What to do: Read the article. Then go back and look for 6 words that contain the root serv or ven. We underlined the first one for you. Choose three of the words and write their definitions on a piece of paper. Use context clues or a dictionary for help.

    Popcorn is made from dried corn seeds, called kernels. Thousands of years ago, corn was already a popular crop in the Americas. It didn’t grow anywhere else in the world. Native people used its leaves to make shoes, mats, and toys. They also heated the kernels until they exploded into tasty treats. 

    When Europeans ventured to the Americas in the 1400s, they’d never seen corn. But they ended up liking it. They even ate popcorn with milk and sugar for breakfast!

    Still, it wasn’t until the 1800s that popcorn became the popular buttery snack we know today. And Charles Cretors deserves the credit. 

    In 1885, Cretors invented a  machine. It could pop, salt, and butter popcorn on the go. People no longer had to stand over a hot stove to make popcorn. They could pop it and sell it at fairs and sporting events.

    But not in movie theaters! Snacks were banned there because theater owners wanted to keep their venues neat and quiet. Then, in the 1930s, popcorn sellers convinced theaters that selling the snack would be good for business. They were right. By 1945, more than half of the popcorn in the U.S. was eaten at the movies.

    We still love popcorn today. Each year, we eat enough of it to fill more than 5,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools! So hopefully this tasty snack will be around for another 7,000 years.