Home learning tasks:
Reading
Read this passage. Can you answer the questions?
The Journey of a Banana
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the United Kingdom, but they cannot be grown naturally in the UK because the weather is too cold. Most bananas sold in British shops come from tropical countries near the Equator, such as Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. These countries have warm temperatures, heavy rainfall, and rich soil, which are perfect for growing banana plants.
Bananas grow in large bunches on tall plants. Farmers must work carefully to protect the fruit from insects, strong winds, and disease. When the bananas are still green, workers cut the bunches from the plants by hand. They are picked before they are ripe so they do not become bruised or spoiled during the long journey to Europe.
After harvesting, the bananas are washed, checked for quality, and packed into strong cardboard boxes. They are then transported by lorry to ports, where they are loaded onto refrigerated cargo ships. These ships keep the bananas cool at about 13°C, slowing down the ripening process. The journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the UK can take around two weeks.
When the ships arrive at British ports, the bananas are moved to ripening centres. In these large warehouses, workers carefully control the temperature and add a natural gas called ethylene. This helps the bananas turn from green to yellow at the right time. Once ripe, the bananas are sent by lorry to supermarkets, cafés, and local shops across the country.
The journey of a banana involves many different people, including farmers, ship crews, warehouse workers, drivers, and shop staff. Although bananas travel thousands of miles before reaching our homes, they remain an important and affordable food for many families in the UK.
Questions:
What gas is used to help bananas ripen?
Why can bananas not be grown naturally in the UK?
Name two countries where bananas are grown.
Why are bananas picked while they are still green?
How are bananas transported across the Atlantic Ocean?
What temperature are bananas kept at on the ships?
Why is careful temperature control important during the journey?
What problems might happen if bananas ripen too early?
Listening and Talking
Listening and Talking
When you go to the supermarket, do you know what foods are imported and where they might be from? Discuss with your adults.
Spelling
Practise reading and spelling these words containing the ‘cei’ spelling pattern from your chosen list. Remember to challenge yourself! Can you use these words correctly in a sentence?
Practise spelling and grammar of your choice on BBC Bitesize Crystal Explorers.
Numeracy:
Try and solve these 4-digit by 1-digit divisions.
Sumdog – attempt the Sumdog challenges set for you.
Hot task:
Celebrating Achievements! We want to have an achievement from out of school celebrated for every single child (and staff member) in our school.
Achievements will be shared on our new electronic display board in the centre of the school, so please take a few seconds to share your achievement with us by clicking here:
https://forms.office.com/e/UPLpBWPPz