Lesson & Activities - The Journey of Potatoes, from Farm to Plate
- Learn English with NETOL
- Oct 26, 2025
- 12 min read
Updated: Jan 1
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The Journey of Potatoes, from Farm to Plate
Speaking Activity
Conversation Questions
Instructions:
Listen to and read the conversation questions.
Practice your speaking by answering each question out loud.
See some possible answers to the conversation questions by clicking the side arrows next to each question.
Conversation Questions
1. Do you think potatoes are an important vegetable? Why or why not?
I think that potatoes are an important vegetable because they give us important vitamins that our bodies need.
2. How do you like your potatoes to be cooked (baked, roasted, mashed, fried, etc.)?
I like my potatoes to be baked.
3. Do you have a favourite potato dish? If yes, what is it?
My favourite potato dish is French fries with ketchup.
4. When do you think is the best time to harvest potatoes?
I think that potatoes are usually harvested in late summer and early autumn.
5. Have you ever visited a local farm where potatoes are grown?
Yes, I have visited a farm, and it was interesting to see the work of local farmers.
Writing Activity
Pre-Reading Vocabulary
Instructions:
Get a pencil and paper.
Copy the words from below.
Look up the definitions of the words online.
Get to know the definitions of each word
Important Words - The Journey of Potatoes, from Farm to Plate
vegetable
vitamins
essential
nutritious
dishes
supplier
farmer
harvest
texture
recipe
versatile
methods
ingredients
instructions
Reading Activity
The Journey of Potatoes, from Farm to Plate
Instructions:
Read the following passage about the journey of potatoes.
Thereafter, listen to the audio - The Journey of Potatoes, from Farm to Plate.
Note: Reading out loud when learning a new language is important because it helps you practice your pronunciation. When you speak the words, you can hear how they sound, and this will improve your speaking skills.
The Journey of Potatoes, from Farm to Plate
Potatoes are an important and useful vegetable that people use in many kitchens around the world. They were found a long time ago and are now a common food in many cultures. Learning about potatoes is important because they are not only delicious, but they also provide our bodies with essential vitamins. In addition, by learning how potatoes are grown and used, we can appreciate the hard work of local farmers and understand why this flexible vegetable is so important in our meals.
A Simple History of the Potato
The story of potatoes began many years ago in the Andes mountains of South America, when people first discovered that potatoes were very nutritious and could be stored for a long time. People began to grow potatoes in many parts of the world. In Canada, people quickly saw the value of potatoes in many dishes. Today, potatoes are a favourite vegetable in many households around the world.
Local Farmers Are Our Potato Suppliers
The main suppliers of potatoes are the local farmers. These hard-working individuals grow a variety of potatoes on fields across the country. They work in small family farms and larger farm groups, and they make sure that fresh potatoes are delivered to local markets and stores.
Potatoes are usually harvested during the late summer and early autumn. The warm months help potatoes grow strong. By early autumn, the soil is soft enough for farmers to dig up the potatoes. Canadian farmers work hard to ensure that the potatoes are harvested at the right time to keep them fresh and tasty.
The Benefits of Eating Potatoes
Potatoes are not only delicious, but they also give our bodies useful vitamins. Potatoes are a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight colds and keeps our skin healthy. They also contain vitamin B6, which turns food into energy and helps our nerves work well. In addition, potatoes have potassium, which helps our hearts and muscles function properly. Eating potatoes, whether baked or boiled, can be a tasty and healthy choice for a balanced diet.
Different Types of Potatoes and How to Cook Them
There are many kinds of potatoes, such as Russet, Red, Yukon Gold, and New potatoes. New potatoes are also called Baby or Petite potatoes. Each kind of potato is used for different dishes.
Russet potatoes - these potatoes are big and starchy, which makes it great for baking or frying to make crispy chips.
Red potatoes - these potatoes have a smooth texture and hold their shape well, so they are perfect for salads and soups.
Yukon Gold potatoes - these potatoes are creamy and slightly sweet, making them excellent for mashing.
New potatoes - these potatoes are small and tender, ideal for boiling or adding to stews.
Each type of potato offers a different taste and texture, allowing cooks to choose the best one for their recipe.
Exploring Different Methods for Cooking Potatoes
Potatoes are very versatile in the kitchen. They can be baked, boiled, fried, mashed, or even made into soups and stews. Here are 10 popular potato cooking methods:
Baked Potatoes
Stuffed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
French Fries
Roasted Potatoes
Potato Soup
Potato Salad
Potato Pancakes
Potato Wedges
Potato Chips
All of these cooking methods are simple to do and tasty to eat.
10 Potato Cooking Methods & Delicious Recipes
Potato Cooking Method #1
Baked Potatoes
Baked Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, and your favourite herbs.
Instructions: Preheat your oven to 200°C. Wash the potatoes well and prick them with a fork. Rub the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them in the oven and bake for about 1 hour until they are soft inside. Enjoy them as a tasty side dish.
Potato Cooking Method #2
Stuffed Potatoes
Stuffed Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Large potatoes, cheese, chopped vegetables, a little butter, and herbs.
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bake potatoes until they are almost soft. Cut them in half and carefully remove some of the inside. Mix the removed potato with cheese, vegetables, butter, and herbs. Fill the potato halves with the mix and return them to the oven for 15 minutes. Serve warm.
Potato Cooking Method #3
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, milk, butter, salt, and pepper.
Instructions: Peel and cut the potatoes into small pieces. Boil them in water until soft. Drain the water and mash the potatoes with butter and a little milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well until smooth. Serve with your meal.
Potato Cooking Method #4
French Fries
French Fries Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, oil, salt, and optional spices.
Instructions: Peel the potatoes and cut them into long strips. Rinse the strips in water and dry them well. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the potato strips in small batches until they are golden brown. Remove them and let them drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and your favourite spices. Enjoy while hot.
Potato Cooking Method #5
Roasted Potatoes
Roasted Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary.
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Chop the potatoes into cubes. In a bowl, mix the potatoes with olive oil, chopped garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Spread them on a baking tray. Roast in the oven for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are crispy and soft. Serve as a delicious side dish.
Potato Cooking Method #6
Potato Soup
Potato Soup Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, vegetable broth, salt, pepper, and a little cream.
Instructions: Peel and dice the potatoes. Chop onions, carrots, and celery. In a large pot, cook the onions in a little oil until soft. Add the carrots, celery, and potatoes. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer until the vegetables are soft. Blend some of the soup if you want a thicker soup, and stir in a little cream. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
Potato Cooking Method #7
Potato Salad
Potato Salad Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, mayonnaise, mustard, a little apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and chopped herbs (like parsley).
Instructions: Boil whole potatoes until tender. Let them cool and peel them if you like. Cut the potatoes into cubes. In a bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs. Add the potatoes and stir carefully. Chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
Potato Cooking Method #8
Potato Pancakes
Potato Pancakes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Grated potatoes, an egg, a little flour, salt, pepper, and oil for frying.
Instructions: Peel and grate the potatoes. Place the grated potatoes in a cloth to remove extra water. In a bowl, combine the potatoes with an egg, a small amount of flour, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a pan. Spoon small amounts of the mixture into the pan and flatten them into pancakes. Cook until golden on each side. Serve with a side of applesauce or sour cream.
Potato Cooking Method #9
Potato Wedges
Potato Wedges Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
Instructions: Preheat your oven to 200°C. Wash the potatoes and cut them into wedges. In a bowl, toss the wedges with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 35-40 minutes until crispy and soft inside. Serve with a favourite dip.
Potato Cooking Method #10
Potato Chips
Potato Chips Cooking Instructions
Ingredients: Potatoes, oil, salt.
Instructions: Wash the potatoes and slice them very thinly. Put the slices in water for a few minutes, then dry them completely with a towel. Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer. Fry the potato slices in small batches until they are crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt while they are still warm. Enjoy as a crunchy snack.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, potatoes are one of the most useful and versatile vegetables. They have an interesting history that started long ago, and they continue to be an important part of kitchens all over the world. With many cooking options and easy-to-follow recipes, potatoes are a great choice for healthy and tasty meals. Happy cooking!
Listening Activity
10 Potato Cooking Methods & Delicious Recipes
Instructions:
Press the play buttons below.
Listen to the audio files in order from 1 to 3.
Use the reading from above to follow along with the audio files.
The Journey of Potatoes, from Farm to Plate
Reading & Writing Activities
10 Potato Cooking Methods & Delicious Recipes
Instructions:
Read the following passage about potato cooking methods.
Pay attention to the ingredients and instructions.
Focus on your favourite potato cooking method and recipe.
Get a pencil and paper. Then, copy your favourite potato recipe into your recipe book.
Note: Reading out loud when learning a new language is important because it helps you practice your pronunciation. When you speak the words, you can hear how they sound, and this will improve your speaking skills.
10 Potato Cooking Methods & Delicious Recipes
Potato Cooking Method #1
Baked Potatoes
Baked Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, and your favourite herbs.
Instructions: Preheat your oven to 200°C. Wash the potatoes well and prick them with a fork. Rub the potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place them in the oven and bake for about 1 hour until they are soft inside. Enjoy them as a tasty side dish.
Potato Cooking Method #2
Stuffed Potatoes
Stuffed Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Large potatoes, cheese, chopped vegetables, a little butter, and herbs.
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Bake potatoes until they are almost soft. Cut them in half and carefully remove some of the inside. Mix the removed potato with cheese, vegetables, butter, and herbs. Fill the potato halves with the mix and return them to the oven for 15 minutes. Serve warm.
Potato Cooking Method #3
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, milk, butter, salt, and pepper.
Instructions: Peel and cut the potatoes into small pieces. Boil them in water until soft. Drain the water and mash the potatoes with butter and a little milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well until smooth. Serve with your meal.
Potato Cooking Method #4
French Fries
French Fries Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, oil, salt, and optional spices.
Instructions: Peel the potatoes and cut them into long strips. Rinse the strips in water and dry them well. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the potato strips in small batches until they are golden brown. Remove them and let them drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and your favourite spices. Enjoy while hot.
Potato Cooking Method #5
Roasted Potatoes
Roasted Potatoes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary.
Instructions: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Chop the potatoes into cubes. In a bowl, mix the potatoes with olive oil, chopped garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Spread them on a baking tray. Roast in the oven for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are crispy and soft. Serve as a delicious side dish.
Potato Cooking Method #6
Potato Soup
Potato Soup Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, vegetable broth, salt, pepper, and a little cream.
Instructions: Peel and dice the potatoes. Chop onions, carrots, and celery. In a large pot, cook the onions in a little oil until soft. Add the carrots, celery, and potatoes. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer until the vegetables are soft. Blend some of the soup if you want a thicker soup, and stir in a little cream. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
Potato Cooking Method #7
Potato Salad
Potato Salad Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, mayonnaise, mustard, a little apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and chopped herbs (like parsley).
Instructions: Boil whole potatoes until tender. Let them cool and peel them if you like. Cut the potatoes into cubes. In a bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs. Add the potatoes and stir carefully. Chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
Potato Cooking Method #8
Potato Pancakes
Potato Pancakes Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Grated potatoes, an egg, a little flour, salt, pepper, and oil for frying.
Instructions: Peel and grate the potatoes. Place the grated potatoes in a cloth to remove extra water. In a bowl, combine the potatoes with an egg, a small amount of flour, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a pan. Spoon small amounts of the mixture into the pan and flatten them into pancakes. Cook until golden on each side. Serve with a side of applesauce or sour cream.
Potato Cooking Method #9
Potato Wedges
Potato Wedges Cooking Instructions:
Ingredients: Potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
Instructions: Preheat your oven to 200°C. Wash the potatoes and cut them into wedges. In a bowl, toss the wedges with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 35-40 minutes until crispy and soft inside. Serve with a favourite dip.
Potato Cooking Method #10
Potato Chips
Potato Chips Cooking Instructions
Ingredients: Potatoes, oil, salt.
Instructions: Wash the potatoes and slice them very thinly. Put the slices in water for a few minutes, then dry them completely with a towel. Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer. Fry the potato slices in small batches until they are crispy. Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt while they are still warm. Enjoy as a crunchy snack.
Reading & Writing Activity
Matching Potato Cooking Methods & Recipe Instructions
Instructions:
Get a pencil and paper.
Make a list from 1 to 10.
Read each one of the potato recipe instructions.
Use the 10 Cooking Methods for Potatoes chart to decide which cooking method matches each recipe instruction.
Check your answers by clicking on the side arrows next to each potato recipe instruction.
Potato Cooking Methods & Recipe Instructions
Cut the potatoes into wedge shapes. Drizzle them with a little oil, and add salt and pepper. Bake in the oven at 200°C until they are crispy and delicious. Which potato cooking method is this?
Potato Wedges
First, wash the potatoes well. Poke a few holes with a fork. Then, bake it in the oven at 200°C for about 45 minutes. The skin becomes crisp and the inside soft. Which potato cooking method is this?
Baked Potatoes
Peel and chop the potatoes into small pieces. Boil them in water or vegetable broth until tender. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook until the flavours mix well. Which potato cooking method is this?
Potato Soup
Bake the potatoes until they are soft. Cut them in half and scoop out some of the inside. Mix the scooped potato with a bit of cheese and herbs, then fill the potato skins. Bake again for a few minutes to melt the cheese. Which potato cooking method is this?
Stuffed Potatoes
Slice the potatoes very thinly. Place the slices on a baking tray and bake until they become crispy. A light sprinkle of salt makes them a great snack. Which potato cooking method is this?
Potato Chips
Boil the potatoes until they are cooked through. Let them cool and cut into pieces. Mix with chopped vegetables and dress lightly with olive oil and vinegar. Which potato cooking method is this?
Potato Salad
Cut the potatoes into long, thin strips. Heat some oil in a pan and fry the strips until they are golden. Sprinkle a little salt on top for extra flavour. Which potato cooking method is this?
French Fries
Cut the potatoes into cubes. Toss them with olive oil, salt, and any herbs you like. Roast them in the oven at 220°C for about 30 minutes until they turn crisp on the outside. Which potato cooking method is this?
Roasted Potatoes
Boil the potatoes until they are soft. Then, mash them with a little butter and milk. Stir well until they are smooth and creamy. Which potato cooking method is this?
Mashed Potatoes
Potato Pancakes: Grate the potatoes and mix them with a beaten egg and a little flour. Form small pancakes and fry them in a pan until both sides are golden brown. Which potato cooking method is this?
Potato Pancakes
Take Our Poll - Favourite Potato Dish
What is your favourite potato dish?
Baked Potatoes
Potato Soup
Stuffed Potatoes
Potato Salad
Test Your Knowledge By Taking Our Quiz
Instructions:
Read the 10 multiple-choice questions from below.
Answer each question.
Click the Submit button when you are done.
Click the View Score button to see how you did on the quiz.
Click below for a reading without the accompanying activities:
Written by: Nicole WT
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