All about Sam Walton

Sam Walton was the man who started Wal-Mart, a big store where people can buy almost anything they need, from food to clothes to toys. Sam was born on March 29, 1918, in a small town in Oklahoma, USA. When he was young, his family moved a lot because his dad worked on different farms. Sam learned to work hard and help his family from a very young age.

After finishing school, Sam went to college and then joined the army during World War II. When the war was over, he and his wife Helen opened their first store in Arkansas. Sam wanted to sell good products at low prices so everyone could afford them. He worked really hard and treated his customers and employees well.

Sam’s idea was so good that his store became very popular. He opened more and more stores, and soon Wal-Mart became one of the biggest store chains in the world! Sam believed in always putting the customer first and keeping prices low.

He showed that with hard work, smart ideas, and caring for others, you can build something great. Sam Walton passed away in 1992, but his stores are still helping people save money and live better today.

1. Where was Sam Walton born?
2. What did Sam do after finishing school?
3. Why did Sam want to sell good products at low prices?
4. How did Sam's early life help him in his business?
5. What do you think is the most important lesson we can learn from Sam Walton's story?

Symbols and Traditions

Hi there! My name is Tommy, and I am 8 years old. Today, I want to tell you about my fun visit to Walmart. Did you know that Walmart was started by a man named Sam Walton? He made it a really big store that lots of people go to for shopping.

When I went to Walmart, I got to see something really cool. They have a special place called the Walmart Museum. It's like going on an adventure! The museum shows all kinds of things about Sam Walton and how he made Walmart so popular. There were old pictures, his red truck, and even a replica of his office. My favorite part was seeing his office because it had so many interesting things like his books and his special hat.

After visiting the museum, we shopped for some snacks and toys. I even got a new toy car! Visiting the museum made me think about how much work goes into making a big store like Walmart. I had a great time and learned a lot about Sam Walton.

1. Who is the founder of Walmart?
2. What was Tommy's favorite part of the Walmart Museum?
3. Why do you think Sam Walton's office was interesting to Tommy?
4. How did Tommy feel about his visit to the Walmart Museum?
5. If you were to visit the Walmart Museum, what would you like to see and why?

Profile of Sam Walton

A Timeline of Sam Walton to another Festival

After learning all about Sam Walton, your job is to create a timeline of their life. You should add all the important events in their life but you can be inventive and add some interesting things that people might like to read about. You can make it as simply as you like with pen and paper or you can be very inventive and create a 3D diorama or hanging banner. The sky's the limit - go for it!

Slideshow - Sam Walton
A full set of teaching plans for Sam Waltonteaching.