Reflection Q&A on The gift of magi Video watching A&J 29th May Reading comprehension questions and writing tasks Summary and Homework Gap-fill: TBC Q&A: TBC Dippin’ Dots A&J 29th May 2022 You probably recognize these ice cream pellets as the ice cream of the future. They're Dippin’ Dots, a summertime staple. But this confectionery treat didn't start as, well, ice cream. It started as cow feed. Dippin’ Dots were invented in the 80s, not by an ice cream brand but by a microbiologist. Curtis Jones specialized in cryogenics. In 1987, he was working for a bio-tech company in Kentucky, trying to figure out how to make food for farm animals more efficient. His big breakthrough came when he flash-froze cattle feed at 350 degrees below zero, which produced small pellets. Curtis loved making ice cream. Next thing he knew, he was using liquid nitrogen to freeze ice cream at extremely low temperatures and ended up with small beads of it. When eaten, the natural heat of the mouth melted the beads and thus, Dippin’ Dots was born. A year later, he formed the company out of his parent's garage in Illinois, but there was a problem. Curtis had nowhere to sell the product. Dippin’ Dots need to be stored at such a cold temperature that it made it impossible for grocery stores to house the tasty treat, so he got creative and marketed his product to alternate locations. Now, they're sold at amusement parks, festivals, zoos, and other summertime destinations. But whether or not they really are the ice cream of the future, we'll just have to wait and see. 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson 25 May 2022 Printed by: Cathy Liu Printed on: 25 May 2022 Eat the Spoon Ready Today's article is about ways to fix the problem of plastic trash. What do you think of this idea? It's important to fix problems. Don't just leave them for someone else. Agree Disagree Explain why you voted the way you did. https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 1/8 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson Read RED BANK, New Jersey (Achieve3000, April 20, 2022). You and a friend are at the zoo on a hot summer day. You both finish off your bowls of Dippin' Dots ice cream. Then you glance around for a trash can. Your buddy, however, devours the spoon, mumbling "Mmm…tastes like chocolate." Is it time to call a doctor? Chill. Although the spoon looks like plastic, it isn't. It's made of ingredients like wheat and corn. Sound cool? These sweet spoons aren't just fun. They're better for the planet than disposable plastic spoons. Items intended to be used once and then thrown away make up about half the plastic created every year. And all that rubbish is really piling up. Photo credit: incrEDIBLE Eats Eating your spoon can cut down on plastic waste. Pick vanilla or chocolate! Every year, people throw out about 300 million tons of plastic. That's almost equal to the weight of all the people on the planet. Less than 10 percent of plastic waste gets recycled. One reason is that recycled plastic is more expensive to make and has fewer uses. But plastic doesn't decompose. So this garbage is a problem that's not going to melt away on its own. Scientists and business leaders are searching for answers. They're developing new materials to take the place of plastic. Some of these substitutes are safe to eat. Those chocolate-flavored spoons are made by incrEDIBLE Eats. The company also plans to sell straws and chopsticks. Other businesses are also making plastic substitutes we can all stomach. Apeel is a coating for fruits and veggies. Like plastic wrap, it keeps food fresh longer. That means less food gets wasted. Unlike plastic, however, Apeel is safe to eat. It's made from parts of plants that are often thrown away, like peels and seeds. Another eco-friendly material is called Notpla. It's not plastic. (Get it?) It's made from seaweed. Notpla is used to create containers for liquids, such as water or sauces. Ketchup packets made of plastic will outlast your lunch by hundreds of years. But not ones made of Notpla. They're biodegradable. You can toss them into garden dirt to help plants grow…or into your mouth. These materials may cut down on plastic trash in the future. But what can we do about waste that's already piled up? Forward-thinking scientists are considering that question, too. Two professors tried out a new idea. They used tiny living things called microbes to break down plastic waste and turn it into protein. Someday, will breakfast include protein shakes whipped up from powder that was once plastic trash? Could be! One thing is for sure. The plastic polluting our planet presents a big challenge. It's a problem scientists and leaders will be chewing on for a long time. Got some smart ideas? Don't let them go to waste! Think about and discuss these questions: What facts would you select to show why plastic waste is a problem? Would you eat spoons or food wrappers that were meant to be eaten? Why or why not? Want to learn more about ways to make less trash? Click on the links below! Trash Stinks: Try Zero Waste (/kb/lesson/preview/?lid=18921&step=11&c=1) Refill and Reuse! (/kb/lesson/preview/?lid=18134&step=11&c=1) Despicable Disposables (/kb/lesson/preview/?lid=18749&step=11&c=1) https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 2/8 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson Dictionary decompose (verb) to rot devour (verb) to eat hungrily protein (noun) something found in foods such as eggs and milk; it helps a person grow and be strong seaweed (noun) a plant that grows in the sea substitute (noun) something used in place of something else https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 3/8 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson Respond PART 1 Question 1 Which of these sentences states the main idea of the article? Most things made of plastic cannot be recycled and used again. Microbes may be able to break down plastic waste and turn it into protein. Materials made from seaweed can be used instead of plastic. New materials that are safe to eat may help solve the problem of plastic waste. Question 2 Think about the article. How are Apeel and Notpla different? Apeel is made from seaweed, while Notpla is made from plant waste. Apeel comes from natural materials, while Notpla comes from recycled plastic. Apeel is used to coat fruits and vegetables, while Notpla is used to make containers. Apeel holds liquids, while Notpla holds solids. Question 3 The article states: Every year, people throw out about 300 million tons of plastic. That's almost equal to the weight of all the people on the planet. Less than 10 percent of plastic waste gets recycled. Why did the author include this passage? To explain why some people create more waste than others To convince the reader that plastic waste can be controlled To show the reader that plastic waste is a huge problem To inform the reader that recycling plastic waste is not possible Question 4 https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 4/8 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson Read this passage from the article: Items intended to be used once and then thrown away make up about half the plastic created every year. And all that rubbish is really piling up. Which is the closest synonym for the word rubbish? mixture material baggage garbage Question 5 Which passage from the article best supports the idea that old plastic waste is still a problem? These sweet spoons aren't just fun. They're better for the planet than disposable plastic spoons. Although the spoon looks like plastic, it isn't. It's made of ingredients like wheat and corn. But plastic doesn't decompose. So this garbage is a problem that's not going to melt away on its own. Unlike plastic, however, Apeel is safe to eat. It's made from parts of plants that are often thrown away, like peels and seeds. Question 6 Based on the article, which is most likely to happen? Packets made from seaweed will last longer than plastic packets. Spoons you can eat will satisfy people's daily food needs. More materials that decompose will take the place of plastic. People will stop using regular metal spoons and glasses at home. Question 7 Paige wants to learn more about plastic recycling. Paige would find most of the information __________. in an encyclopedia article about how plastic is made in a textbook chapter about the early history of plastic on a news program about fun foods to eat on a website about waste management Question 8 https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 5/8 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson The article states: These sweet spoons aren't just fun. They're better for the planet than disposable plastic spoons. Items intended to be used once and then thrown away make up about half the plastic created every year. Which phrase from the passage helps you understand the meaning of the word disposable? half the plastic thrown away created every year sweet spoons https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 6/8 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson Reflect Now that you have read the article, indicate whether you agree or disagree with this statement. It's important to fix problems. Don't just leave them for someone else. Agree Disagree https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 7/8 2022/5/25 13:23 Achieve3000: Lesson Write Think about the ways plastics are used all around us. How do ideas from the article help us use less plastic? Think about the plastic things around us that the article does not talk about. What ideas do you have for using less of those? https://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=20205&c=1&step=multiple&steps%5B%5D=10&steps%5B%5D=11&steps%5B%5D=12&steps%5B%5… 8/8 Reflection Q&A on The gift of magi Video watching A&J 29th May Reading comprehension questions and writing tasks Summary and Homework Gap-fill: TBC Q&A: TBC
