Economics (Period 1)
Course Description
Economics
Summer/Fall 2007 - Ms. Solomon
Content Area Objectives:
• Students will explore and compare various economic systems and debate the relative values.
• Students will become familiar with the central elements and dynamics of a capitalist economy, in the United States and around the world.
• Students will examine the contribution of working people to the economy of the United States and investigate the economic history of the nation.
• Students will connect cultural and social trends and events to their economic context and assess their significance.
• Students will begin to see themselves as economic actors
Classroom Expectations
• ALL homework must be dated. If homework is due, please have it out of your notebook at the beginning of class when it should be passed in.
• You will be expected to have a notebook JUST for Economics
• If you were absent or did not get the assignment, you will find the assignment sheet in that late folder. Late homework will be accepted for one day. If you are absent, you will have the same number of days that other students had, plus the late time.
• Please be prepared at the beginning of every class. You will be given a folder which will contain your in-class materials. At the beginning of class, you will always have your notebook, folder, and a pen out. Don’t ask me.
• I respect you…please respect me and your classmates by arriving on time and being seated at the beginning of class.
Economics Semester Outline
Our semester is 16 weeks long (not taking away for testing, school activities, etc.) Below is an outline of what our semester looks like to give you a little taste of all the fantastic things we will be exploring together.
Guiding Question:
Why are some people rich and other people poor?
1. Does the American Dream Exist?
a. What is the American Dream and how does it relate to economics? Defining.
b. Does it really exist? Looking at current economic realities.
c. What is your American Dream? Reflecting on
2. How does the US System work? Are there other ways to run an economy?
a. Economics 101: What is an Economy? Basics of consumption, production, and allocation
b. Capitalism 101: Key elements of the Capitalist Economic System = private property, workers, owners, accumulation of profits, competition, monopoly and other important details.
c. The Business Cycle and Taxes
3. Are all workers treated equally in the United States?
a. Unions, workers and the minimum wage.
b. Race, Gender and Life in a Capitalist Economy.
4. How does Walmart impact your life? International Economics
a. Why are some countries rich and other countries poor?
b. Country Studies and International Relations
c. Global Financial Institutions: Organizing the international economy
d. Final Project
5. What kind of Economic Future Do You See for Yourself? Consumer Economics
a. Living within your means (making a budget)
b. Dealing with credit: Getting it, using it, and not using it.
c. Education, income and the job market
d. Planning for the economic life you want
Check-in and Community Building
Once a month, we will be checking in with each other to see how things are going. You will have an opportunity to let me know if there are areas you want to study more or activities you want to see more of. Keep this in mind as the class goes on.
Every other Wednesday is Community Circle. This is a great chance to air concerns or appreciation or just to let the rest of the class know how you are doing. This semester each of you will be responsible for one community circle – coming up with topics, leading it and helping students participate.
Every other other Wednesday will be Community Building. We will take time to check in, see how we are doing, get to know each other and begin to build trust amongst ourselves.
Summer/Fall 2007 - Ms. Solomon
Content Area Objectives:
• Students will explore and compare various economic systems and debate the relative values.
• Students will become familiar with the central elements and dynamics of a capitalist economy, in the United States and around the world.
• Students will examine the contribution of working people to the economy of the United States and investigate the economic history of the nation.
• Students will connect cultural and social trends and events to their economic context and assess their significance.
• Students will begin to see themselves as economic actors
Classroom Expectations
• ALL homework must be dated. If homework is due, please have it out of your notebook at the beginning of class when it should be passed in.
• You will be expected to have a notebook JUST for Economics
• If you were absent or did not get the assignment, you will find the assignment sheet in that late folder. Late homework will be accepted for one day. If you are absent, you will have the same number of days that other students had, plus the late time.
• Please be prepared at the beginning of every class. You will be given a folder which will contain your in-class materials. At the beginning of class, you will always have your notebook, folder, and a pen out. Don’t ask me.
• I respect you…please respect me and your classmates by arriving on time and being seated at the beginning of class.
Economics Semester Outline
Our semester is 16 weeks long (not taking away for testing, school activities, etc.) Below is an outline of what our semester looks like to give you a little taste of all the fantastic things we will be exploring together.
Guiding Question:
Why are some people rich and other people poor?
1. Does the American Dream Exist?
a. What is the American Dream and how does it relate to economics? Defining.
b. Does it really exist? Looking at current economic realities.
c. What is your American Dream? Reflecting on
2. How does the US System work? Are there other ways to run an economy?
a. Economics 101: What is an Economy? Basics of consumption, production, and allocation
b. Capitalism 101: Key elements of the Capitalist Economic System = private property, workers, owners, accumulation of profits, competition, monopoly and other important details.
c. The Business Cycle and Taxes
3. Are all workers treated equally in the United States?
a. Unions, workers and the minimum wage.
b. Race, Gender and Life in a Capitalist Economy.
4. How does Walmart impact your life? International Economics
a. Why are some countries rich and other countries poor?
b. Country Studies and International Relations
c. Global Financial Institutions: Organizing the international economy
d. Final Project
5. What kind of Economic Future Do You See for Yourself? Consumer Economics
a. Living within your means (making a budget)
b. Dealing with credit: Getting it, using it, and not using it.
c. Education, income and the job market
d. Planning for the economic life you want
Check-in and Community Building
Once a month, we will be checking in with each other to see how things are going. You will have an opportunity to let me know if there are areas you want to study more or activities you want to see more of. Keep this in mind as the class goes on.
Every other Wednesday is Community Circle. This is a great chance to air concerns or appreciation or just to let the rest of the class know how you are doing. This semester each of you will be responsible for one community circle – coming up with topics, leading it and helping students participate.
Every other other Wednesday will be Community Building. We will take time to check in, see how we are doing, get to know each other and begin to build trust amongst ourselves.