Set the Scene:
Let’s start with some engaging questions to connect your everyday life to the subject of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Please consider the following:
- What is your favorite type of candy, and why do you enjoy it?
- Have you ever tried Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and what do you like about them?
- Can you think of a time when you had a favorite snack or treat that you couldn’t get enough of?
- How do you think the production process of a candy like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups might be different from other types of food or products?
- What do you think are some key factors that contribute to the popularity of a candy like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?
Featured Image Analysis & Prediction:
Take a look at the featured image of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. What do you see in the image? What do you think this activity will be about based on this image? Please consider the following questions:
- What are the main components of the image, and how do they relate to the topic of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?
- What can you infer about the production process or ingredients of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups based on the image?
- How does the image make you feel, and what emotions or associations do you have with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?
Introduction:
Please read the introduction to the activity, which provides an overview of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and their history.
Video Engagement:
Watch the video on how Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are made in a factory. As you watch the video, please pause at the following points and consider the questions:
- Pause at 2:00 minutes: What is the significance of the peanut production process in the making of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? How does it contribute to the final product?
- Pause at 5:00 minutes: How does the chocolate shell preparation process differ from the peanut butter preparation process? What are the key ingredients and steps involved in each process?
- Pause at 8:00 minutes: What is the purpose of the conveyor system and extruder machine in the assembly and packaging process of Reese’s cups? How do these machines contribute to the efficiency and quality of the final product?
Key Vocabulary:
The following terms are relevant to the production process of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Please review the definitions and example usage:
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut Butter Cups | A type of candy consisting of a peanut butter filling covered in milk chocolate. | Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a classic example of this treat. |
| Runner Peanuts | A type of peanut commonly used for peanut butter production due to its high oil content and flavor. | Reese’s uses runner peanuts from the southeastern US to make their peanut butter blend. |
| Hydrogenated Oil | A type of oil that has been processed to make it more solid at room temperature, often used in food production for texture and shelf life. | Hydrogenated oil is added to peanut butter to create a smooth, spreadable paste. |
| Chocolate Liquor | A paste made from ground cocoa beans, used as a base for making chocolate. | Reese’s chocolate shell is made from a unique formula starting with fresh cocoa beans ground into chocolate liquor. |
| Cocoa Butter | A natural fat extracted from cocoa beans, used to give chocolate its smooth and melt-in-your-mouth texture. | Cocoa butter is mixed with sugar, milk, and powdered lactose to create the chocolate powder used in Reese’s cups. |
| Conveyor System | A system used in manufacturing to transport materials or products from one place to another, often using belts or chains. | Reese’s uses a conveyor system to assemble and package their peanut butter cups. |
| Extruder Machine | A machine used to shape and form materials, such as peanut butter, into a specific shape or form. | Reese’s uses an extruder machine to shape their peanut butter filling into perfectly round portions. |
| Demolder Machine | A machine used to remove products, such as chocolate cups, from their molds or packaging. | Reese’s uses a demolder machine to remove their peanut butter cups from their molds after cooling. |
| Heat Sealing | A process used to seal packaging, such as plastic or foil, using heat and pressure. | Reese’s peanut butter cups are paired and heat sealed in their distinctive orange wrappers. |
Vocabulary Quiz:
Please answer the following questions based on the key vocabulary:
- What does the term “granular texture” refer to in the context of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups?
- A) The smoothness of the chocolate shell
- B) The crunch of the peanuts
- C) The signature texture of the peanut butter achieved through overroasting
- D) The creaminess of the peanut butter
- Which of the following is a step in the peanut production process for Reese’s?
- A) Grinding the peanuts into a fine powder
- B) Pouring them onto a conveyor for cleaning, using a vibrating platform to remove debris
- C) Mixing the peanuts with sugar and salt
- D) Boiling the peanuts in water
- What is the purpose of the demolder machine in the assembly and packaging process of Reese’s cups?
- A) To pour the chocolate into the cups
- B) To cool the cups in a tunnel
- C) To place the cups onto a conveyor using robotic claws
- D) To mix the peanut butter with the chocolate
- How are the peanut butter plugs formed in the production of Reese’s cups?
- A) By pouring liquid peanut butter into molds
- B) By funnelling peanut butter filling into an extruder machine, which pushes it out through circular tubes
- C) By mixing the peanut butter with the chocolate
- D) By crushing the peanuts into a fine powder
- What is the temperature used to cool the Reese’s cups in the assembly and packaging process?
- A) 289°F
- B) 55°F
- C) 35°F
- D) 100°F
Answer Key:
- C) The signature texture of the peanut butter achieved through overroasting
- B) Pouring them onto a conveyor for cleaning, using a vibrating platform to remove debris
- C) To place the cups onto a conveyor using robotic claws
- B) By funnelling peanut butter filling into an extruder machine, which pushes it out through circular tubes
- B) 55°F
Grammar Focus:
The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the
