Hot Chocolate and Current Events 9.7.18

Need some tools to help you read the newspaper aloud? This week begins our Hot Chocolate and Current Events initiative, which is Silverdale Press’s effort to help your homeschool families and co-ops become more conversant in current affairs. In our weekly newsletter, we provide a family-friendly article and discussion questions. Our articles span the types of news: business, technology, politics, life and arts, and world affairs. During the school year, you’ll find the week’s article at the end of each Friday newsletter. 

This week’s article is about international business and the world's biggest coffee chain.  

Do you know which European country just got its first Starbucks? 

1. Read this article aloud with your family. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/06/grande-opening-milan-gets-italys-first-starbucks
2. Look up these vocabulary words: mezzanine, colossus, dubious. 
3. Point out these locations on a map: Seattle, Washington and Milan, Italy.
4. Discuss the following questions:

• Where does the story take place?
• What is the main topic or issue?
• Why did Starbucks want to bring a fancy coffee store to Italy?
• Comment on the design elements of the new Italian Starbucks. 
• How do you think Italians will respond to this Starbucks?
• What is your opinion on or reaction to this article? Do you think Starbucks opening in Italy is a good idea?  

---