You may want to ask the students to find out particular information. Have these available to the students so they can learn more about the state of Indiana. Have the children locate Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois on the map. Ask the children if the kernels really could have blown to the ocean. Ask them to name the closest ocean and how far it is from Indiana.
Children really benefit from using the computer during class research projects.
Depending upon the grade level of your class, try to let your students use the computer as much as possible. Computer CD-ROM like Compton's Encyclopedia or Grollier's Encyclopedia are wonderful tools for research. It's nice to reward students for good work with time on the computer. Students benefit greatly from using the computer during Writing Workshop to enhance their writing. Using a word processor helps the children learn how to edit their writing.