CP: How Oreo Cookies Are Made

Class Plans
Featured Image

Set the Scene:

Let’s start with some engaging questions to connect your everyday life to the subject of Oreo cookies. Please consider the following:

  • Do you have a favorite snack that you enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea?
  • Have you ever wondered how your favorite snacks are made?
  • What do you think is the most popular snack food in the world?
  • Have you ever tried to make your own cookies at home?
  • What do you think are the most important factors in making a delicious cookie?

Featured Image Analysis & Prediction:

Look at the featured image and describe what you see. What do you think this activity will be about based on this image? Please consider the following questions:

  • What is the main subject of the image?
  • What do you think is happening in the image?
  • How does the image relate to the topic of Oreo cookies?

Introduction:

Please read the introduction to the activity and learn about the history of Oreo cookies and how they are made.

Video Engagement:

Watch the video associated with the activity, which can be found at https://maestrocursos.com.br/quizzed-esl-activities/how-oreo-cookies-are-made/. Pause the video at the following points and discuss the questions:

  • Pause at 2 minutes: What are the main ingredients used to make Oreo cookies? How are they mixed together?
  • Pause at 5 minutes: How are the cookies shaped and molded? What machine is used for this process?
  • Pause at 8 minutes: How are the cookies assembled with the vanilla cream filling? What type of pump is used for this process?

Key Vocabulary:

Learn the key vocabulary related to the manufacturing process of Oreo cookies. Please review the following terms and their definitions:

Term Definition Example Usage
Nabisco National Baking Company, the organization that created the Oreo cookie. Nabisco is one of the largest baking companies in the world, producing iconic cookies like Oreos.
Leavening Agents Substances used to help dough rise during the baking process. Leavening agents, such as baking powder, are added to the Oreo cookie dough to give it a lighter texture.
Industrial-Grade Mixer A large machine used to mix and blend ingredients in commercial baking. The Oreo factory uses an industrial-grade mixer to combine the sugar, cocoa powder, and other ingredients for the cookie dough.
Centrilical Pump A type of pump that uses centrifugal force to deposit a precise amount of filling onto the cookies. A centrilical pump is used to deposit the vanilla cream filling onto the Oreo cookies during the assembly process.
Quality Control The process of checking products to ensure they meet certain standards of quality. The Oreo cookies undergo quality control checks to ensure they meet the company’s standards before being packaged and shipped.
Vanilla Cream Filling The sweet, creamy filling used in Oreo cookies, made from a mixture of powdered sugar, vegetable shortening, and vanilla flavoring. The vanilla cream filling is a key component of the Oreo cookie, providing a sweet and creamy contrast to the crunchy biscuit.
Industrial-Grade Oven A large, commercial oven used for baking high volumes of cookies. The Oreo cookies are baked in an 85-meter-long industrial-grade oven, which provides even baking and a crisp texture.
Molding Machine A machine used to shape the cookie dough into the iconic Oreo shape. The molding machine forms the Oreo cookie dough into biscuit shapes, complete with the intricate design and logo engraved into a roller.

Vocabulary Quiz:

Test your understanding of the key vocabulary by completing the following quiz:

  1. Which word means ‘a substance used to make something rise or expand’ in the context of Oreo cookie manufacturing?
    • A) Flavorings
    • B) Leavening agents
    • C) Vanilla cream filling
    • D) Vegetable oil
  2. What is the primary function of adding dry ice to the cookie batter mixture?
    • A) To add flavor to the cookies
    • B) To lower the mixture’s temperature and prevent the dough from becoming too crumbly
    • C) To make the cookies more crunchy
    • D) To speed up the baking process
  3. Which machine is used to portion the large clumps of cookie dough into individual pieces?
    • A) Industrial-grade mixer
    • B) Molding machine
    • C) Grate and molding machine
    • D) Centrilical pump
  4. What is the purpose of the quality control station in the Oreo cookie manufacturing process?
    • A) To package the cookies into larger boxes or containers
    • B) To assemble the cookies with the vanilla cream filling
    • C) To ensure the cookies meet the company’s standards
    • D) To bake the cookies in the industrial-grade oven
  5. Approximately how many Oreo cookies are sold each year around the globe?
    • A) 10 billion
    • B) 20 billion
    • C) 34 billion
    • D) 40 billion

Answer Key:

  1. B
  2. B
  3. C
  4. C
  5. C

Grammar Focus:

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action described by the verb. In the context of the Oreo cookie manufacturing process, the passive voice is frequently used to describe the various stages involved. For example, “The cookies are produced at factories in 18 countries around the world” or “The vanilla cream filling is prepared separately.” This grammatical structure is particularly useful for describing processes, as it allows the focus to be on the action rather than the doer of the action.

Grammar Quiz:

Test your understanding of the passive voice by completing the following quiz:

  1. The new employee ____________________ by the HR department before being assigned to a project.
    • a) is trained
    • b) trains
    • c) was trained
    • d) is being trained
  2. The quality of the ingredients ____________________ by a team of experts before they are used in the manufacturing process.
    • a) is checked
    • b) checks
    • c) are checked
    • d) have been checked
  3. The Oreo cookies ____________________ in over 100 countries around the world.
    • a) are sold
    • b) sell
    • c) have been sold
    • d) were sold
  4. The vanilla cream filling ____________________ separately before being assembled with the biscuits.
    • a) is prepared
    • b) prepares
    • c) has been prepared
    • d) was prepared
  5. The cookies ____________________ through an 85-meter-long industrial-grade oven for several minutes.
    • a) are baked
    • b) bake
    • c) have been baked
    • d) were baked

Answer Key:

  1. d) is being trained
  2. a) is checked
  3. a) are sold
  4. a) is prepared
  5. a) are baked