🔒 Monthly Member Version
- - - ABOUT THIS WEEK'S CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE ⤵
Corn, beans, and squash feel like they have always been part of the international diet, yet none of them existed outside the Americas until just over 500 years ago. These articles help students understand how Indigenous farmers grew the three crops together, how they spread around the world, and how scientists are testing the method on a modern scale.
This packet introduces students to the Three Sisters system and the question of whether an ancient garden trick can work on a production farm.
Students will explore Three Sisters farming through:
- How corn, beans, and squash support each other in one mound, from corn as a natural bean pole to bean roots adding nitrogen to the soil to squash leaves blocking weeds and holding moisture
- How the Columbian Exchange carried the three crops to Europe, Africa, and China, including corn becoming a staple in Italy and beans becoming an important protein source in Africa
- How researchers compared mixed plots with single-crop fields over two growing seasons, measuring soil moisture, crop yield, and soil nitrogen
- Why single-crop fields produced more of one crop while the mixed plots produced more total food per acre
- How a corn plant under insect attack releases a scent that calls in predator insects, and how nearby beans may pick up on that signal
A great tie-in for: plant science, agricultural history, the Columbian Exchange, crop systems, and fall harvest units.
Utilizing current events in agriculture is always just another thing to do that you probably don't have time for. We got you.Â
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.Â
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.Â
WHEN and HOW do I get my files? Â
- NEW RELEASES EVERY SUNDAY. Each Sunday at noon (Eastern) the new releases for the week will be available.
- LOG IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT. If you are not logged in with the email associated with the membership, then you won't be able to add the files to your cart.
- CHECKOUT FOR ACCESS. Yes, you still have to go through the checkout process for the files you want. As a member, there is no charge BUT they will not be added to your files until you do.
- HOW LONG WILL I HAVE ACCESS? Depending on your membership, you will be able to add new releases to your account from the current week (Standard Access), from the current month (Premium Access), or for the entire school year (Extended Access). As long as you add the product to your account, it will always be in your downloads regardless of your access level. If you don't add it by the end of the week/month/year, then you will loose access to it.
- NEW RELEASE EMAILS. Every Sunday you will receive an email with a link to the new releases. (Don't see an email? Check your Junk/Spam folder. Sometimes filters put this kind of auto response email there.) You can also simply go to the And Another Thing menu tab and see them there.
Paying for an ANNUAL Membership By Purchase Order?
- Digital files are not available until we have a signed PO. So access to the files will not be available immediately. Be sure follow instructions in the order confirmation email to get your files as quickly as possible.
- The email that was entered for the order is THE ONE THAT WILL RECEIVE ACCESS LINK. The server only acknowledges that person, they are the Chosen One. But we can always change it. Plus those awesome business office folks really want you to have that link anyhow. Just email orders@onelessthing.net and we'll fix you right up.
How the MONTHLY Membership Works
Subscriptions are automatically renewed each month on the same day that you made the initial order.
For example, if you joined the monthly membership on the 10th of the month, then the system will automatically charge your credit card each month on the 10th.
Can I pause or cancel a MONTHLY Membership?
Yes, of course. You can pause or cancel a subscription any time you want in the customer portal.
The customer portal can be accessed through the link you received in the email that was sent to you when you placed the initial membership order. You can also access your membership from your account page.
If you pause your membership, you will not have access to any new releases until you reactivate your account.
How the ANNUAL Membership Works
The Annual Membership (Extended Access) is a one time payment. Because of the nature of digital products, you can not cancel the membership once it has been paid. HOWEVER...no card is kept on file. Annual Memberships will not auto renew so you will not be charged again.
This is Digital Download so HOW do I get the files? Â
- At Checkout. As soon as the purchase is approved, download buttons will appear on the Order Confirmation Page.
- By Email. You will also receive an email with a link to download your purchased files. Â (Don't see an email? Check your Junk/Spam folder. Sometimes filters put this kind of auto response email there.)
- In Your Account. Log in to your account (upper right corner of the site). That will take you to your Orders page. There is an "Access Digital Content" button in the upper right corner of the page. Click it and you will see all the files you have available to download.
🔒 Monthly Member Version
- - - ABOUT THIS WEEK'S CURRENT EVENT ARTICLE ⤵
Corn, beans, and squash feel like they have always been part of the international diet, yet none of them existed outside the Americas until just over 500 years ago. These articles help students understand how Indigenous farmers grew the three crops together, how they spread around the world, and how scientists are testing the method on a modern scale.
This packet introduces students to the Three Sisters system and the question of whether an ancient garden trick can work on a production farm.
Students will explore Three Sisters farming through:
- How corn, beans, and squash support each other in one mound, from corn as a natural bean pole to bean roots adding nitrogen to the soil to squash leaves blocking weeds and holding moisture
- How the Columbian Exchange carried the three crops to Europe, Africa, and China, including corn becoming a staple in Italy and beans becoming an important protein source in Africa
- How researchers compared mixed plots with single-crop fields over two growing seasons, measuring soil moisture, crop yield, and soil nitrogen
- Why single-crop fields produced more of one crop while the mixed plots produced more total food per acre
- How a corn plant under insect attack releases a scent that calls in predator insects, and how nearby beans may pick up on that signal
A great tie-in for: plant science, agricultural history, the Columbian Exchange, crop systems, and fall harvest units.
Utilizing current events in agriculture is always just another thing to do that you probably don't have time for. We got you.Â
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.Â
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.Â
WHEN and HOW do I get my files? Â
- NEW RELEASES EVERY SUNDAY. Each Sunday at noon (Eastern) the new releases for the week will be available.
- LOG IN TO YOUR ACCOUNT. If you are not logged in with the email associated with the membership, then you won't be able to add the files to your cart.
- CHECKOUT FOR ACCESS. Yes, you still have to go through the checkout process for the files you want. As a member, there is no charge BUT they will not be added to your files until you do.
- HOW LONG WILL I HAVE ACCESS? Depending on your membership, you will be able to add new releases to your account from the current week (Standard Access), from the current month (Premium Access), or for the entire school year (Extended Access). As long as you add the product to your account, it will always be in your downloads regardless of your access level. If you don't add it by the end of the week/month/year, then you will loose access to it.
- NEW RELEASE EMAILS. Every Sunday you will receive an email with a link to the new releases. (Don't see an email? Check your Junk/Spam folder. Sometimes filters put this kind of auto response email there.) You can also simply go to the And Another Thing menu tab and see them there.
Paying for an ANNUAL Membership By Purchase Order?
- Digital files are not available until we have a signed PO. So access to the files will not be available immediately. Be sure follow instructions in the order confirmation email to get your files as quickly as possible.
- The email that was entered for the order is THE ONE THAT WILL RECEIVE ACCESS LINK. The server only acknowledges that person, they are the Chosen One. But we can always change it. Plus those awesome business office folks really want you to have that link anyhow. Just email orders@onelessthing.net and we'll fix you right up.
How the MONTHLY Membership Works
Subscriptions are automatically renewed each month on the same day that you made the initial order.
For example, if you joined the monthly membership on the 10th of the month, then the system will automatically charge your credit card each month on the 10th.
Can I pause or cancel a MONTHLY Membership?
Yes, of course. You can pause or cancel a subscription any time you want in the customer portal.
The customer portal can be accessed through the link you received in the email that was sent to you when you placed the initial membership order. You can also access your membership from your account page.
If you pause your membership, you will not have access to any new releases until you reactivate your account.
How the ANNUAL Membership Works
The Annual Membership (Extended Access) is a one time payment. Because of the nature of digital products, you can not cancel the membership once it has been paid. HOWEVER...no card is kept on file. Annual Memberships will not auto renew so you will not be charged again.
This is Digital Download so HOW do I get the files? Â
- At Checkout. As soon as the purchase is approved, download buttons will appear on the Order Confirmation Page.
- By Email. You will also receive an email with a link to download your purchased files. Â (Don't see an email? Check your Junk/Spam folder. Sometimes filters put this kind of auto response email there.)
- In Your Account. Log in to your account (upper right corner of the site). That will take you to your Orders page. There is an "Access Digital Content" button in the upper right corner of the page. Click it and you will see all the files you have available to download.