Generated with Monsha

Save this resource to edit, expand, or export it, or create more resources for free.

The History of Popcorn: From Ancient Caves to Movie Theaters

Worksheet
Grade 6
English

The History of Popcorn: From Ancient Caves to Movie Theaters

Activity 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Instructions: Read each question carefully and circle the best answer based on the popcorn history we studied.
  1. Where were the oldest ears of popcorn ever found discovered? A. In a pyramid in Egypt B. In a coastal desert in North Chile C. In the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico D. In an Aztec temple in Mexico
Answer: _______________
  1. What was the Aztec name for a specific kind of parched corn that "bursts and discloses its contents"? A. Maize B. Momochitl C. Pisancalla D. Barley
Answer: _______________
  1. Why did movie theater owners originally ban popcorn inside their theaters? A. They thought the smell was bad for business. B. They didn't want the noise and mess to ruin their high-class atmosphere. C. Popcorn was too expensive to buy during the silent film era. D. They were worried it would distract people from the subtitles.
Answer: _______________


Activity 2: True or False

Instructions: Write 'T' for True or 'F' for False on the line provided. If the statement is False, explain why in the space below.
  1. ___ During the late 19th century, popcorn was a popular breakfast food often eaten with milk and cream. _____________________________________________________
  1. ___ Percy Spencer invented the microwave oven in 1946 while looking for ways to cook popcorn faster for soldiers. _____________________________________________________
  1. ___ The introduction of "talking pictures" (sound in movies) helped mask the noise of eating popcorn, making it more acceptable to snack during a film. _____________________________________________________


Activity 3: Word Matching - Grains and Cultures

Instructions: Draw a line to match the term for "corn" or "grain" with its correct historical or regional context.
Term
Historical / Regional Context
1. Maize
A. What the word "corn" referred to in England
2. Wheat
B. The common American name for the crop
3. Oats
C. A "confection" of toasted corn found in Peru (1650)
4. Pisancalla
D. What the word "corn" referred to in Scotland and Ireland
5. Barley
E. The grain likely stored in Egyptian pyramids (misunderstood as corn)


Activity 4: Timeline Matching

Instructions: Match the year or time period to the correct milestone in popcorn history.
Year / Period
Milestone
1. 4,000 years ago
A. Microwave popcorn was first available in the marketplace.
2. 1893
B. The estimated age of the oldest ears of popcorn found in New Mexico.
3. Late 1920s
C. Charles Cretors introduces the world's first mobile popcorn machine.
4. 1940-1945 (WWII)
D. The "Talking Picture" makes movie theaters a popcorn hotspot.
5. Early 1980s
E. Popcorn consumption triples because sugar is sent overseas for troops.


Activity 5: Label the First Mobile Popcorn Machine

Instructions: In 1893, Charles Cretors changed the world with his mobile steam-powered popper. Use the word bank below to label the parts of the machine in the diagram.
Word Bank:
  • Steam Engine
  • Popping Pan
  • Glass Display Case
  • Decorative Canopy
  • Wagon Wheels
fig 1: A diagram of Charles Cretors' 1893 mobile popcorn machine with numbers 1 through 5 for labeling.
fig 1: A diagram of Charles Cretors' 1893 mobile popcorn machine with numbers 1 through 5 for labeling.

  1. _______________________
  1. _______________________
  1. _______________________
  1. _______________________
  1. _______________________


Activity 6: Critical Thinking Questions

Instructions: Use the information from the text and your own logical thinking to answer the questions below. Provide 2-3 sentences for each.
  1. During the Great Depression, many businesses failed, but the popcorn business thrived. Why was popcorn the perfect "affordable luxury" for families during this difficult economic time? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
  1. How did the "aroma" (smell) of popcorn act as a natural advertisement for theater owners? Why was this more effective than just putting up a sign? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
  1. In the early 1950s, popcorn consumption dropped significantly. What new piece of home technology caused this "slump," and how did popcorn eventually make a comeback? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________


Activity 7: Problem Solving and Exercises

Instructions: Solve the following problems based on the data provided.
  1. Popcorn Math: According to the text, the average American consumes 43 quarts of popped popcorn each year.
  • If your family has 4 people, how many total quarts of popcorn does your household likely eat in one year? Show your work.
  • Calculation Space:
  1. Data Interpretation: Look at the chart below showing the history of popcorn popularity.
fig 2: A bar chart showing popcorn popularity peaks during WWII and the Microwave Era, with a significant slump during the introduction of Television.
fig 2: A bar chart showing popcorn popularity peaks during WWII and the Microwave Era, with a significant slump during the introduction of Television.

  • Based on the chart, which time period saw the lowest consumption of popcorn? ______________
  • By looking at the graph, how much higher (roughly) was popularity during the Microwave Boom compared to the TV Slump? ______________
  1. Popcorn Journey: Put the following methods of popping corn in the correct chronological order (from oldest to newest) by numbering them 1-5.
  • ___ Microwave Oven
  • ___ Cooking over an open fire in a wire box
  • ___ Mobile steam-powered machine
  • ___ Throwing kernels directly into hot ashes
  • ___ Boiling tassels in fat or oil (18th century)