Lesson Plan: Freedom and Prosperity
Author: Kay Slone
Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Suggested Time: 5 - 6 days
Materials
- Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition, March 2004.
- "Distributing Milk to Children" from OhioPix (link under Resources)
- Graph paper and colored pencils or markers.
Core Instruction
- Introduce the notion of poverty by using the image titled, "Distributing Milk to Children" from OhioPix as a lesson review.
- Project the image
- Use spiral questioning to allow students to reach a conclusion about poverty, the time period, and the location of the image.
- Have students read the article and answer basic comprehension questions.
- Students select a country to research (a developing nation) and present their research to the class.
- Teacher presents the same information on the United States.
- Using presentations, students creat bar graphs comparing five nations.
- Students write an essay summarizing their findings.
Assessment
Extended Response Questions:
1.) Explain why high literacy rates do not guarantee high rates of income.
Possible Answer: (a) Lack of infrastructure to assist citizens; (b) high literacy rates do not ensure or indicate economic freedom; (c) If the nation once embraced the Marxist philosophy of teaching literacy to all, but without economic freedom, that tradition will persist.
Standards
- History 9-10, Benchmark B: Explain the social, political and economic effects of industrialization.
- Indicator: Grade 9, GLI 3. Explain the causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution with emphasis on: e. The growth of industrialization around the world.
- Indicator: Grade 10, GLI 2. Analyze the impact of industrialization and the modern corporation in the United States on economic and political practices with emphasis on: c. Standard of living.
- Geography 9-10, Benchmark A: Analyze the cultural, physical, economic and political characteristics that define regions and describe reasons that regions change over time.
- Indicator: Grade 9, GLI 1. Interpret data to make comparisons between and among countries and regions including: a. Birth rates; b. Death rates; c. Infant mortality rates; d. Education levels; e. Per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- Social Studies Skills and Methods 9-10, Benchmark B: Use data and evidence to support or refute a thesis.
- Indicator: Grade 9, GLI 4. Develop and present a research project including: a. Collection of data ;b. Narrowing and refining the topic; c. Construction and support of the thesis.
- Indicator: Grade 10, GLI 3. Analyze one or more issues and present a persuasive argument to defend a position.
