Why had few people in the United States before 1900, ever heard of the pea-sized yellow beans called "soybeans", much less eaten them? Discover the answers by watching this Serious Science video and reading the information below. And to take this learning adventure into your classroom, have your teacher download the free Lesson Activity at the bottom of this page so everyone can share in the fun of this inquiry based learning.
But this amazing little legume from East Asia has been creatively processed into edible staples – think tofu and soymilk – and ate by the Chinese for thousands of years. Soy foods from China have slowly grown in popularity in the United States in the past several decades. Today, soy foods have joined the ranks of spaghetti and tacos as popular ethnic cuisines in mainstream America. The reach of soy goes far beyond adding soy sauce to our stir fry’s and stocking edamame on our supermarket shelves.
More than any other plant, soybeans have shaped our lives by revolutionizing the way we eat, travel, grow food, and build cars and homes. But how can one little bean have this big of an impact?
Well let's find out by watching this video. Or better yet, let's share the video with the whole classroom then take it to another level with the companion Lesson Guide.
Plus, the educational partner noted below supported the video and lesson guide content here for all of us to learn from. They also offer other learning opportunities on their website. Educators are encouraged to evaluate and consider their science sources. So click on their logo to discover more!