Born in Indiana in 1907, Orville Redenbacher started growing popping popcorn when he was 12 years old. It became his passion, and he devoted most of his life to finding the perfect gourmet popping corn.
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Orville Redenbacher
Like other corn breeders, he created thousands of hybrid strains of the corn before settling on the one he decided to put his name on — one that was light and fluffy and left very few unpopped kernels.
His first TV advertisement ran with the slogan: “You’ll like it better or my name isn’t Orville Redenbacher.” Apparently, America did like it better, and the company enjoyed great success.
Though Orville Redenbacher sold the company, he continued as its spokesman until his death on September 19, 1995. The popcorn still retains his name.
The History of Popcorn
Popcorn kernels in tombs in Peru have been found that are over 1000 years old — and so well-preserved that they still pop!
Popcorn was used in decorations, necklaces, and ornaments by the Aztecs. It was observed in action by the Spanish conquistadors who saw the corn burst in Aztec rituals and ceremonies. And it was eaten by North American Indians.
But popcorn really took off during the Great Depression, when the inexpensive treat found its place as an alternative to candy and other expensive snacks.
What is Popcorn?
So what is popcorn? Popcorn is simply a variety corn, or maize, that differs from other varieties of corn in that it has a thick hull that allows it to retain moisture. This moisture when heated turns into steam, and also turns the starch inside the corn kernel into a superhot gelatin. Eventually the pressure inside the kernel will cause it to pop, essentially turning the kernel inside out. The gelatin cools immediately. What is left is … well, popcorn.
Popcorn Nutrition
Nutritionally popcorn is a whole grain consisting of fiber and carbohydrates while being a low-calorie option — in other words, it makes a healthy snack without ruining your meal.
Of course, we tend to like our popcorn with large doses of butter, salt, and sometimes sweet sticky stuff, which brings its nutritional value into question.
The invention of the microwave revolutionized the industry as most of the popcorn consumed today is popped in a special microwave popcorn bag.
Suggestions
Have your students do one or more of the following:
- Provide a oral or written narration describing what it is that makes popcorn pop.
- Compare and contrast popcorn to your current favorite snack.
- Create an advertising slogan for your current favorite snack.
- Pull from one or more of these 31 activities involving popcorn.
Further Investigation
Orville Redenbacher’s History
Timeline.
Popcorn Popping in Slow Motion
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How It’s Made: Popcorn
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Popcorn Dissected
Discussing color, shape, nutritional content, and kernel parts.
From Seed to Snack
From breeding through through planting, harvesting, and processing — the life of a popcorn kernel.
Popcorn
Colorful download from Ag in in the Classroom.
Activities
Popcorn Seed Mosaics
Fun craft with popcorn The Popcorn Board (USDA).
Let’s Make Music
Ideas for making musical instruments filled with popcorn kernels The Popcorn Board (USDA).
Perfect Popcorn
A recipe at SimplyRecipies.com for a perfect batch of microwave-free popcorn for those who are interested.
Popcorn Recipes
From TasteOfHome.com. Yum!
Books
The Popcorn Book by Tomie de Paola
From a favorite author.
Unit Studies & Lesson Plans
Teaching Guide ~ Free
Free 12-page interdisciplinary guide with 31 activities involving popcorn.
The Secret Science of Popcorn
Colorful download from the American Chemical Society.
Popcorn Science
Five experiments at EducationWorld.com.
Analysis for Percent of Water in Popcorn (archived)
A scientific experiment for older students at the Community College of Baltimore County.
The Science of Popcorn
Lesson plan for older students from Carolina Biological Supply Company.
Printables & Notebooking Pages
Popcorn: From Seed to Snack
Poster showing the process from The Popcorn Board (USDA). Great for notebook!
Popcorn Notebooking Pages
Simple pages for copywork, narrations, or wrapping up.
These units have been created specifically with do-it-yourself (DIY) homeschoolers in mind: those that don’t want a lot of hand-holding. If this doesn’t describe your need, you might prefer a few of these pre-planned units. For those brave souls who enjoy pulling things together themselves, there are many ways to use these resources!
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Eat Smart Lessons ~ Free
Teach basic health and nutrition with these free Eat Smart Lessons from LSU.
He’s BAC! ~ Free Food Safety Download for Kids
Written and illustrated in a colorful comic book format, He’s BAC! is a free download on food safety for kids.