Name: Pamela Miller Incline High Incline Village, Nevada
Course/Grade: American Government, World History, Economics, Human Geography
Lesson Title: Is Capitalism Good for The Poor?
Stage 1 Desired Results
Students will explore why some countries are rich, while other countries stagnate in grinding poverty. What makes a country rich and successful?
How does capitalism relate to a countries level of economic development?
ESTABLISHED GOALS From Nevada State and WCSD Social Studies Standards:
H 3.0 Social Responsibility and Change: Students understand how social ides and individual actions lead to social, political, economic and technological change
H 4.0 International Relations and Power: Students understand the interaction and interdependence of nations around the world. Students understand the impact of economics, politics, religions, and culture on International relations.
E12.[9-12].3 Economics: Assess the impact of globalization on the U.S. and world economies
* Global organization of the world economy
* Variations in levels of development
* Globalization
* Natural resources and environmental concerns
* Sustainable development
*Pillars of Capitalism
*Relationship between Capitalism and level of Economic Development.
Transfer
Students will be able to independently use their learning to…………..
Recognize that the concept of “Poor” is very relative
Evaluate the cornerstones of Capitalism
Understand that different countries have vastly different levels of economic development
Critical Thinking Skills: What creates prosperity? Why are some countries rich, while many others are still desperately poor?
Making connections: Is there a relationship between the presence of the features of capitalism, and the level of economic development
UNDERSTANDINGS Students will understand that…
1. Students will analyze the difference between the LDCs and developed countries.
2. Students will analyze the different approaches countries can take to development.
3. Students will understand how the Human Development Index measures development.
4. Students will determine the level of development of a county using the CIA World Fact Book.
5. Students will analyze indicators of development by comparing various countries around the globe.
6. Students will analyze if there is a relationship between capitalism and a country’s wealth.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
1 What creates prosperity?
2 Why is it that very few nations have traveled out of poverty?
3. Why are there “haves” and “have nots” in the world?
4. What are the characteristics of a Developed Country versus a Less Developed Country?
5. How have different countries chosen to develop differently?
6. What makes some nations rich and other nations poor?
7. What is poverty and who are the poor?
8. Is poverty in the USA the same as poverty in other countries?
9. What does it mean to live on $1.00 per day?
10. Does the type of Government matter?
11. What are the cornerstones of capitalism?
12. How do capitalistic institutions affect the poor?
13. Is there a relationship between the presence of these features, and the level of economic development?
Acquisition Students will know…
1 Variations within health care, infrastructure, and education play a role in the development status of countries.
2 The presence of natural resources usually has no relationship to the wealth of a country.
3 Very few countries have traveled out of poverty to prosperity.
4 The level of economic development between countries varies dramatically.
5 The World Bank defines “extreme poverty” as living on $1.00 per day.
6 Concept of Gross National Income is income divided by population.
7 Over one billion people live in the Least Developed Countries. (LDCs) $1.00/day
8 The United Nations Human Development Report ranks countries on a Human Development Index.
9 The HDI considers life expectancy, literacy rates,, school enrollment, and household income.
10. The cornerstones of capitalism include the following: private property rights, rule of law, free and open markets, competition, and entrepreneurship.
11. How The World Bank and The United Nations rank countries on levels of economic development.
12. How levels of economic development are related to standard of living.
13. What it really means to live on $1.00 per day.
Students will be skilled at…
1 Identifying the poorest countries in the world, using CIA World Fact Book
2 Researching the level of economic development of various countries.
3 Analyzing what “poor” means in The United States compared to poverty in a LDC.
4 Reading and discussing Case Studies of people in Egypt, Peru, Uganda, Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Indonesia.
5 Economic Analysis: Students will rate countries on economic spectrum from Most Capitalistic to Least Capitalistic
6 Using supporting evidence to determine if the Cornerstones of Capitalism are generally present or generally absent from these countries.
7 Form conclusions: Determine whether there is a relationship between capitalism and economic development. (Standard of living.)
8 Answer Essential Question: Essay Format
Assessment Instrument: Is Capitalism Good for the Poor?
Evaluative Criteria Assessment Evidence
Understand challenges of people living in poverty
Place stickers on 5 poorest countries on large wall world map
CIA World Fact Book
Reading: Upfront Magazine: Where Sweatshops are a Dream
John Stossel: Is America #1?
Class Discussion: Essential Questions
Video: Lions of Capitalism
Analyze the Cornerstones of Capitalism
Group Activity
Discussion
Evaluation: Synthesis information
DVDs: Narrated by Hernando de Soto
Private Property
Rule of Law
Summative Essay (Assessment)
Internet simulation: www.playspent.org (kids try to get through the month on a $1000 paycheck)
Ask kids why they put their stickers where they did Discussion regarding perceptions
Research world’s poorest countries.
Read and discuss article:
Article: Children in Cambodia living on garbage dumps
Watch and discuss: Why have relatively so few countries traveled out of poverty?
Listen to student’s responses to Essential Questions
Watch and respond to video questions
Discuss presence in The USA
Read case scenarios from different countries around the globe. What is life there like?
Levels of economic development among different countries.
Evaluate: How capitalistic is this country and place on economic spectrum.
Watch and respond to questions: What happened in Africa when there are no clear property rights?
Discuss the tragedy of the Commons: Why are buffalo extinct but there are plenty of cattle?
What happens in Chile when law enforcement is so weak, that somebody always has to guard the house?
Respond to Question: is Capitalism Good for The Poor? Why or why not?
Summary of Key Learning Events and Instruction
1.Internet Simulation Game; Can you get through the month on your paycheck?
2.World Map Activity: discuss why you placed stickers where you did
3.Discussion of poverty, and what does it mean to be poor?
4.How is poverty different in the USA and LDCs?
5.Research: CIA World Fact Book
6.Read: Upfront Magazine; Where Sweatshops are a Dream
7.Watch: John Stossel: Is America #1?
8.Discuss: Why are some countries rich, while others stagnate in poverty?
9. Discussion of World Bank Index of Developed Nations, Developing Nations and Least Developed Nations.
10. Analyze: What are the cornerstones of capitalism? (Rule of Law, Free Markets, Competition, Private Property)
11.Watch: Lions of Capitalism (History of capitalism in USA)
12. Group Activity: Each group gets Case Scenario of different country: read and discuss in group
13. Place country on Economic Spectrum in front of room: Most Capitalistic - Least Capitalistic
14.Rationalize: use supporting evidence to justify why you placed your country there.
15.DVDS: Rule of Law and Private Property Rights with Hernando de Soto (Africa, Chile)
16. Assessment Essay: Respond to Question: Is Capitalism Good for the Poor? Why or why not?
17. Conclusion: The countries that are most capitalistic, and have the least government interference tend to have the highest standard of living.