For Student Educators

CRANBERRIES

Resources For Student Educators

Student Cranberry Activities These educational cranberry materials were developed by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's Cranberry Professional. If you see anything you like, feel free to download it, and any feedback you wish to provide would be greatly appreciated. Email comments or questions to charlesa@umext.maine.edu. There is no charge for any of these items.

Quick Listing (Scroll down for detailed descriptions)
Cranberry Language Arts - pdf or MS Word Growing Cranberries (fill in the blank exercise) pdf or MS Word Cranberry Drawing (picture for coloring) pdf or bitmap image
Cranberry Maze (Excel file)
Cranberry Occupations Learning Game - pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Word Search (word list included) pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Word Search (no word list; clues only) - pdf or MS Word

Cranberry Wildlife Word Search - pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Bounce Test - pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Matching Exercise - pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Timeline - pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Crossword (Excel file) (word list included)
Cranberry Crossword (Excel file) (word list not included)
Cranberry Questions - pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Vocabulary - pdf or MS Word
Cranberry Facts - pdf or MS Word

Cranberry Language Arts (mostly Grade 4) (1 page): A variety of language activities are found in this; kids are asked some questions to make them think about a cranberry harvest and then write about it; they are asked to make an acrostic from a choice of cranberry terms; Finally, they are asked some questions where they have to describe a cranberry.
Growing Cranberries (Grades 4 - 6) (2 pages): A nice description of the many aspects of growing cranberries, with 17 word blanks that they need to fill in. There is a Word Bank with the 17 missing words inside.
Cranberry Drawing (8.5" x 11") (pre-K - 2nd Grade) (Adobe pdf file): A nice closeup picture for coloring that shows an upright with three cranberries coming off from it, and the word "Cranberry" spelled out across the top in large, fat letters that can also be colored.
Cranberry Maze (8.5" x 11") (K - 1st Grade) (Excel file): A typical maze you have to navigate in order to help Farmer Farnsworth find enough cranberries for Mrs. Farnsworth to bake a pie.
Cranberry Occupations Learning Game (Grades 3 and 4) (1 page): Various occupations that might be connected to the cranberry industry are brainstormed in the class and listed on chart paper. Each student then picks one of the occupations, writes it on a large index card, and tapes it to the front of his or her shirt.. Then the fun-filled learning really begins! Materials needed: Chart paper, large index cards, tape or pins, markers or crayons and ball of red yarn.
Cranberry Word Search (Grades 3 and 4) (1 page): A typical word search with 18 words to find, such as: ACRES, BEDS, PILGRIMS, CRANBERRY, THANKSGIVING, MAINE, VITAMIN C, OCEAN SPRAY and more! One version has the list of words to find at the bottom. The other version has only clues to the words to be searched.
Cranberry Wildlife Word Search (Grades 3 and 4) (1 page): A typical word search with 21 words to find, such as: DEER, MOOSE, MUSKRAT, BUTTERFLIES, FROGS AND TOADS, MOUSE.
Cranberry Bounce Test (Grades 4, 5 and 6 - intended especially for Grade 4 but appropriate for others as well) (2 pages): Designed as a true scientific experiment, complete with a problem, hypothesis, test, observations and conclusions. The 'test,' as to how many cranberries out of 20 bounce versus how many do not (i.e. good berries versus rotten berries), is repeated at two to three-day intervals over the course of ten days, for a total of 5 times, with the expectation that as the berries are left out at room temperature during that time, more and more of them will become soft during the 10-day period as they begin to rot. The conclusion section asks some good questions, such as: Did more berries bounce in the earlier trials or later trials? Why do you think this happened? There is also an optional graphing exercise at the end. NOTE: The "Cranberry Facts" and "Cranberry Crossword" (in that order) would be good to present to the students after completion of the Cranberry Bounce Test.
Cranberry Matching Exercise (1 page - MS Word) and Cranberry Timeline (1 page - MS Word) (Grades 4 - 6) : Matching exercise of 14 cranberry-related dates and items that must be paired with their corresponding descriptions. The timeline paper will help with the matching exercise.
Cranberry Crossword (Grade 5 Level - maybe Grades 3 & 4 as well when given the word list) (2 pages - MS Excel): A standard crossword puzzle with the answers for teachers on the 2nd page (two versions: one version has the word choices included at the bottom; the other does not). This is a good review tool after talking about cranberries with the class, or after doing some of the other cranberry exercises. The 17 words are: BOG, SCOOPS, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, CRANBERRY BOUNCE, WATER, FROST, BEES, CLIMATE, PLYMOUTH, COLONISTS, SCURVY, CRANBERRY, SWALLOWS, PEST, PEMMICAN, and VITAMIN C
Cranberry Questions (Grades 5 & 6 - maybe Grade 4 with teacher help) (1 page - MS Word): Ten questions related to cranberries and cranberries in Maine. One question asks the students to label various parts of a cranberry plant that is pictured on the page. Other questions include: In which Maine counties can you find commercial cranberry growers? Where in Maine was the first cranberry farm located? How did cranberries get their name? How were cranberries used by Native Americans? What kinds of cranberry products can be found in the grocery store? (Answer key included)
Cranberry Vocabulary (Especially for Grade 4 Level) (1 page - MS Word): 21 different cranberry-related terms are defined, such as: erosion, irrigation, habitat, pollination, runners
Cranberry Facts (Grades 4 and 5) (1 page - MS Word):Nice narrative about the history of cranberries and the development of cranberries in Maine; 10 paragraphs long. Here is one of the paragraphs to give you an idea: "Cranberries are the number one food crop in Massachusetts, with more than 500 growers producing 38 percent of the nation's cranberry supply. In Maine, potatoes are the number one food crop, followed by wild blueberries. Cranberries are far down on Maine’s list, but they are helping Maine farmers to diversify their farm operations. A large apple grower in Turner now has 12 acres of cranberries as well, which has increased the money-making potential of his operation. He is now making his own cranberry-apple juice and cider drinks, for example."

If you have comments or questions about this page, or to request a paper copy of any of these items, free of charge,
contact Charles Armstrong at: charlesa@umext.maine.edu

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