Candy Bar Crisis

1. Set Focus 
Pose this essential question:  How is chocolate important to American cultural traditions?

2. Read and Discuss 
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence:

• What factors are leading to a decrease in the supply of chocolate? What impact is this change having on its price? (The chocolate supply is decreasing because extreme weather and plant disease have been ruining recent cacao harvests, which has led farmers to rely on other crops for their survival.)

• How does the law of supply and demand help to explain why the price of chocolate has gone up? (With the law of supply and demand, sellers usually raise prices if supply goes down and demand stays high. Because the demand for chocolate is high amid a shrinking supply, prices are rising.)

• What are candy companies doing in response to the chocolate shortage? What other ideas are companies exploring? Do any of these solutions appeal to you as a consumer? (Many candy companies are coming up with products that require less chocolate and/or shrinking existing ones. Other companies are exploring technologically enhanced ways of growing cocoa, as well as ways to mimic the taste and texture of chocolate using other plants. Opinions about these solutions will vary.)

3. Core Skill Practice
Assign, print, or project the activity Making Connections. Have students use the graphic organizer to explore the causes and effects described in the article.

4. Writing Prompt
Write about one aspect of American culture that would have to change without chocolate.

5. Classroom Debate
Have groups pick substitutes for chocolate and debate which would be “better,” using whatever criteria they choose.

6. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess comprehension and the Analyze the Graphs and Analyze the Cartoon skill sheets to practice data and visual analysis.