1.1 Pack it in

1 What types of packaging do you know?

2 Wrap a food item with some packaging.

Use the star chart to rate its performance.

✓ Research ✓ Collaboration ✓ Communication

1 4

RATING RATING Flexibility: Can it Recyclability: Can it bend easily? be used again?

RATING

Strength: How well does it protect against being squashed?

4 2 4

RATING RATING Hygiene: Does it protect Durability: How long against germs? can it protect the item?

RATING

Adaptability: Can it be used for different things?

5 Sample Pages

3 Compare your ratings. Which packaging scored the highest?

4 Read and respond.

a What sort of text is this? b Answer the questions. • What was the earliest packaging made from? • What type of packaging was invented after 2500 BCE?

Early packaging

In prehistoric times, leaves, animal skins or gourds were used to store and transport items. A little later, clay pots and straw baskets were used. In about 2500 BCE, the Egyptians invented glass. It was expensive, so only the rich could use it. They learned how to blow glass to make jars. Around 100 CE, paper was developed in China. This is the oldest example of fl exible packaging. Vocabulary Chinese people used paper to pack medicine and parcels of tea. In the 1300s, wooden barrels became popular to transport water and dried foods. gourd: a large fruit that with a hard shell that can be emptied and then used to • How were these packaging materials used? transport liquid • Why was paper special? fl exible: something that can bend easily without breaking. • Who invented glass and paper? c In groups, read another text about packaging. Make notes about when, how, who and what packaging people used in the period covered by your text. d In new groups of four, share what you have found out about the history of packaging. Make notes on what the other ‘experts’ in your group say.

5 Complete a timeline for packaging up to the present day.

a Share your information with your original group. Copy and complete the timeline.

The history of packaging

Egyptians make fi rst glass jars

2500 BCE Key term

b What did timeline: a way of organising information and events you fi nd out in the order in which they took place, by days or yearsabout packaging?

Chinese make fi rst paper

leaves, animal skins, clay pots Wooden and baskets barrels moved food used

Prehistoric times 100 CE

1300s 1805 1810 1817 1844 1906 1908 1957 1959 1973 Sample Pages now

Talking point

How successful were you at making a timeline? Justify your response.