Teachers Guide - Is Wal-Mart Good For America? | Teacher Center | FRONTLINE

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		Featured Lesson Plan Are Low Prices Always a Good Thing? Student Handout: Viewer's Guide Student Handout: Are Low Prices Always a Good Thing?

		Additional Lesson Ideas Editorial Statements Outsourcing and Campaign Promises Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town

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		Printable .pdf of Entire Guide (Adobe Acrobat required)

» Additional Lesson Ideas:

Editorial Statements

Ask students to write a one paragraph summary of what they believe is good or bad about Wal-Mart.
Based upon this summary, information from the film and/or additional research, have students create a persuasive letter, poem or cartoon that illustrates their viewpoint.
Encourage students to use computer technology to create graphs, import pictures or use clip art in their projects.

Outsourcing and Campaign Promises

Break students into small groups and ask them to brainstorm strategies to improve America's trade imbalance.
When completed, have students compare their ideas to those the 2004 presidential candidates proposed at:
George W. Bush: A Plan for Creating Opportunity for America's Workers

John F. Kerry: Plan to Keep High-Paying Jobs in America [Note: This is a pdf file; Adobe Acrobat required.]

Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town

This documentary, which aired on PBS several years ago, looks at the story of the how the people of Ashland, Virginia, dealt with Wal-Mart's decision to open a store in their community. The accompanying Web site includes the following lesson plans:

The Impact of Big-Box Stores on Ashland, Virginia, (and on your town)
Students will learn about the impact and effect a big-box department store chain has on a community by analyzing the Ashland, Virginia, situation. They will also analyze how chain stores impact their own communities.

Role-Playing the Ashland/Wal-Mart Story
In this activity, students will role-play persons involved in the Ashland/Wal-Mart story in a "talk show" format, demonstrating their knowledge of the implications of this issue as seen through the eyes of the participants.

Should We Let Them In? A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Allowing a New Chain Store Into Town
Students will summarize the possible costs and benefits of a Wal-Mart opening in their town in economic, social and environmental terms, and write an assessment for their town's mayor.

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