Once upon a time, in the middle of a sunny cornfield, a cheerful corn cob named Cory wiggled happily on his stalk. He dreamed of the big day when he’d be picked and become something special.
“I hope I’m turned into popcorn!” Cory said one day.
“No way,” giggled Sunny the Sunflower next door. “You’d make a maize-ing corn on the cob!”
Cory blushed. “You really think so?”
Just then, Farmer Jo walked into the field with a big straw hat and a basket. “It’s harvest time!” she announced. “Let’s get these ears ready for the grill!”
Cory was gently picked and placed in the basket. “Whoa! I’m off the stalk! What now?”
Soon, Cory found himself at Granny Grill’s Summer Cookout. Granny placed him on the grill, gave him a buttery spin, and sprinkled him with a little salt.
The kids gathered ‘round with their plates. “Yay! Corn on the cob!” they cheered.
Cory felt proud. He wasn’t popcorn. He wasn’t corn syrup. He was something better—a crunchy, tasty celebration on a summer day.
And from that day forward, Cory became the star of National Corn on the Cob Day every year.
📚 Post-Story Discussion (5–10 min):
- What did Cory want to become?
- What happened at the end of the story?
- Why do people enjoy corn on the cob?
- What other ways can corn be used?
🍽️ Optional Extension (5 min):
Corn Taste Test!
Let students sample fresh corn or compare popcorn and corn chips. Talk about how each was made.