CP: How Rice Became the King of Grains | Modern Marvels (S15, E33) | Full Episode

Class Plans
Featured Image

Set the Scene:

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

  • How often do you eat rice in a week, and what are some of your favorite rice-based dishes?
  • Have you ever tried different types of rice, such as brown, white, or black Thai rice? What did you think of them?
  • Do you know anyone who grows rice or has a rice farm? What do you know about their experiences?
  • How do you think rice is related to your daily life, and what role does it play in your culture or community?
  • What comes to mind when you hear the word “rice,” and what associations do you have with it?

Featured Image Analysis & Prediction:

Look at the featured image and answer the following questions:

  • What do you see in the image, and what does it depict?
  • What do you think this activity will be about based on this image?
  • How does the image relate to your prior knowledge or experiences with rice?

Introduction:

Please read the introduction to the activity, which provides an overview of the importance of rice as a food source and its versatility in different cuisines.

Video Engagement:

Watch the video associated with the activity, available at https://maestrocursos.com.br/quizzed-esl-activities/how-rice-became-the-king-of-grains-modern-marvels-s15-e33-full-episode-3/. Pause the video at the following strategic points:

  1. After the introduction to rice production (around 5 minutes)
  2. During the explanation of the parboiling process (around 10 minutes)
  3. When discussing the different types of rice and their uses (around 15 minutes)

For each pause point, reflect on or discuss the following questions:

  • What did you learn about rice production, and how does it relate to your prior knowledge?
  • How does the parboiling process affect the nutritional value of rice, and what are the benefits of this process?
  • What are some of the different types of rice mentioned in the video, and how are they used in various products or dishes?

Vocabulary Focus:

Review the key vocabulary related to rice, including:

Term Definition Example Usage
Parboiling A process of partially boiling rice to preserve nutrients and make it easier to mill. Uncle Ben’s uses parboiling to make their white rice more nutritious.
Brown Rice A type of rice that is more nutritious than white rice, with a higher fiber and nutrient content. Quaker uses whole grain brown rice to make their puffed rice cakes.
Sake A traditional Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. Sake is often served with sushi and can range in price from $6 to $150 per bottle.
Gelatinization A process of breaking down starches in rice to make them more accessible to enzymes. Breweries use gelatinization to increase the starch and alcohol content of their beers.
Flood-Resistant Rice A type of rice that can withstand flooding and submergence for extended periods. Pamela Ronald’s team created a flood-resistant rice variety to help feed people affected by flooding.
Rice Straw The dried stalks of rice plants, often used as a building material or for insulation. Rice straw can be used to build houses, providing good insulation and a sustainable building material.
Milling The process of removing the husk and bran layers from rice to produce white rice. Uncle Ben’s mills their rice to produce a uniform and high-quality product.
Puffed Rice A type of rice that has been popped or puffed to create a crispy texture. Rice Krispies and puffed rice cakes are popular examples of puffed rice products.
Sushi Rice A type of short-grain rice used to make sushi, typically grown in California or Japan. Most sushi rice in the US is grown in the Sacramento Valley and harvested when mature.
Rice Varieties The different types of rice, including brown, white, black, and specialty varieties. There are over 80,000 varieties of rice, each with its own unique characteristics and uses.

Grammar Focus:

The grammar focus for this activity is the use of passive voice. Please review the following examples and explanations:

The passive voice is a grammatical construction where the subject of a sentence receives the action described by the verb. It is often used in formal or technical writing to emphasize the action rather than the doer.

Examples:

  • The rice is parboiled in a steamer.
  • The rice was harvested by the farmer.
  • The rice will be milled tomorrow.

Please complete the grammar quiz to practice your understanding of the passive voice:

  1. Which of the following sentences is an example of the passive voice?
    • The farmer harvested the rice.
    • The rice was harvested by the farmer.
    • The rice is harvesting now.
    • Rice harvests are done every year.
  2. The sentence “The rice will be milled tomorrow” is in which tense of the passive voice?
    • Present simple
    • Present continuous
    • Future simple
    • Past simple
  3. Which of the following is a characteristic of the passive voice?
    • It emphasizes the doer of the action.
    • It is typically used in informal writing.
    • It can make the writing seem more objective.
    • It is never used in technical writing.
  4. The sentence “Rice is used in various products” is an example of the passive voice in which tense?
    • Present continuous
    • Present simple
    • Past simple
    • Future simple
  5. Which of the following sentences is not in the passive voice?
    • The rice was parboiled in a steamer.
    • The fields are being prepared for harvesting.
    • The farmer is harvesting the rice now.
    • The rice will be packaged later.

Answer Key:

  1. B. The rice was harvested by the farmer.
  2. C. Future simple
  3. C. It can make the writing seem more objective.
  4. B. Present simple
  5. C. The farmer is harvesting the rice now.