Types of grains

Corn, or maize, is a type of grass. It grows taller than an adult man. Its seeds grow in a cluster, known as an ear or cob of corn. Corn can be cooked and eaten by itself, or ground into flour.

Oats are a cereal crop grown mainly for turning into rolled oats and oatmeal for making porridge. It is also used as animal feed, particularly for horses.

Rice is the largest crop grown for food in the world. Most rice is grown in China and India. Rice is a type of grass that grows to about a metre high. Rice needs a lot of water to grow, and in countries like Australia that have a low rainfall people are calling for rice growing to stop. Rice is usually eaten cooked plain, but can be prepared in a lot of different ways and served with lots of different foods. Rice can even be puffed, a little like popcorn.

Sorghum is a type of grass that is grown for its seeds for food and also for fiber to make things from. It is grown mainly in Africa, and is used both for human and animal food. It can be popped like popcorn and can be made into couscous.