People Who Shaped America: Pennsylvania--Milton Hershey

People Who Shaped America: Pennsylvania--Milton Hershey
Hall of Fame Museum Exhibit

Introduce your students to the inspiring life of Milton Hershey, one of Pennsylvania's most successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists. In this engaging, no-prep lesson, students research Hershey's remarkable journey before designing a Hall of Fame Museum Exhibit that celebrates his achievements, generosity, and lasting impact on American business and education.

Perfect for upper elementary and middle school classrooms, this lesson combines historical research with creativity, critical thinking, and exhibit design while helping students understand how innovation and generosity can leave a lasting legacy.

What's Included
- Teacher directions (1–2 class periods)
- Student Research & Exhibit Planning worksheet
- Hall of Fame Museum Exhibit design worksheet
- Curator's Reflection worksheet
- Online research resource page
- Black-and-white versions of all student worksheets for economical printing

Students Will Learn About
- Milton Hershey's early life and perseverance
- His early business failures and eventual success
- The founding of the Hershey Chocolate Company
- Making chocolate affordable for everyday families
- The creation of the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania
- The founding of the Milton Hershey School
- His generosity and philanthropic legacy
- Milton Hershey's lasting impact on American business and society

Perfect For
- U.S. History
- Pennsylvania History
- Entrepreneurship Studies
- Economics & Business
- Character Education
- Project-Based Learning (PBL)
- Independent Research
- Small Group Activities
- Early Finishers
- Substitute Plans

Why Teachers Love It
- Ready to print and teach
- Encourages historical inquiry and evidence-based research
- Combines history with an engaging museum exhibit design project
- Develops research, organization, creative thinking, and communication skills
- Suitable for Grades 4–8
- Includes both color and black-and-white student pages

This resource is part of the People Who Shaped America – Pennsylvania series, helping students discover the individuals whose innovation, perseverance, generosity, and leadership shaped Pennsylvania and influenced the history of the United States through engaging research and hands-on learning activities.