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9th, 10th, 11th Grades  Project 4 weeks

"Meat Matters: Ethical Business Revival"

Tessa P
Mar 25, 2025
Updated Jul 31, 2025
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Purpose

This project aims to bridge historical literature with contemporary business practices, challenging students to apply insights from "The Jungle" and "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" to real-world corporate dilemmas. Through collaboration, research, and creative problem-solving, students will develop a business plan that emphasizes ethical labor practices, community engagement, and sustainability. The project fosters critical thinking and socio-emotional growth as students navigate teamwork, conflict resolution, and ethical decision-making, culminating in a professional presentation of their transformative strategies for the meat packing company.

Learning goals

Students will develop critical thinking skills by analyzing historical literature to inform modern business practices. They will enhance their research abilities by studying case studies of corporate social responsibility, focusing on ethical labor practices and community engagement. Through collaborative teamwork, students will practice conflict resolution and ethical decision-making, while creating a comprehensive business plan and documentary-style video presentation. The project aims to foster socio-emotional growth, encouraging students to reflect on their experiences and contributions to the group.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
  • NGSS - HS-ETS1-1: Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.

Products

Students will collaboratively develop a comprehensive business plan that outlines strategies for ethical labor practices, community engagement, and environmental sustainability, culminating in a simulated board meeting presentation. They will also produce a documentary-style video presentation that captures the transformation of the meat packing company, integrating interviews, historical footage, and modern examples of corporate responsibility. Throughout the project, students will maintain a digital portfolio showcasing their research findings, business plan drafts, reflections, and peer feedback, illustrating the progression and application of their ideas.

Launch

To kick off the project, organize an immersive role-playing simulation where students assume the roles of different stakeholders in the meat packing industry, including workers, management, community members, and government regulators. Begin with a dramatic reading of key excerpts from "The Jungle" to set the historical context, followed by a facilitated discussion on the ethical challenges presented. Then, introduce a modern-day scenario where the company seeks to rebuild its reputation, prompting students to brainstorm initial ideas for corporate social responsibility. This launch will set the stage for the collaborative development of their business plans and foster a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in balancing ethics with business goals.

Exhibition

At the culmination of the project, students will host a simulated board meeting where they present their comprehensive business plans to an audience of peers, teachers, and community members. This exhibition will include a documentary-style video presentation showcasing the proposed transformation of the meat packing company, highlighting interviews, historical footage, and modern examples of corporate responsibility. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session, allowing students to articulate their strategies and reflect on the integration of historical literature into modern business practices. The event will serve as a platform for students to demonstrate their research, creativity, and critical thinking skills, fostering a deeper understanding of ethical business conduct.
Plan
By Phase By Day Calendar
Project Activities
Days 1 - 12
Introduction to Project
Activity
Project Launch Simulation
Activity
Facilitated Discussion
Activity
Guest Speaker Session
Activity
Brainstorming Session
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Introduction to Case Studies
Activity
Historical Case Study Research
Activity
Group Formation and Goal Setting
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Group Formation and Roles
Activity
Case Study Analysis
Activity
Discussion on Essential Questions
Activity
Essential Question Exploration
Activity
Digital Portfolio Setup
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Business Ethics Exploration
Activity
Research and Analysis
Activity
Research Session
Activity
Group Discussion
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journaling
Activity
Group Strategy Development
Activity
Developing Business Plan
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflection on Feedback
Activity
Drafting the Business Plan
Activity
Documentary Planning
Activity
Essential Question Discussion
Activity
Storyboard Creation
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflection on Teamwork
Activity
Advanced Case Study Analysis
Activity
CSR Strategy Refinement
Activity
Business Plan Refinement Workshop
Activity
Mock Interview Preparation
Activity
Reflective Journaling
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Video Storyboarding Session
Activity
Interview Execution
Activity
Business Plan Presentation Workshop
Activity
Role-Playing Exercise
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflection on Presentation Skills
Activity
Business Plan Finalization
Activity
Documentary Editing
Activity
Documentary Filming
Activity
Storyboard Revisions
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journaling
Activity
Final Business Plan Presentation Rehearsal
Activity
Final Business Plan Review
Activity
Documentary Editing Session
Activity
Presentation Rehearsal
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Documentary Video Finalization
Activity
Final Presentation and Feedback Session
Activity
Presentation Feedback Loop
Activity
Peer and Self-Assessment
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Simulated Board Meeting Exhibition
Activity
Digital Portfolio Compilation
Activity
Q&A Session
Activity
Project Reflection and Celebration
Activity
Final Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journal Closure
Activity
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Project Activities Days 1–12
Day 1
Introduction to Project
Activity
Project Launch Simulation
Activity
Facilitated Discussion
Activity
Guest Speaker Session
Activity
Brainstorming Session
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Day 2
Introduction to Case Studies
Activity
Historical Case Study Research
Activity
Group Formation and Goal Setting
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Day 3
Group Formation and Roles
Activity
Case Study Analysis
Activity
Discussion on Essential Questions
Activity
Essential Question Exploration
Activity
Digital Portfolio Setup
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Day 4
Business Ethics Exploration
Activity
Research and Analysis
Activity
Research Session
Activity
Group Discussion
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journaling
Activity
Day 5
Group Strategy Development
Activity
Developing Business Plan
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Peer Feedback Session
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflection on Feedback
Activity
Day 6
Drafting the Business Plan
Activity
Documentary Planning
Activity
Essential Question Discussion
Activity
Storyboard Creation
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflection on Teamwork
Activity
Day 7
Advanced Case Study Analysis
Activity
CSR Strategy Refinement
Activity
Business Plan Refinement Workshop
Activity
Mock Interview Preparation
Activity
Reflective Journaling
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Day 8
Video Storyboarding Session
Activity
Interview Execution
Activity
Business Plan Presentation Workshop
Activity
Role-Playing Exercise
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflection on Presentation Skills
Activity
Day 9
Business Plan Finalization
Activity
Documentary Editing
Activity
Documentary Filming
Activity
Storyboard Revisions
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journaling
Activity
Day 10
Final Business Plan Presentation Rehearsal
Activity
Final Business Plan Review
Activity
Documentary Editing Session
Activity
Presentation Rehearsal
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Day 11
Documentary Video Finalization
Activity
Final Presentation and Feedback Session
Activity
Presentation Feedback Loop
Activity
Peer and Self-Assessment
Activity
Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Day 12
Simulated Board Meeting Exhibition
Activity
Digital Portfolio Compilation
Activity
Q&A Session
Activity
Project Reflection and Celebration
Activity
Final Reflective Journal Entry
Activity
Reflective Journal Closure
Activity

April 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
13 Day 1
Project Activities
Introduction to Project
Project Launch Simulation
Facilitated Discussion
Guest Speaker Session
Brainstorming Session
Reflective Journal Entry
14 Day 2
Introduction to Case Studies
Historical Case Study Research
Group Formation and Goal Setting
Reflective Journal Entry
Reflective Journal Entry
15 Day 3
Group Formation and Roles
Case Study Analysis
Discussion on Essential Questions
Essential Question Exploration
Digital Portfolio Setup
Reflective Journal Entry
20 Day 4
Business Ethics Exploration
Research and Analysis
Research Session
Group Discussion
Reflective Journal Entry
Reflective Journaling
21 Day 5
Group Strategy Development
Developing Business Plan
Peer Feedback Session
Peer Feedback Session
Reflective Journal Entry
Reflection on Feedback
22 Day 6
Drafting the Business Plan
Documentary Planning
Essential Question Discussion
Storyboard Creation
Reflective Journal Entry
Reflection on Teamwork
27 Day 7
Advanced Case Study Analysis
CSR Strategy Refinement
Business Plan Refinement Workshop
Mock Interview Preparation
Reflective Journaling
Reflective Journal Entry
28 Day 8
Video Storyboarding Session
Interview Execution
Business Plan Presentation Workshop
Role-Playing Exercise
Reflective Journal Entry
Reflection on Presentation Skills
29 Day 9
Business Plan Finalization
Documentary Editing
Documentary Filming
Storyboard Revisions
Reflective Journal Entry
Reflective Journaling

May 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4 Day 10
Final Business Plan Presentation Rehearsal
Final Business Plan Review
Documentary Editing Session
Presentation Rehearsal
Reflective Journal Entry
Reflective Journal Entry
5 Day 11
Documentary Video Finalization
Final Presentation and Feedback Session
Presentation Feedback Loop
Peer and Self-Assessment
Reflective Journal Entry
6 Day 12
Simulated Board Meeting Exhibition
Digital Portfolio Compilation
Q&A Session
Project Reflection and Celebration
Final Reflective Journal Entry
Reflective Journal Closure
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