Non Fiction Business Reading and Research Essay

Through a variety of non-fiction reading passages, students learn about successful American companies and their founders. Students practice outlining, notetaking, and research strategies.

The students select a personal topic to research for a culminating activity. The research process is broken into manageable steps to introduce the research procedure in an organized fashion. All of my students successfully complete the research phase of this unit with little (or no) parent assistance. I have used this research process with 4th, 6th, and 9th graders.

Resource Includes:

Common Core Standards (4th)

7 Non Fiction Reading Passages (one page each)

- Gerber Baby Food

- Wells Fargo Bank

- Levi Strauss Blue Jeans

- Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

- Nike Shoes

- Ray Kroc and McDonald's

- Mattel and the Barbie Doll

Suggested Article Sources for supplemental reading passages (websites and book names)

Discussion Topics

Scaffolded Outlining Activities (teacher notes included)

- 3 Outline Templates

Compare Businesses Chart

Create a Student Business Suggestions

Step-by-Step Research Project and 5-Paragraph Essay (teacher notes included)

Instructions and Pictures for Building a Research Folder

Business Vocabulary List (teacher notes included)

This unit coordinates well with my Topic, Main Idea, and Details product. Click here to view.

research, financial literacy, non-fiction, American history, American business