OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Wheat is a type of grass that grows in big, golden fields all over the world. People have been growing wheat for about 10,000 years, making it one of the very first plants that humans ever learned to farm. Today, wheat is grown on more land than any other food crop on Earth!

Each wheat stalk has a cluster of seeds at the top called a head, and each head holds about 50 tiny seeds called kernels. When the wind blows across a wheat field, all the stalks wave back and forth together like a beautiful golden ocean. Wheat comes in different types, including hard wheat for bread and softer wheat for cookies.

When the wheat is ready, farmers harvest it with big machines called combines. Then the kernels are ground up into a fine powder called flour. Flour is used to make bread, pasta, crackers, pancakes, pizza dough, and even cake!