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How the popsicle was invented | Moments of Vision 11 - Jessica Oreck

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Each year, approximately 2 billion popsicles are sold worldwide. But where did the idea for this tasty treat come from? In the eleventh installment of our ‘Moments of Vision’ series, Jessica Oreck shares the distracted origins of the popsicle.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Jessica Oreck
  • Director Jessica Oreck
  • Animator Jessica Oreck
  • Composer Eli Janney, Nate Shaw
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Jessica Oreck
Additional Resources for you to Explore
To learn more about Frank Epperson and the history of the popsicle, visit here. When Epperson sold his invention, he sold the name "Popsicle" along with it. While we may not think of "popsicle" as a brand, disputes over the iconic name still pop up today. 

People around the world were enjoying frozen treats long before the invention of the popsicle. Learn about the history of ice cream here and here.

Today, we often associate ice cream and popsicles with hot weather, but before refrigeration was invented, ice itself was a commodity and had to come from cold places. Learn more about the North American ice trade here and here. 

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Jessica Oreck
  • Director Jessica Oreck
  • Animator Jessica Oreck
  • Composer Eli Janney, Nate Shaw
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Jessica Oreck

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