to read product labels and conduct research.

Central Concepts

  • Plants are an important part of our food system, but we use them in other ways, too.

Standards addressed: click here

Materials

  • Internet or other resource materials
  • Products containing soy. You'll find a comprehensive list on the United Soybean Board Web site - click on General Public/Products Guide.
  • Bulletin board or display table

Discussion Questions

1. What are soybeans? Where do they grow? (Soybeans are legumes that are grown world wide. They originated in China but are now grown on all continents.)

2. How do we use soybeans? (We use soybeans for everything from food for humans and animals to soy ink.)


In-Class Activity

1. Ask students to research products that are made from soybeans. The research can be a team/class or an individual project. You may want to start at the United Soybean Board Web site.

2. Lead a class discussion to chart the findings of the research. Ask students to evaluate the importance of soybeans based on the findings.

3. Assign students to collect examples of products that contain soybeans. Teach them how to look for and read product ingredient information. Set up an educational display or bulletin board that can be viewed by the entire school.

Extensions

 Science – Soybean rust is a disease that attacks soybean crops around the world, and a very damaging strain of the disease (Asian soybean rust) was recently discovered in the United States. This disease is often hard to control, and has the ability to wipe out large crops. Using the USDA’s Soybean Rust Web site, explore this disease with your students. Discuss the spread of the disease and its potential economic implications. Consider ways to prevent and/or control soybean rust. Ask them to find news articles discussing this current issue.

Math and Economics – Use the Economic Research Service Web site to look up production data about soybeans (or your alternate crop). Use this information to develop a class financial data sheet on your crop. You can contact your local USDA or Farm Service Agency Office for additional help.

History – Explore the history of the soybean and of soybean production (or your alternate crop). Create a world map charting its move across the globe and a classroom timeline of important events culminating with current crop production.

Nutrition – Discuss food product labels with your class and teach the students how to read them. For more details and educational tools, check out the USDA’s Food Label Web site.

 

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