W 843

BARGE BUILDERS An Introduction to Weight Distribution and Grain Trade

Anna Duncan, Extension Agent,Tennessee 4-H Youth DevelopmentJennifer Richards, Curriculum Specialist, Tennessee 4-H Youth Development

3

Barge Builders An Introduction to Weight Distribution and Grain Trade

Skill Level Beginner

Learner Outcomes The learner will be able to:

• Define weight distribution.• Describe grain transport in the U.S.• Describe ideal barge designs.

Educational Standard(s) Supported 4th Grade 4.ETS1.1, 4.ETS2.1, 4.ETS2.2

5th Grade 5.ETS1.1, 5.ETS1.2, 5.ETS1.3

Success Indicator Learners will be successful if they:

• Build their own aluminum foil barge.• Identify strengths and weaknesses in

their designs.• Understand the importance of barges

in the U.S. grain market.

Time Needed

30 Minutes

Materials List • Aluminum foil sheets — one per

group• Dried peas, corn or soybeans

o (about 1 lb / 3 barges)• Large washtub or plastic bin• Water• Tablespoon• Computer and projector (optional)

Introduction to Content

Author Duncan, Anna. Extension Agent Tennessee 4-H Youth Development

Tennessee 4-H Youth Development

Barges and the people involved in their creation and operation are the unsung heroes of many industries — including grain trading. By using barges, much of the grain produced in the United States is moved from one port to another efficiently and safely.

Introduction to Methodology Students will first get a brief overview of the journey commodities like corn or soybeans take from the local area to the Mississippi River and on to the Gulf of Mexico. Then, they will work either as individuals or teams to create their own barges from aluminum foil. After the barges are tested, a discussion on density, weight distribution and surface tension will be used to debrief the experiment. Any remaining time can be used to discuss products made from the ones carried on the barges around the world.

Prepared using research based practices in youth development and experiential learning.

Barge Builders 2

Setting the Stage and Opening Questions

Fill the washtub or bin two-thirds full with water ahead of time.

Ask the students, “After the farmers here in (insert local community or area) plant their (crop of choice), and it grows all summer, what happens to it?” “Then, where does it go?” “How does it get there?”, allowing time for them to discuss and answer in between.

Explain to the students that once the crop you are discussing is harvested, it is loaded onto trucks, then sometimes trains, and then usually onto a barge in one of the major rivers. You can use the video from Consolidated Grain and Barge (https://youtu.be/CBwpqc-ifSw) and a map of the barge system from USDA (included in this lesson plan) to explain this.

To explain how much grain is transported by barge and to give the students an idea of how big barges are, share these statistics:

An average barge can hold 54,750 bushels of soybeans. One bushel of soybeans weighs 60 pounds. Therefore, each barge floats while carrying 1,643 tons or the weight of about 21,000 adults or 55,000 elementary school children!

Tips for Engagement

Ask open-ended questions along the way such as, “When the corn is harvested in the fall, where does it go?” or as they are building their barges, “What is your strategy?”

Relate the discuss as much as possible to the local community and economy to help the students relate to the subject matter.

Terms and Concepts Introduction • Density — the degree of compactness of a substance.

• Surface Tension — the attractive force exerted upon the surfacemolecules of a liquid by the molecules beneath that tends to drawthe surface molecules into the bulk of the liquid and makes theliquid assume the shape having the least amount of surface area.

• Weight Distribution — portion of total weight that will besupported per unit area.

Experience

Begin by dividing into groups if necessary and giving each person or group a sheet of aluminum foil. Ask the students to build their own barge with the foil in five to eight minutes, depending on the age group. Use the drone video of barges on the Mississippi River for inspiration (youtube.com/watch?v=o1w6haAOrEo).

Once the barges are completed, place them in the “river” you have made with the tub of water. Add your dried peas by the tablespoon until the barges sink and invite the students to try to guess which one will be able to hold the most weight while remaining afloat.

Barge Builders 3

Life Skill(s)

4th Grade Participate in 4-H club meetings by saying pledges, completing activities, and being engaged (Head).

Follow Instructions (Heart)

5th Grade Participate in 4-H club meetings by saying pledges, completing activities, and being engaged (Head).

As part of a group, identify and agree on a common task (set a goal) (Hands).

Share

Ask the students, “Which barge shapes worked best? Which ones did not work? Why?”

Possible answers include sides being too short, weight not being evenly distributed, etc.

Apply

Ask the students, “If you were to build a real barge, how would you do it? What shapes, materials, etc., would you use?”

Process

Ask students to relate the barge designs to their experiences in a swimming pool by asking, “When you jump off a diving board, would you rather do a cannonball or belly flop? If you are standing in the shallow end and you tuck your knees into your chest like a cannonball, what happens? What if you lay back flat?” (It helps if you act this out while speaking so they can get a visual of your body spreading out and curling into itself.) Use this example to explain that the surface tension helps to keep you and barges afloat, but if too much weight is concentrated in one small area, it will let things sink.

Generalize

Once the students have a better understanding of surface tension, density and weight distribution, discuss with them other ways that weight distribution is important in agriculture (i.e., tractors and implements, trucking, etc.). Then, discuss the commodities being moved with these barges they just modeled.

Ask them what happens to the grain once it enters the Gulf of Mexico. It is sent to manufacturers of commodities or exported to other countries since the commodity is a raw product.

Ask them if they know of any products made from those commodities. Commodity posters are included in this lesson plan.

Share any information that fills the gaps in their knowledge of the grain trade at this stage.

Barge Builders 4

Supplemental Information Educational Standards Met

W 843(Rev) 05/20 20-0214 Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension

provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

4th Grade

4.ETS1.1) Categorize the effectiveness of design solutions by comparing them to specified criteria forconstraints.

4.ETS2.1) Use appropriate tools and measurements to build a model.

4.ETS2.2) Determine the effectiveness of multiple solutions to a design problem given the criteria and theconstraints.

5th Grade

5.ETS1.1) Research, test, re-test, and communicate a design to solve a problem.

5.ETS1.2) Plan and carry out tests on one or more elements of a prototype in which variables are controlled andfailure points are considered to identify which elements need to be improved. Apply the results of tests toredesign the prototype.

5.ETS1.3) Describe how failure provides valuable information toward finding a solution.

For a short video demonstration of this lesson created by the author, please view the following YouTube link:

https://bit.ly/3fqZPtp

Wet-milled Corn

abrasive papersadhesivesdry cell batteriescomposite binderspaperboard productsboiler compoundsbookbindingbriquettesclay binders (ceramic)chemical precursorfermentation feedstockdetergents & cleanerscoatingspaper color carrierspaper productstextile color carrierscord sizing & polishingcork productscrayon & chalk bindersdispersion agentsdye component

fiberglass sizingfireworkspowdered insecticidesinsulating materialslubricating agentsoilclothwell drilling mudore refiningpaintsfillers & caulkscleaning compoundsmolded plasticsprinting inkscolloid emulsionstextile finishingceiling tilesrubber tireswallboardwallpaperwater treatment

Industrial

Corn

Whole Corn Products

Foodtortilla flourshominycorn chipstortilla chipstaco shellssopapillasatolesposolemenudotostados

Alkali Cooked

Foodbaby cornpickled baby cornboiled sweet corncanned cornfrozen packaged

Industrialdecorative items(pod & Indian corn)

Cob & Kernel

Industrialpolishing mediafurfural (chemical feedstock)liquid spill recovery mediadust adsorbentconstruction boardcosmetic powders

Cob or Stover

Industrial & Feedlivestock feedamino acidsfur cleaner

MealFeedlivestock feed

Hominy Feed

Fractionated Products

Germ

Pharmaceutical & Foodvitamin carrierslecithincooking oilmargarinemayonnaisepotato chipssalad dressingssaucesshorteningssoups

Industriallecithinsoluble oilsinsecticideslinoleumprinting inksrubber substitutesrust preventativessoapstanning agentstextiles

Oil

Foodpopcornsnack foodcorn nutsposolecanned cornsoup mixescanned hominyfrozen packaged

Feedlivestock feedwild animal feed

Whole Kernel Products

Foodbakery productsmasa floursnack foodsbaby foodsbaking mixesbattersdessertspie fillingsgravies & saucessalad dressingsfrozen foodsmeat extendersnon-meat extendersthickening agents

Industrialfermentation mediaexplosivesgypsum wallboardpaper productsbriquettesfoundry bindersore refiningdrilling fluidslabel adhesivesedge pastepharmaceuticals

Flour

Dry-milled Corn

Food breakfast cerealsfortified foodspinolesnack foodsmaize porridgesalkali cooked productsbreads & bakery productsfermented beveragesunfermented beveragespet foodscorn bread

Industrialwallpaper pastefloor waxhand soapdusting agents

Grits & Cones

Industrial & Feedsteepwater (feed)antibioticschemicalspharmaceuticalsyeast culture

Steepwater

Same uses as dry-milled germ

Germ

Feedcattle feed

Gluten Feed

Native Starch

Food baby foodsbakery productschewing gumretortable thickenerspuddings & custardsprepared dessertssalad dressingsbaking mixespie & pastry fillingsgum candiessnack foodssauces & graviescondimentsicings & glazesdehydrated foodsinstant teainstant breakfast foodslow-cal sweetenersnougatspan coatings

Industrialadhesivesbook-binding agentscandlesceramicscasting (mold) bindersdyesprinting inksinsecticidesinsulation & fiberglasslabelsleather productsincendiary compoundsfireworksore separation compoundsposter paintspaper productsplastic moldingplywood & wallboardsandpapertextileswallpapershade cloth

Modified Starch

Foodbaby foodsbakery productsbaking powderbrewed beverageschewing gumchocolate drinkspuddings & custardsprepared dessertssnack foodssalad dressingsmeat productsbaking mixesprepared condimentspie & pastry fillingsprecooked & frozen mealsprepared soupspowdered sugarcanned vegetablescandies

Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic antibiotic productsantibiotic productionaspirinpowdered cosmeticsliquid thickenerdietary formulationssoapsdisinfectantssurgical dressings

Foodbakery productscanned fruitscanned juicescondimentsconfectionsfrozen dessertssoft drinkswine productsyeast productionfruit jams & preserves

Fructose

Sweeteners

Pharmaceutical & Foodbaby foodsmedicinal syrupsbakery products & mixesbeveragesbreakfast foodsprepared cerealscheese spreadschewing gumcoffee whitenerscordials & liqueursdessertsprepared egg productsextracts & flavorsfrostings & icingsfruit jams & buttersprepared soups & saucessalad dressingspickled productsfrozen seafoodpeanut butter

Industrialadhesiveschemicalsdyes & inksexplosivesleather tanningmetal platingpaper productsplasticizersshoe polishrayontextilestheatrical makeuptobacco products

Glucose Food & Feedalcoholic beveragesacidulantsflavor enhancerssoft drinksamino acids (feed)

Industrial & Fuelindustrial alcoholsengine fuelfuel octane enhancersoxygenate in engine fuelsplasticssolventscarpetingtextilesfood packaging

Fermentation

Feedpoultry feedzein production

Gluten Meal

© 2009 Center for Crops Utilization Research. All Rights Reserved.

(515) 294-0160 ⎜ www.ccur.iastate.edu05-09

Industrial & Fuelfuel ethanoldistillers dried grains with solubles

Fermentation

Dry Grind Ethanol

Oil Products

Industrial & FoodGlycerol chemicals lubricants structured lipids antifreeze printing acids cements explosives cosmetics

Fatty Acids soaps detergents oleochemicals structured lipids

Sterols pharmaceuticals

Tocopherols vitamin E antioxidants

Minor Co-products

Foodcooking oilssalad oilssalad dressingsmayonnaisemargarinemedicinalspharmaceuticalssandwich spreadsshorteningsfilled milkscoffee whitenerscandychocolate coatingsfrying fats & oilsfrozen dessertscheese dipsgravy mixespastry fillingsicingswhipped toppings

Industrialanti-corrosion agentsanti-static agentscaulking compoundssoap & detergentsshampoosolventscore oilslubricantsbiodieselhydraulic fluidswaterproof cementdisinfectantselectrical insulationsinsecticidesfungicidesherbicideslinoleum backingoiled fabricscandlescosmeticscrayonsprinting inkspaints & coatingsplasticstin & terne plate oilswallboarddust suppressantspaint removersepoxiesmetal casting agents

Refined Oil

Foodmargarinecandy & chocolate coatingsdietary supplementsemulsifying agentsmedicinal agentsnutritional supplementspharmaceuticalsshorteningspan release agents

Industrialanti-foam agentsanti-spattering agentscosmeticsdispersing agentsprinting inksinsecticidespaintssynthetic rubbersstabilizing agentswetting agentsyeast cultures

Lecithin

Soybeans

Industrial, Feed & Foodfilter materialcattle roughagehigh-fiber breads

Fiber

Hull Products

Whole Bean Products

Foodbaked soybeansbean sproutssoymilksoy saucetofumisonattoedamametempehother Asian soyfoods

Whole Soybeans

Foodcandyconfectionscookie mixescookie toppingscracker mixesfountain toppingssoy "coffee"soynut butterdiet foodssnack foods

Feedswine feed

Industrialbean-stuffed objects

Feedswine feed

Roasted Soybeans

© 2009 Center for Crops Utilization Research. All Rights Reserved.

(515) 294-0160 ⎜ www.ccur.iastate.edu

Meal

Foodbakery ingredientsalimentary pastesbeer & alenoodlesprepared meat productsmeat analogsmeat pumping solutionsbreakfast cerealsprepared mixesfood drinksbaby foodshypo-allergenic milkconfectionscandy productssausage casingsyeast culturesimitation dairy productsflavoringsinfant formulasalad condiments

Industrialadhesivesplywoodwallboardparticle boardinsecticidesfungicidesdrywall tape compoundtexture paintsfermentation nutrientsyeast carrierslinoleum backingantibioticspaper coatingsfirefighting foamsfire-resistant coatingsasphalt emulsionscleaning compoundscosmeticsprinting inksleather substituteswater-based paintsplasticstextiles

Pharmaceutical &Healthisoflavonessaponinsphytic acidprotease inhibitors

Feedcalf milk replacersswine feedpoultry feedbeef cattle feeddairy cattle feedbee feedpet foodsfurbearer feedfish feed (aquaculture)

Protein Products

Nutraceuticals Soy Flour, Protein Concentrates & Isolates

Fractionated Products

Foodbreadcandydoughnut mixfrozen dessertspancake flourpie crustssweet goodsgruelinstant milk drinkscrackers

Full-fat Flour

05-09

Petroleum and related products, 29%

Coal, 22% Crude, 18%

Chemicals, 9%

Manufactured Goods, 5%

Equipment, 1%

Food & Farm, 16%

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Barge Tonnage by Commodity Group

Barge Flows: Agriculture vs. Total Freight

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation. The map uses U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2012 waterborne commerce data.