Full Circle Biotechnology is a company in Bangkok that grows bugs to make food for animals. They use a special kind of bug called black soldier fly larvae. These bugs eat old fruits and vegetables that people don’t want. The bugs are then mixed with good bacteria and mushrooms to make food for animals. This food is better for the Earth than soybean food, but it costs more money to make.

Another company in Lithuania called Cogastro is also using smart computers, called AI, to help with bug farming. Cogastro’s software watches the bugs and collects information. Soon, their AI will be able to learn and make changes by itself. The boss of Cogastro says it takes time to make good AI. Full Circle is working with an expert from Singapore to make their AI better and faster.

Original news source: The insect farmers turning to AI to help lower costs (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. bugs, black soldier fly larvae, AI). One student from each group will act out the word or phrase without speaking, while the other group members guess what it is.

– News Summary
Instructions: Read the article aloud to the class. Afterward, have the students work in pairs to write a short summary of the article using their own words. Encourage them to focus on the main ideas and key details.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to the article (e.g. Bug farming is a sustainable solution. AI technology is important for agriculture). Have the students walk around the classroom and ask their classmates for their opinions on each statement. They should record the responses and then share their findings with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. larvae, mushrooms, expert). Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a word from the list. They must then draw a picture to represent the word while their teammates guess what it is.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Assign each group a topic related to the article (e.g. bug farming, AI technology). Have the groups discuss the pros and cons of their assigned topic and create a list. Afterward, each group can share their findings with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What does Full Circle Biotechnology do?
2. What kind of bugs do they use to make food for animals?
3. What do the bugs eat?
4. What do they mix the bugs with to make food for animals?
5. Is this food better for the Earth than soybean food?
6. Does it cost a lot of money to make this food?
7. What is Cogastro using smart computers for?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Full Circle Biotechnology is a company in Bangkok that grows bugs to make food for (1)______. They use a special kind of bug called black soldier fly larvae. These bugs eat old (2)______ and vegetables that people don’t want. The bugs are then mixed with good bacteria and mushrooms to (3)______ food for animals. This food is better for the Earth than soybean food, but it costs (4)______ money to make.

Another company in Lithuania called Cogastro is also using smart (5)______, called AI, to help with bug farming. Cogastro’s software watches the bugs and collects (6)______. Soon, their AI will be able to learn and make changes by itself. The boss of Cogastro says it takes (7)______ to make good AI. Full (8)______ is working with an expert from Singapore to make their AI better and faster.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Full Circle Biotechnology?
2. How do the bugs at Full Circle Biotechnology help make food for animals?
3. What kind of bugs does Full Circle Biotechnology use?
4. Do you like bugs? Why or why not?
5. What are some things that bugs eat?
6. How is the food made by Full Circle Biotechnology better for the Earth?
7. Do you think it’s important to make food that is good for the Earth? Why or why not?
8. What is AI?
9. How does Cogastro use AI to help with bug farming?
10. Do you think it’s a good idea to use computers to help with bug farming? Why or why not?
11. How do you think AI can help make bug farming better?
12. Would you like to work with bugs and AI? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. biotechnology
2. larvae
3. bacteria
4. mushrooms
5. soybean
6. software
7. information
8. expert
9. farming
10. changes

Meanings:
(A) When something becomes different
(B) Someone who knows a lot about a subject
(C) Using living things to make products
(D) A type of bean used to make food
(E) Facts or details about something
(F) Fungi that grow in the ground and can be eaten
(G) Baby bugs
(H) Growing plants or raising animals for food
(I) Tiny living things that can make you sick or help you
(J) Programs that run on computers
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What kind of bugs does Full Circle Biotechnology use to make food for animals?
(a) ladybugs
(b) ants
(c) butterflies
(d) black soldier fly larvae

2. What do the bugs eat?
(a) meat and cheese
(b) old fruits and vegetables
(c) candy and cookies
(d) rocks and sticks

3. What do they mix with the bugs to make food for animals?
(a) good bacteria and mushrooms
(b) sugar and salt
(c) milk and eggs
(d) flowers and trees

4. Is the bug food better for the Earth than soybean food?
(a) No
(b) Yes
(c) Maybe
(d) I don’t know

5. Does it cost more money to make bug food?
(a) Yes
(b) No
(c) Maybe
(d) I don’t know

6. What is the name of the company in Lithuania that is using smart computers?
(a) Full Circle Biotechnology
(b) Singapore Expert
(c) Cogastro
(d) Bangkok Bugs

7. What do the smart computers, called AI, do?
(a) eat bugs and vegetables
(b) play games and watch movies
(c) watch the bugs and collect information
(d) sleep and dream

8. Who is Full Circle Biotechnology working with to make their AI better and faster?
(a) an expert from Lithuania
(b) an expert from Bangkok
(c) an expert from Thailand
(d) an expert from Singapore

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The boss of the Lithuanian company says it takes time to make good smart computers.
2. This food is better for the Earth than soybean food.
3. There is no other company in Lithuania that uses smart computers to help with bug farming.
4. The bugs are mixed with good bacteria and mushrooms to make animal food.
5. These bugs eat fresh fruits and vegetables that people want.
6. It costs less money to make this bug food.
7. There is no company in Bangkok that grows bugs to make food for animals.
8. The bugs they use are called black soldier fly larvae.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What kind of bugs does Full Circle Biotechnology use to make food for animals?
2. What do the bugs eat?
3. How do they make the food for animals?
4. Why is this food better for the Earth?
5. Who is helping Full Circle Biotechnology make their AI better and faster?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What does Full Circle Biotechnology do?
Full Circle Biotechnology grows bugs to make food for animals.

2. What kind of bugs do they use to make food for animals?
They use black soldier fly larvae.

3. What do the bugs eat?
The bugs eat old fruits and vegetables that people don’t want.

4. What do they mix the bugs with to make food for animals?
They mix the bugs with good bacteria and mushrooms.

5. Is this food better for the Earth than soybean food?
Yes, this food is better for the Earth than soybean food.

6. Does it cost a lot of money to make this food?
Yes, it costs more money to make this food.

7. What is Cogastro using smart computers for?
Cogastro is using smart computers to help with bug farming.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) animals
(2) fruits
(3) make
(4) more
(5) computers
(6) information
(7) time
(8) Circle
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. biotechnology
Answer: (C) Using living things to make products

2. larvae
Answer: (G) Baby bugs

3. bacteria
Answer: (I) Tiny living things that can make you sick or help you

4. mushrooms
Answer: (F) Fungi that grow in the ground and can be eaten

5. soybean
Answer: (D) A type of bean used to make food

6. software
Answer: (J) Programs that run on computers

7. information
Answer: (E) Facts or details about something

8. expert
Answer: (B) Someone who knows a lot about a subject

9. farming
Answer: (H) Growing plants or raising animals for food

10. changes
Answer: (A) When something becomes different
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What kind of bugs does Full Circle Biotechnology use to make food for animals?
Answer: (d) black soldier fly larvae

2. What do the bugs eat?
Answer: (b) old fruits and vegetables

3. What do they mix with the bugs to make food for animals?
Answer: (a) good bacteria and mushrooms

4. Is the bug food better for the Earth than soybean food?
Answer: (b) Yes

5. Does it cost more money to make bug food?
Answer: (a) Yes

6. What is the name of the company in Lithuania that is using smart computers?
Answer: (c) Cogastro

7. What do the smart computers, called AI, do?
Answer: (c) watch the bugs and collect information

8. Who is Full Circle Biotechnology working with to make their AI better and faster?
Answer: (d) an expert from Singapore
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The boss of the Lithuanian company says it takes time to make good smart computers. (Answer: True)
2. This food is better for the Earth than soybean food. (Answer: True)
3. There is no other company in Lithuania that uses smart computers to help with bug farming. (Answer: False)
4. The bugs are mixed with good bacteria and mushrooms to make animal food. (Answer: True)
5. These bugs eat fresh fruits and vegetables that people want. (Answer: False)
6. It costs less money to make this bug food. (Answer: False)
7. There is no company in Bangkok that grows bugs to make food for animals. (Answer: False)
8. The bugs they use are called black soldier fly larvae. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧