Amazing Potato Chips: Online English Lesson

50-minute English Lesson

In this online English lesson about food, learn the secret history of a great snack. The humble potato chip.

Read the story

Potato Chips

People love potato chips. They’re one of the world’s favorite snacks. How did this sliced vegetable become so popular?

The history of the potato chip involves three main individuals.

The first was an American named George Crum. In 1853, he was a chef in a New York resort restaurant. The resort was famous for French fries. One day, a customer came in, scanned the menu and asked for fries. George made the fries, but the customer was dissatisfied. The fries were too thick he said. George quietly returned to the kitchen and cooked it again. This time he cut them a little thinner.

The customer glanced at the food on his plate and was not pleased. George went back to the kitchen. He sliced the potatoes as thin as possible. He added lots of salt. The customer loved them. Surprisingly, the hotel became famous for salty potato chips.

Over the next two decades, potato chips became popular across America. But, there were two challenges.

First, peeling the potatoes. At this time, the skin was removed by hand. That was a time consuming task. In the 1920s, an unknown person invented a machine to remove skins. We do not know who that was, but he or she changed the food business. Now it was possible to make chips fast.

Second, keeping chips fresh and ready for sale. In the 1920s, chips were sold from a glass box or large can. The chips regularly broke into small pieces. After a few days, they became soft. These chips could not be sold.

In 1926, Laura Scudder solved that problem. She made a bag that prevented air from going in or out. She took two pieces of wax paper and melted them together with an iron. That sealed the bag and blocked air from going in or out. The food stayed fresh for a long time.

The story of potato chips teaches us a lesson. Starting up a business does not always require an original product. Sometimes, we can create a new product by putting existing ideas together in a new way.

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Online English Lesson About Food

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the online English lesson about food again and fill in the blanks.

People love potato chips. They’re one of the world’s favorite snacks. How did this ________ vegetable become so popular?

The history of the potato chip involves three main ________ .

The first was an American named George Crum. In 1853, he was a chef in a New York ________ restaurant. The resort ________ ______ was French fries. One day, a customer came in, scanned the menu and asked for fries. George made the fries, but the customer was ________ . The fries were too thick he said. George quietly returned to the kitchen and ________ ______ again. This time he cut them a little ________ .

The customer ________ at the food on his plate and was not pleased. George went back to the kitchen. He sliced the potatoes as thin _____ ________ . He added lots of salt. The customer loved them. Surprisingly, the hotel became famous for ________ potato chips.

Over the next two ________ , potato chips became popular across America. But, there were two ________ .

First, ________ the potatoes. At this time, the skin was removed by hand. That was a time consuming task. In the 1920s, an ________ person invented a machine to remove skins. We do not know who that was, but he or she ________ the food business. Now it was possible to make chips fast.

Second, ________ chips fresh and ready for sale. In the 1920s, chips were sold from a glass ________ or large can. The chips ________ broke into small pieces. After a few days, they became soft. These chips could not be ________ .

In 1926, Laura Scudder solved that problem. She made a bag that ________ air from going in or out. She took two pieces of wax paper and ________ them together with an ________ . That sealed the bag and blocked air from going in or out. The food stayed ________ for a long time.

The story of potato chips teaches us a lesson. ________ _____ a business does not always require an original product. Sometimes, we can create a new product ________ by putting ideas together in a new way.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the esl story.

1. Describe this story’s setting.
2. Outline the critical steps that lead to the modern potato chip.
3. Does serendipity play a role in this story?
4. How did the teacher respond?
5. Why do you think the hotel became famous for salty chips?
6. Describe how people might have consumed potato chips before the Laura’s invention.

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.

1. EELDMT
2. AIIGONRL
3. IEYLQTU
4. ADGLCEN
5. IMCGNOSUN
6. LICDSE

Writing practice

Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.

1. that / or / going / made / a / out / prevented / bag / in / air / from / She
2. three / the / of / The / main / individuals / potato / history / chip / involves
3. a / original / an / always / up / business / Starting / require / not / product / does
4. on / the / his / glanced / customer / was / not / pleased / and / food / at / The / plate
5. skins / person / an / a / unknown / 1920s / / machine / the / to / In / remove / invented

Another ESL listening story

Try this free English lesson? Learn about Marie Curie, an amazing woman who won two Nobel prizes and changes the history of science.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this online English lesson about food? How about a short, fun video about the history of the potato. It’s way cooler than its sounds.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list with at least six facts.

Get the worksheet

Want to print out the online English lesson about food activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.

Click to see the answers for this online English lesson about chips.