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A beloved treat with a legacy of love
Every March we celebrate the return of this beloved green milkshake. Not only
does it taste good, it brings comfort to families in need. Find out how!
A short non-fiction article about McDonalds, the Hill Family, the
Philadelphia Eagles, and the Ronald McDonald House.
Learn about the start of this yummy annual St. Patrick's Day
milkshake, where and why it started, and how it became such a popular
and meaningful treat.
Non fiction shamrock themed graphic organizer
Writing Prompts
You know your students the best! I recommend this for grades 7-12. The
article and organizer are easy to read and are great to use for a bell ringer/
do now activity.
Great for secondary classrooms...because we just don't have the time to celebrate holidays the way we want!
Use this bell ringer activity to
promote a positive post reading
discussion
practice recalling and finding
details
Allow students to choose their writing
prompt
To further reading and research
College prep and skills level-
Have your students complete it
independently
Small group, basic skills, & resource-
Read aloud together and have your
students fill-in organizer independently.
Shamrock Shake, McDonald's, the
Philadelphia Eagles, NFL, McCafe,
and the Ronald McDonald House,
are all trademarked names and
images. McDonalds 2010-2013
Frame by Tracee Orman
Go to your local McDonalds and get
coupons for a Shamrock Shake. Tell them
it is for your classes and maybe they will
give you “free” coupon items.
Have a drawing
Pick a winner
OR give to students that earned an
A on a quiz or test!
Since first launching in the U.S. in 1970, the Shamrock Shake has built
an almost cult-like following. Fans eagerly await its annual return to
the menu for those magical few weeks leading up to the St. Patrick's
Day holiday. But the beloved minty green treat has another legacy
that even its most loyal fans may not know.
It all began with a little girl, a football team, and a visionary doctor.
When Philadelphia Eagles tight end Fred Hill's 3-year-old daughter,
Kim, was being treated for leukemia in 1974, his life changed. He and his wife,
Fran, camped out on hospital benches and sat in cramped waiting rooms during
Kim's three years of treatment. The Hills watched other parents and families of
seriously ill children do the same thing. Many of the families had to travel long
distances for their children to receive medical treatment and couldn't afford hotel
rooms.
The Hills knew there had to be a solution. Fred rallied the support of his
teammates to raise funds. Through Jim Murray, the Eagles' general
manager, the team offered its support to Dr. Audrey Evans, head of the
pediatric oncology unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Evans had
long dreamed of a "home away from home" for families of children
being treated at her hospital.
Murray called Don Tuckerman, a friend from the local McDonald's advertising agency.
"What's your next promotion?" he asked. "St Patrick's Day," Tuckerman said.
"Shamrock Shakes."
It was perfect: The milkshakes were green - the Eagles' color! With the support of
McDonald's founder Ray Kroc and regional manager Ed Rensi, Tuckerman launched a
week-long promotion around the Shamrock Shake, with all profits to be donated to the
cause.
Enough funds were raised to help buy an old four-story, seven-
bedroom house Evans had found near the hospital. It opened in
1974 as the first Ronald McDonald House.
The network of Houses grew quickly after that, offering families
around the world a way to stay together in proximity to the hospital
where their child was being treated, and be comfortable and cared
for during their stay. In 2012, RMHC plans to build 16 Ronald
McDonald Houses, 12 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and 5
Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles.
Now that's a reason to celebrate the return of the Shamrock Shake!
A beloved treat with a legacy of love
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What did I like the most about this article? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What would I like to learn more about? _______________________________________________________________
"Charity begins at home" 1. What does this quote mean to you? How does this quote connect to the article? 2. What different ways can you bring charity "home" to your community? 3. Have you ever volunteered for a charity, organization, or helped someone in need? Describe in detail what you did and its impact on others.
Choose one of the following writing prompts and respond on the lines below. Use lined paper for additional space.
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