Kim Innes, the person who started Humble Crumble, a bakery that makes crumbles, recently talked about her business journey. Her bakery has sold over 500,000 sweet treats. In the interview, she talks about how pumpkins helped her business but also caused some problems.

In the interview, Innes talks about her experiences with her business, focusing on how important pumpkins were for her. She explains how making crumbles with pumpkin flavor helped her get through a tough time. But she also talks about the difficulties she faced when there was suddenly a lot of demand for her products.

Innes’ story is inspiring for people who want to start their own businesses. It shows how important it is to be able to adapt and stay strong when things get tough. Her experience with pumpkins shows that unexpected opportunities can help a business grow, but it’s also important to manage things carefully so you don’t get overwhelmed.

The interview has some important lessons for people who lead businesses. It shows how crucial it is to recognize and take advantage of what people want, while also handling the effects on the business. Innes’ journey shows how important it is to make smart decisions and deal with challenges in the ever-changing world of starting a business.

In the end, Innes’ story proves that being creative and coming up with new ideas can help a business succeed. But it also shows that careful planning and management are needed to keep that success going.

Original news source: CEO Secrets: ‘Pumpkins saved my business but almost squashed me’ (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will work in pairs. Each pair is tasked with summarizing the article in their own words, focusing on the main points of Kim Innes’ journey with her bakery, Humble Crumble. Allow them 5 minutes to prepare their summary, and then each pair will present it to the class. Encourage them to use new vocabulary they’ve learned.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write a series of statements based on the article’s content on the whiteboard (e.g., “Starting a business is mostly about being creative,” “Every business should be prepared to handle unexpected demand,” etc.). Students will stand in a line according to how much they agree or disagree with the statements. After positioning themselves, ask students to discuss their reasoning with the person next to them and then share their opinions with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select key terms from the article (e.g., bakery, crumbles, pumpkins, adapt, management, success). Divide the class into two teams. One member from each team will come to the board and draw the selected term without speaking or writing words or letters, while their team guesses the term. Set a time limit for each term, and award points for correct guesses.

– Synonym Challenge
Instructions: Write down some key vocabulary from the article (e.g., sold, treats, experienced, crucial, recognize, creative, planning). In pairs or small groups, students must come up with as many synonyms as possible for each word within a set time limit. Afterward, discuss the nuances between the synonyms and the original words, emphasizing how word choice can change the tone or meaning in a sentence.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Based on Kim Innes’ experiences and lessons learned from the article, students will individually write down their predictions about where Humble Crumble might be in the next five years. They should consider factors like market trends, potential challenges, and opportunities for growth. After writing their predictions, students will pair up to discuss and compare their ideas, then share their thoughts with the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What product does Kim Innes’ bakery, Humble Crumble, specialize in making?
2. How many sweet treats has Humble Crumble sold according to the article?
3. What flavor did Kim Innes use in her crumbles that helped her business during a difficult time?
4. What challenge did Innes face when her pumpkin-flavored crumbles became very popular?
5. What does Innes’ story demonstrate about the importance of adaptability in business?
6. What lesson can business leaders learn from Innes’ experience with the high demand for her products?
7. According to the article, what two things are essential for a business to continue being successful?
8. What does the article suggest about the role of creativity in the success of a business?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Kim Innes, the person who (1)______ Humble (2)______, a (3)______ that makes crumbles, recently talked about her business journey. Her bakery has sold over 500,000 sweet treats. In the interview, she talks about how pumpkins helped her business but also caused some (4)______.

In the interview, Innes talks about her experiences with her business, focusing on how important pumpkins were for her. She (5)______ how (6)______ crumbles with pumpkin (7)______ helped her get through a (8)______ time. But she also talks about the difficulties she faced when there was suddenly a lot of demand for her products.

Innes’ story is inspiring for people who want to start their own businesses. It shows how important it is to be able to adapt and stay strong when things get tough. Her experience with pumpkins (9)______ that unexpected opportunities can help a business grow, but it’s also (10)______ to manage things carefully so you don’t get (11)______.

The interview has some important (12)______ for people who lead businesses. It shows how crucial it is to recognize and take advantage of what people want, while also handling the effects on the (13)______. Innes’ journey shows how important it is to make smart decisions and deal with challenges in the ever-changing (14)______ of starting a business.

In the end, Innes’ story proves that being creative and coming up with new ideas can help a business (15)______. But it also shows that careful planning and management are needed to keep that (16)______ going.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a challenge you’ve faced when trying something new, like starting a project or a club?
2. How would you feel if your small project suddenly became very popular?
3. Do you like trying out new flavors in food, like pumpkin in a dessert?
4. Do you think it’s important to be creative in business? Why or why not?
5. What’s an example of a time when you had to adapt to a difficult situation?
6. How do you handle stress when you have too many things to do?
7. What is a product that you wish was available in your area?
8. How would you feel if a product you loved was suddenly in high demand and hard to get?
9. Do you think it’s better to focus on one thing or to be flexible and try many things in business? Why?
10. What is something unexpected that has happened to you that turned out to be a good thing?
11. How important do you think careful planning is when doing a project or starting a business?
12. What is a hobby or skill of yours that you think could be turned into a business?
13. Do you like when businesses offer limited-time products or would you rather they keep their usual items? Why?
14. How do you think a business should handle a sudden increase in demand for their products?
15. Do you think it’s more important for a business to make smart decisions or to be willing to take risks? Can you explain your answer?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. bakery
2. crumbles
3. pumpkins
4. business
5. adapt
6. overwhelmed
7. crucial
8. management

Meanings:
(a) The buying and selling of goods or services
(b) A place where bread and cakes are made
(c) Extremely important
(d) The process of controlling and organizing a business
(e) Feeling like you have too much to handle
(f) Sweet dessert made with fruit and a crumbly topping
(g) Large, orange vegetables often used in pies and soups
(h) To change in response to a new situation
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the person who started Humble Crumble?
(a) Kim Innes
(b) Sarah Johnson
(c) Emily Smith
(d) David Brown

2. How many sweet treats has Humble Crumble sold?
(a) Over 500,000
(b) Over 100,000
(c) Over 1,000,000
(d) Over 250,000

3. What flavor helped Kim Innes get through a tough time with her business?
(a) Chocolate
(b) Pumpkin
(c) Vanilla
(d) Strawberry

4. What does Innes’ story teach people who want to start their own businesses?
(a) The importance of giving up when things get tough
(b) The importance of ignoring customer demand
(c) The importance of avoiding unexpected opportunities
(d) The importance of adapting and staying strong

5. What is crucial for businesses according to Innes’ interview?
(a) Ignoring what people want
(b) Avoiding any changes in the business
(c) Recognizing and taking advantage of what people want
(d) Not adapting to customer demand

6. What does Innes’ journey show is important for starting a business?
(a) Avoiding any challenges
(b) Not adapting to the ever-changing world
(c) Ignoring new ideas
(d) Making smart decisions and dealing with challenges

7. In the end, what does Innes’ story prove can help a business succeed?
(a) Avoiding any creativity and new ideas
(b) Ignoring customer feedback
(c) Being creative and coming up with new ideas
(d) Not adapting to changes in the market

8. What does Innes’ story show is needed to keep a business’s success going?
(a) Ignoring planning and management
(b) Careful planning and management
(c) Avoiding any management of the business
(d) Not making any smart decisions

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Kim Innes is the founder of Humble Crumble, a bakery that specializes in making crumbles.
2. The interview with Innes does not offer valuable lessons for business leaders, emphasizing the need to recognize and capitalize on market demand while effectively managing the impact on the business.
3. Innes’ story is not an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the insignificance of adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity.
4. Innes does not credit pumpkins for playing a significant role in her business journey, both positively and negatively.
5. Making crumbles with pumpkin flavor did not help Innes get through a tough time in her business.
6. The bakery has sold over 500,000 sweet treats, indicating its popularity and success.
7. Innes faced difficulties when there was suddenly a high demand for her products, highlighting the challenges of managing a successful business.
8. Innes’ journey demonstrates the importance of creativity and innovation in driving business success, while also underscoring the necessity of strategic planning and management for sustained growth.
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 role did pumpkins play in the success of Kim Innes’ bakery, Humble Crumble?
2. Can you describe a challenge Kim Innes faced when her pumpkin-flavored crumbles became very popular?
3. Why is Kim Innes’ story considered inspiring for those who want to start their own business?
4. What key lessons can business leaders learn from Innes’ experience with her bakery?
5. According to the article, what two factors are crucial for maintaining a successful business?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What product does Kim Innes’ bakery, Humble Crumble, specialize in making?
Humble Crumble specializes in making crumbles.

2. How many sweet treats has Humble Crumble sold according to the article?
Humble Crumble has sold over 500,000 sweet treats.

3. What flavor did Kim Innes use in her crumbles that helped her business during a difficult time?
She used pumpkin flavor in her crumbles.

4. What challenge did Innes face when her pumpkin-flavored crumbles became very popular?
Innes faced the challenge of dealing with a sudden high demand for her products.

5. What does Innes’ story demonstrate about the importance of adaptability in business?
Innes’ story demonstrates that being able to adapt and stay strong when things get tough is important in business.

6. What lesson can business leaders learn from Innes’ experience with the high demand for her products?
Business leaders can learn the importance of managing the effects of high demand on their business carefully.

7. According to the article, what two things are essential for a business to continue being successful?
Careful planning and management are essential for a business to continue being successful.

8. What does the article suggest about the role of creativity in the success of a business?
The article suggests that being creative and coming up with new ideas can help a business succeed.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) started
(2) Crumble
(3) bakery
(4) problems
(5) explains
(6) making
(7) flavor
(8) tough
(9) shows
(10) important
(11) overwhelmed
(12) lessons
(13) business
(14) world
(15) succeed
(16) success
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. bakery
Answer: (b) A place where bread and cakes are made

2. crumbles
Answer: (f) Sweet dessert made with fruit and a crumbly topping

3. pumpkins
Answer: (g) Large, orange vegetables often used in pies and soups

4. business
Answer: (a) The buying and selling of goods or services

5. adapt
Answer: (h) To change in response to a new situation

6. overwhelmed
Answer: (e) Feeling like you have too much to handle

7. crucial
Answer: (c) Extremely important

8. management
Answer: (d) The process of controlling and organizing a business
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the person who started Humble Crumble?
Answer: (a) Kim Innes

2. How many sweet treats has Humble Crumble sold?
Answer: (a) Over 500,000

3. What flavor helped Kim Innes get through a tough time with her business?
Answer: (b) Pumpkin

4. What does Innes’ story teach people who want to start their own businesses?
Answer: (d) The importance of adapting and staying strong

5. What is crucial for businesses according to Innes’ interview?
Answer: (c) Recognizing and taking advantage of what people want

6. What does Innes’ journey show is important for starting a business?
Answer: (d) Making smart decisions and dealing with challenges

7. In the end, what does Innes’ story prove can help a business succeed?
Answer: (c) Being creative and coming up with new ideas

8. What does Innes’ story show is needed to keep a business’s success going?
Answer: (b) Careful planning and management
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Kim Innes is the founder of Humble Crumble, a bakery that specializes in making crumbles. (Answer: True)
2. The interview with Innes does not offer valuable lessons for business leaders, emphasizing the need to recognize and capitalize on market demand while effectively managing the impact on the business. (Answer: False)
3. Innes’ story is not an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the insignificance of adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. (Answer: False)
4. Innes does not credit pumpkins for playing a significant role in her business journey, both positively and negatively. (Answer: False)
5. Making crumbles with pumpkin flavor did not help Innes get through a tough time in her business. (Answer: False)
6. The bakery has sold over 500,000 sweet treats, indicating its popularity and success. (Answer: True)
7. Innes faced difficulties when there was suddenly a high demand for her products, highlighting the challenges of managing a successful business. (Answer: True)
8. Innes’ journey demonstrates the importance of creativity and innovation in driving business success, while also underscoring the necessity of strategic planning and management for sustained growth. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧