Grades K–12 (Mini Kit)
Discover cotton up close with a smaller set! This mini kit is perfect for classroom demonstrations or small groups. Students examine real cotton bolls, try hand ginning to separate seeds from fibers, and learn how Eli Whitney’s cotton gin transformed textile production.
Each boll can be pulled apart into four distinct sections, making it easy to share between students. This compact version is a great introduction to cotton as a crop and its role in the clothes we wear every day.
Looking for a full-class set? Try the Cotton Bolls Kit, which includes 30 bolls for larger classrooms.
Kit Contents
- 5 individually wrapped cotton bolls
Additional Supplies
Recommended for classroom use (not included):
- Scissors or tweezers (optional, for dissection)
Lesson Plans
Use this kit with related lessons available on the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix.
Extend the Learning
Watch the Cotton Ginning Tutorial on YouTube to see the process in action. Encourage students to compare hand ginning with machine ginning to discuss productivity, technology, and innovation in agriculture.
Teacher Note
The purpose of this activity is to investigate cotton, the process of hand ginning, and the impacts of the cotton gin. Adjusting this investigation into a role-play or simulation of enslaved labor is absolutely discouraged. No student should be required to hand gin cotton. We recommend consulting your administrator and/or communicating with parents prior to presenting this lesson. Ginning may also be conducted as a teacher demonstration if needed. For resources on teaching about African enslavement, see the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Hard History: American Slavery.
