The Life of Milton Hershey
Grade Levels: 6 - 8
MATERIALS
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INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES
About the Story
"Life Is Sweet: The Story
of Milton Hershey" is a biography about the founder of the Hershey's® candy corporation. Milton Hershey made several failed attempts to start a
business before developing his successful chocolate company.
Quotes of the Week
–Marchant
Interview Topic
Interview an entrepreneur in your area. Examples of entrepreneurs are owners of family-owned restaurants, home-based businesses, family-run specialty stores, etc. Prepare a question list including literal and interpretive questions: "Why did you start your business? Why did you think your business would be successful? What risks are involved in starting a business?" Make a list of unique terms used by the entrepreneur, and enter them into your vocabulary notebook.
Vocabulary
entrepreneur: The word entrepreneur comes from the French verb entrepredre, "to undertake." An entrepreneur undertakes a business, assuming the financial risk for the possibility of profit.
confection: Confection is derived from the Latin word confectus. Con-, meaning "with," and facere, "to make," mean to prepare or mix together. Today a confection is anything made or preserved with sugar, such as candy or ice cream.
confectionery: A place where confections are made.
List other words beginning with the prefix con-. Write the words and
their definitions in your vocabulary notebook.
Day One
Objective: The students will discuss jobs they do to earn money.
Day Two
Story Lesson
"The title of the story we're reading today is "Life
Is Sweet: The Story of Milton Hershey". What do you think the story
is about? What do you already know about Hershey?"
Literal and Interpretive
Questions
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
1) Invite members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce to come to your class.
After reviewing the story "Life Is Sweet: The Story of Milton Hershey,"
ask the members to give their opinions on why Milton Hershey's first attempts
at business failed. Why do they think Hershey kept trying to start his own
business?
2) Match each Junior Chamber of Commerce member (as a consultant) with a group
set up on Day One. The students work together to set up a business plan and
prepare a start-up plan based on the advice of their consultant. They should
prepare charts and graphs to illustrate their financial plans.
3) Each group makes creative advertising posters that it believes will attract
customers to its imaginary business.
4) On the final day, the groups present their business plans and posters to
the class.
Books to Read
Be the Boss: The Must Have Book for Anyone Starting Their Own Business. Coral Gables, FL: S.T.A.R.T., 1994.
Harrell, Wilson. For Entrepreneurs Only: Success Strategies for Anyone Starting or Growing a Business. Hawthorne, NJ: Career Press, 1994.
Malone, Mary. Milton Hershey: Chocolate King. Champaign, IL: Garrard Publishing Company, 1971.
Nicholas, Ted. The Ted Nicholas Small Business Course: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and Running Your Own Business. Chicago: Enterprise Dearborn,
1994.
Riolo, Al. The New-Idea Success Book: Starting a Money-Making Business. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Liberty House, 1989.
Shippen, Katherine Binney. Milton S. Hershey. New York: Random House, 1959.
Taylor, T.M. Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse Business: A Complete
Guide to Starting and Operating a High-Profit Business That's Beneficial to the Environment. Melbourne, FL: T.M. Taylor Co., 1991.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. Fast Talk on a Slow Track. New York: Dutton, 1991.
This lesson is from Reading Stories for Comprehension Success.
