![The Farm Boy Who Invented Hershey’s [Level A2]](https://i0.wp.com/maestrocursos.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/thumbnail_kFn_lWx_Dhw.png?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1 "The Farm Boy Who Invented Hershey’s [Level A2]")
The Story of Milton Hershey
Milton Hershey was a famous man. He started the Hershey Chocolate company. But his life was not easy at first. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1857. His family was poor. His father tried many businesses, but they all failed.
Learning to Make Candy
When Milton was 14, he started to learn how to make candy. He worked in a shop for four years. He loved mixing ingredients. Later, he opened his own shop, but it closed because he had no money.
The Success of Caramels
Milton did not give up. He went to Denver and learned a new way to make caramels using fresh milk. He moved back to Lancaster and started the Lancaster Caramel Company. This time, he was very successful.
The Chocolate Dream
In 1893, Milton saw a machine that made chocolate. At that time, chocolate was only for rich people. Milton wanted to make it affordable for everyone. He sold his caramel company for one million dollars and built a big factory.
A Town for Workers
Milton built a whole town for his workers. The town had houses, schools, and even an amusement park. He also started a school for orphan boys. Today, Hershey is still one of the biggest manufacturers of chocolate in the world.
Vocabulary Table
| Term | Pronunciation | Definition | Used in sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | /pʊər/ | Not having much money. | His parents were poor farmers. |
| Failed | /feɪld/ | Did not succeed in something. | His father’s businesses failed many times. |
| Candy | /ˈkændi/ | Sweet food made with sugar. | Milton landed his first job in the candy business. |
| Ingredients | /ɪnˈɡriːdiənts/ | Things you use to make food. | He learned how to mix ingredients to make sweets. |
| Successful | /səkˈsɛsfʊl/ | Getting the result you wanted. | He opened a successful caramel company. |
| Chocolate | /ˈtʃɒklət/ | A sweet, brown food made from cocoa. | He wanted to make chocolate for everyone. |
| Affordable | /əˈfɔːrdəbl/ | Cheap enough for people to buy. | He made chocolate affordable for the masses. |
| Factory | /ˈfæktəri/ | A building where things are made. | He built a massive factory to make chocolate. |
| Orphan | /ˈɔːrfən/ | A child whose parents are dead. | He started a school for orphan boys. |
| Town | /taʊn/ | A place where people live and work. | He built a whole town for his workers. |
| Milk | /mɪlk/ | A white liquid from cows. | He used fresh milk to make his caramels. |
| Business | /ˈbɪznɪs/ | Making or selling things for money. | Milton learned the ins and outs of the candy business. |
| Luxury | /ˈlʌkʃəri/ | Something expensive and nice but not needed. | Chocolate was once a luxury for rich people. |
| Workers | /ˈwɜːrkərz/ | People who do a job. | His company had thousands of workers. |
| Famous | /ˈfeɪməs/ | Known by many people. | Milton Hershey became a famous man. |
Vocabulary Flashcards
Lexical Focus: Collocations & Chunks
Don’t just learn isolated words—learn chunks of language. These patterns will help you speak more naturally.
-
make money
Collocation
He wanted to make a better living and make money for his mother. -
open a shop
Collocation
Milton decided to open his first shop in Philadelphia. -
work hard
Collocation
Hershey worked himself so hard that he became ill. -
give up
Phrasal Verb
Milton failed two times, but he did not give up. -
get a taste of
Idiom (Simple)
This is where Milton would get his first taste of the candy business. -
fresh milk
Collocation
He used fresh milk to make the caramels soft. -
mass produce
Collocation
He learned how to mass produce milk chocolate. -
fall in love with
Phrasal Verb
Milton fell in love with the trade of making sweets.
De-Chunking: Complete the Expressions
Select the correct phrase from the box below to complete the sentences.
open a shop
work hard
give up
fresh milk
1. Milton wanted to to help his mother.
2. He used to make his caramels very soft.
3. At the age of 19, Milton was ready to .
4. Even when things were difficult, he did not .
5. He had to for many years to be successful.
While-viewing Tasks
Complete these tasks while watching the video:
Guided Notes
Fill in the blanks as you watch:
- Milton was born in the year .
- His first successful business made .
- The name of his chocolate company is .
- He built a special for his workers.
Simple Questions
Answer these questions:
- Was Milton’s family rich or poor when he was a boy?
- What city did Milton move to for his first shop?
- How much did Milton’s chocolate bars cost in 1906?
Listen For
Check the box when you hear these words:
- Chocolate
- Milk
- Factory
- School
- Town
Embedded Video:
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
1. Milton Hershey was born in .
2. His family was very when he was a boy.
3. He dropped out of at the age of 10.
4. At 14, he started to learn the business.
5. Milton moved to and learned a new recipe.
6. He used fresh to make soft caramels.
7. He started the Lancaster Company.
8. In 1893, he saw a machine that made .
9. He sold his business for one dollars.
10. He built a large in Pennsylvania.
11. His chocolate bars cost only .
12. He built a for his workers.
13. He started a school for boys.
14. Milton’s wife’s name was .
15. Today, Hershey is a very company.
Vocabulary Quiz
Fact or Fiction Quiz
Extension Activities
Choose one of these activities:
Draw Your Own Sweet
Imagine you have a candy company. Draw a new candy and write 3 sentences about it.
Easy
Interview
One person is Milton Hershey. The other person is a reporter. Ask 5 simple questions about his life.
Medium
Build a Town
Work with your group. Draw a map of a town for workers. What buildings do you need? (e.g., hospital, park, school).
Hard