Scientists at the University of Nottingham and a company called The Good Pulse Company have created a vegan cheese from yellow split peas. This cheese, named “Cheese from Peas,” has more protein than regular vegan cheese, which is usually made from coconut oil. The scientists think they are the first to make dairy-free cheese using all parts of the peas, which they turn into flour. This flour is used to make a cheese powder, which is mixed with water and cooked to make the cheese.
The scientists say their cheese is not only good for vegans but also helps the environment. Peas and pulses are better for the environment than milk and cheese, and plants like peas are good for the soil because of special bacteria they have. The Good Pulse Company plans to only use peas grown in the UK. The scientists have got money from Innovate UK and are trying to find a UK cheese company to sell their cheese powder.
The Cheese from Peas is said to taste like cheddar cheese, because the way it’s made and flavored hides the pea taste. The scientists think their cheese will be liked by vegans and people who want to eat healthy and have more peas in their diet. Right now, the cheese powder has about 4-5% protein, but the scientists are trying to make it have 9-10% protein.
Original news source: Could cheese made from peas be a healthy alternative for vegans? (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns choosing a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. vegan cheese, yellow split peas, dairy-free) and acting it out without speaking. The other groups must guess what word or phrase they are acting out. The group that guesses correctly earns a point.
– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will take turns summarizing the main points of the article to their partner in their own words. Encourage them to include key details such as the creation of vegan cheese from yellow split peas, the environmental benefits, and the taste of the cheese. After each student has had a turn, they can compare their summaries with the actual article.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “cheese” on the board. Have students take turns coming up with words or phrases that they associate with cheese. Encourage them to think of both positive and negative associations. Then, ask them to do the same exercise with the word “peas.” Finally, have a class discussion about how these associations might relate to the creation of vegan cheese from yellow split peas.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. vegan, dairy-free, protein, cheddar). One student from each group will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it, while the other group members try to guess the word. The first group to correctly guess the word earns a point. Repeat until all the words have been used.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about and write down their opinions on the following question: “Do you think vegan cheese made from yellow split peas could be a popular alternative to regular cheese?” Then, have students pair up and share their opinions with their partner. Finally, facilitate a class discussion where students can share their partner’s opinion and any new insights they gained from the discussion.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the vegan cheese made from?
2. How is the cheese made from peas different from regular vegan cheese?
3. Why do the scientists think their cheese is good for the environment?
4. Where does The Good Pulse Company plan to get their peas from?
5. What does the Cheese from Peas taste like?
6. Who do the scientists think will like their cheese?
7. What are the scientists trying to do to increase the protein in the cheese powder?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Scientists at the University of Nottingham and a (1)______ called The Good Pulse Company have created a vegan cheese from yellow split peas. This cheese, named “Cheese from Peas,” has more protein than (2)______ vegan cheese, which is usually made from coconut oil. The scientists think they are the (3)______ to make dairy-free (4)______ (5)______ all parts of the peas, which they turn into (6)______. This flour is used to make a cheese powder, which is mixed with water and cooked to make the cheese.
The scientists say their cheese is not only good for vegans but also helps the environment. Peas and pulses are better for the environment than milk and cheese, and plants like peas are good for the soil because of special (7)______ they have. The Good Pulse Company plans to only use peas grown in the UK. The scientists have got (8)______ from Innovate UK and are (9)______ to find a UK cheese company to sell their cheese powder.
The Cheese from Peas is said to taste like cheddar cheese, because the way it’s made and flavored (10)______ the pea taste. The scientists think their cheese will be (11)______ by vegans and people who want to eat healthy and have more peas in their diet. Right now, the cheese powder has about 4-5% (12)______, but the scientists are trying to make it have 9-10% protein.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is vegan cheese made from?
2. How is “Cheese from Peas” different from regular vegan cheese?
3. Do you think vegan cheese made from peas is a good idea? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you tried “Cheese from Peas” and it tasted like cheddar cheese?
5. Do you like eating peas? Why or why not?
6. What do you think about the idea of using peas to make cheese instead of milk?
7. How would you feel if you found out that eating “Cheese from Peas” is better for the environment than regular cheese?
8. Do you think other people would like the taste of “Cheese from Peas”? Why or why not?
9. What other foods do you think could be made from peas?
10. How would you feel if you found out that “Cheese from Peas” has more protein than regular vegan cheese?
11. Do you think “Cheese from Peas” could become popular? Why or why not?
12. Would you be interested in trying “Cheese from Peas”? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. vegan
2. cheese
3. peas
4. protein
5. flour
6. powder
7. taste
8. healthy
Meanings:
(a) A nutrient that helps your body grow and stay strong
(b) A powdery substance made from grinding a grain or vegetable
(c) Someone who doesn’t eat any animal products
(d) The flavor of a food or drink
(e) Small green vegetables that grow in pods
(f) Good for your body and helps you feel good
(g) A food made from milk that is yellow and creamy
(h) A fine substance that can be mixed with water to make something
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the main ingredient in the vegan cheese made by scientists at the University of Nottingham?
(a) Coconut oil
(b) Yellow split peas
(c) Milk
(d) Cheese
2. Why do the scientists believe their vegan cheese is good for the environment?
(a) Peas and pulses are better for the environment than milk and cheese
(b) It is made from coconut oil
(c) It is made from regular cheese
(d) It is made from all parts of the peas
3. What is the purpose of using peas in the cheese-making process?
(a) Peas add flavor to the cheese
(b) Peas make the cheese healthier
(c) Peas make the cheese taste like cheddar
(d) Peas are good for the soil because of special bacteria they have
4. What is the current protein content in the cheese powder?
(a) 9-10%
(b) 1-2%
(c) 6-7%
(d) 4-5%
5. What type of cheese does the vegan cheese taste like?
(a) Blue cheese
(b) Swiss cheese
(c) Cheddar cheese
(d) Mozzarella cheese
6. What is the name of the company that collaborated with the University of Nottingham to create the vegan cheese?
(a) The Vegan Cheese Company
(b) The Good Pulse Company
(c) The Pea Cheese Company
(d) The Innovate UK Company
7. Where does The Good Pulse Company plan to source their peas from?
(a) France
(b) Germany
(c) The UK
(d) Spain
8. What type of company are the scientists trying to find to sell their cheese powder?
(a) A UK cheese company
(b) A French cheese company
(c) A German cheese company
(d) A Spanish cheese company
True or False Questions:
1. The scientists do not believe they are the first to make dairy-free cheese using all parts of the peas.
2. Scientists at the University of Nottingham and The Good Pulse Company have made a vegan cheese from yellow split peas.
3. The scientists are not trying to find a UK cheese company to sell their cheese powder.
4. The cheese is not good for vegans and it does not help the environment.
5. This vegan cheese has more protein than regular vegan cheese made from coconut oil.
6. The cheese powder is not mixed with water and cooked to make the cheese.
7. The peas are turned into flour, which is used to make a cheese powder.
8. The Good Pulse Company plans to only use peas grown in the UK.
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 is the vegan cheese made from?
2. How is the vegan cheese different from regular vegan cheese?
3. Why do the scientists think their cheese is good for the environment?
4. Where does The Good Pulse Company plan to get their peas from?
5. Who do the scientists think will like their cheese?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is the vegan cheese made from?
The vegan cheese is made from yellow split peas.
2. How is the cheese made from peas different from regular vegan cheese?
The cheese made from peas is different because it has more protein and is made from all parts of the peas, while regular vegan cheese is usually made from coconut oil.
3. Why do the scientists think their cheese is good for the environment?
The scientists think their cheese is good for the environment because peas and pulses are better for the environment than milk and cheese, and growing peas helps the soil.
4. Where does The Good Pulse Company plan to get their peas from?
The Good Pulse Company plans to get their peas from the UK.
5. What does the Cheese from Peas taste like?
The Cheese from Peas tastes like cheddar cheese.
6. Who do the scientists think will like their cheese?
The scientists think vegans and people who want to eat healthy and have more peas in their diet will like their cheese.
7. What are the scientists trying to do to increase the protein in the cheese powder?
The scientists are trying to increase the protein in the cheese powder by making it have 9-10% protein.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) company
(2) regular
(3) first
(4) cheese
(5) using
(6) flour
(7) bacteria
(8) money
(9) trying
(10) hides
(11) liked
(12) protein
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. vegan
Answer: (c) Someone who doesn’t eat any animal products
2. cheese
Answer: (g) A food made from milk that is yellow and creamy
3. peas
Answer: (e) Small green vegetables that grow in pods
4. protein
Answer: (a) A nutrient that helps your body grow and stay strong
5. flour
Answer: (b) A powdery substance made from grinding a grain or vegetable
6. powder
Answer: (h) A fine substance that can be mixed with water to make something
7. taste
Answer: (d) The flavor of a food or drink
8. healthy
Answer: (f) Good for your body and helps you feel good
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is the main ingredient in the vegan cheese made by scientists at the University of Nottingham?
Answer: (b) Yellow split peas
2. Why do the scientists believe their vegan cheese is good for the environment?
Answer: (a) Peas and pulses are better for the environment than milk and cheese
3. What is the purpose of using peas in the cheese-making process?
Answer: (d) Peas are good for the soil because of special bacteria they have
4. What is the current protein content in the cheese powder?
Answer: (d) 4-5%
5. What type of cheese does the vegan cheese taste like?
Answer: (c) Cheddar cheese
6. What is the name of the company that collaborated with the University of Nottingham to create the vegan cheese?
Answer: (b) The Good Pulse Company
7. Where does The Good Pulse Company plan to source their peas from?
Answer: (c) The UK
8. What type of company are the scientists trying to find to sell their cheese powder?
Answer: (a) A UK cheese company
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. The scientists do not believe they are the first to make dairy-free cheese using all parts of the peas. (Answer: False)
2. Scientists at the University of Nottingham and The Good Pulse Company have made a vegan cheese from yellow split peas. (Answer: True)
3. The scientists are not trying to find a UK cheese company to sell their cheese powder. (Answer: False)
4. The cheese is not good for vegans and it does not help the environment. (Answer: False)
5. This vegan cheese has more protein than regular vegan cheese made from coconut oil. (Answer: True)
6. The cheese powder is not mixed with water and cooked to make the cheese. (Answer: False)
7. The peas are turned into flour, which is used to make a cheese powder. (Answer: True)
8. The Good Pulse Company plans to only use peas grown in the UK. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
