Armor All
Developed by Modern Talking Pictures Services

Looking Good
(Gr. 6-12):
To learn how to "properly maintain a car's appearance."

* 6 pg TG
* Quiz
* Product samples
* Order card
Video also available.

Highly commercial, biased, incomplete, and inaccurate. Equates car care with kid's self image. Misleading information about car care (overstates need for constant cleaning, suggests using newspaper for cleaning [too coarse] or paper towels [wastes paper]). Promotes its corporate image and specifically names Armor All products to use. Includes product samples.

BIC Corp.
Developed by Lifetime Learning Systems

Quality Comes in Writing
(Gr. 4-6):
"To help students improve their quality of writing."

* Poster
* 4 reproducible activity masters
* 4 pg TG
* Parent-child booklets
* Evaluation card

Commercial and incomplete. Program
is not serious writing program but rather an opportunity for BIC to get its logo in front of school kids. Gives few writing tips and doesn't cover any part of the writing process in depth. BIC logo prominently displayed on all materials. Pens that look like BIC pens shown
as art in all materials. BIC plugs itself in messages to teacher and parents.

BIC Corp.
Developed by Lifetime Learning Systems

Getting on the Right Wavelength
(Gr. 11-12):
"To help your students learn to `talk' on paper."

* Poster
* Parent-child booklets
* 4 reproducible activity masters
* 4 pg TG
* Evaluation card

Commercial and incomplete. More meaningful activities, but again, promotional for BIC although not as intrusive.

Fuji Photo Film
Developed by Scholastic Inc.

Photo Pals
(MS):
To help kids "appreciate the differences and similarities among all human beings."

* Poster
* Decals
* 8 pg TG
* 4 pg parent handout w/coupons (all but one for $1 or more)

Highly commercial. Thrust of program is to get kids to take photos with Fuji cameras and film. Program supplies a free camera (with film) for the classroom, so no purchase needs to be made, but the promotion of Fuji products is pervasive. Fuji Film is mentioned dozens of times and kit is full of Fuji coupons.

Hartz Mountain Corporation
in cooperation with Pet Care Trust

Pet Pals
(Gr. K-3):
"To help your students learn to appreciate, respect, and enjoy pets -- and to begin to understand the responsibilities of pet ownership."

* Poster
* 8 reproducible activity masters
* 6 pg TG
* Teacher questionnaire
* Refund offer for gerbil cage

Highly commercial, biased, and incomplete. Contrary to what sponsor promises, content is not comprehensive. Emphasis is on taking care of pets by using pet care products, including rawhide bones, vitamins, shampoos, etc. Hartz logo is apparent throughout.

Hoover Company

Clean Living: A Lifestyle Skills Unit for Home Economics/ Consumer Education Classes
(HS):
To teach "important daily living skills, such as managing a household, budgeting, home decorating, and efficient home care."

* Poster
* 5 reproducible activity masters
* 8 pg TG
* Letter to teacher
* Evaluation card
* Miscellaneous pamphlets

Highly commercial, biased, and incomplete. Presented as a set of activities for life skills classes, lessons cover such things as "the clean machines," a lesson on choosing a vacuum cleaner. The worksheet accompanying this lesson is a survey sheet for cleaners, with the information on the Hoover model already filled in (and it rates well). One long commercial.

Polaroid

Polaroid Education Program: "Polaroid Real Science"
(K-12):
"To enjoy science by composing Polaroid photographs to illustrate science concepts."

* Poster
* Several TGs ranging from
10- to 56 pg
* 24 pg handbook w/learning activities
* 8 pg newsletter
* 5 activity brochures

Highly commercial and incomplete. Science content is minimal. Consists of a class poster to which students are asked to attach Polaroid photos to illustrate "real-life" science concepts. Other cameras could be used, but Polaroid use is not only encouraged but in effect required.