POPCORN
What do you see in the picture?
Do you like popcorn?
What other kinds of corn do you know?
All corn does not pop. A seed or kernel of corn must have 14 percent water in it to pop. Other kinds of
corn have less water and do not pop. When you put a kernel of corn on a fire, the water inside makes the
corn explode. This makes a “pop” noise. That is why we call it popcorn.
The American Indians popped corn a long time ago. The Indians knew there where three kinds of corn.
There was sweet corn for eating, corn for animals, and corn for popping. The Indians introduced corn to
the first settlers, or Pilgrims, when they came to America in 1620. On year after they came, the Pilgrims
had a Thanksgiving dinner. They invited the Indians. The Indians brought food with them. One Indian
brought popcorn!
Since that time Americans continued to popcorn at home. But in 1945 there was a new machine that
changed the history of popcorn. This electric machine popped corn outside the home. Soon movie
theaters started to sell popcorn to make more money. Popcorn at the movies became more and more
popular. Today, Americans still continue the custom of eating popcorn at the movies.
Americans use 500,000 pounds of popcorn every year. Many people like to put salt and melted butter on
their popcorn. Some people eat it without salt or butter. Either way – Americans love their popcorn!
Vocabulary
Complete the definitions. Circle the letter of the correct answer.
A thing that people in a country always do is a _____________
a. pop b. custom
2 A few is the same as ______________.
a. several b. many
3. When you tell people about something for the first time, you _______________ them to it.
a. make b. introduce
4. When you ask some people if they want to do something, you ______________ them.
a. invite b. change
5. The small part of a plant that grows into a new plant is a _______________.
a. corn b. seed
6. When something bursts, or pops, it _____________.
a. explodes b. continues
Comprehension
- Looking for Main Ideas
Circle the letter of the correct answer.
1) For corn to pop, it must have (_______________________)
a) less than 12 percent water
b) 14 percent water
c) no water
2) The Indians (____________________)
a) sold popcorn to the Pilgrims
b) brought popcorn to Thanksgiving dinner
c) did not know about popcorn
3) Today, popcorn is (____________________)
a) only popular at home
b) popular at the movies
c) not popular
- Looking for Details
Circle T if the sentence is true. Circle F if the sentence is false.
1. The American Indians knew about three kinds of corn F T
2. Americans use 500,000 pounds of popcorn a year F T
3. The Pilgrims had a Thanksgiving dinner F T
4. The Indians invited Pilgrims F T
5. In 1925, an electric machine popped corn F T
6. An Indian brought popcorn to the Thanksgiving dinner F T
GRAMMAR
Make these sentences negative
Example: All corn pops.
All corn does not pop.
a) Other kinds of corn have 14 percent water.
__________________________________
b) Other kinds of corn pop
__________________________________
c) Popcorn pops in water
__________________________________
d) Today, people eat popcorn for Thanksgiving.
__________________________________
e) Popcorn at the movies is popular in every country.
__________________________________
f) Movie theaters in the United States sell sweet corn.
__________________________________
Discussion
Discuss the answers to these questions with your classmates.
a) What do you eat when you go to the movies in your country?
b) How do you eat corn in your country?
c) What cereal is special to your country and how do you eat it?
