Summary
During “Our Economy in Action” unit, students collaborated with their peers to develop a small business within the classroom. They used a variety of brainstorming tools (Today’s Meet, Wallwisher, and Google Docs) to decide on a product to develop, and generated questions for a Consumer Poll for Harvie students to complete. Using the data from the Consumer Poll, students analyzed their research to decide if the product they wanted to develop would sell and why. In addition, all groups had the opportunity to take a risk and develop an item not desired by the consumer. After researching, students continued to collaborate to develop an advertisement using a variety of technology of the business’s choosing (Comic life, Keynote). Students completed a survey deciding which teachers to invite for the Harvie Expo and estimated how many products they needed to develop. Finally, students developed the products and sold them to students during the Harvie Expo, which will was held on Wednesday, November 21st and completed a survey deciding which charity to donate money they raised. In conclusion, students learned the importance of small-scale business model in today’s economy, how to collaborate with others, the art of compromise, and the importance of giving back to the community.
TIPC Ratings
As you can tell through the extensive documentation accompanying this lesson plan, the research component was focusing solely on primary resources for this unit. During the lesson, students generated questions for the Consumer Poll and then analyzed that research. Based on the findings, students developed products using science technology, media, and print technology of their choice.
The students used the Consumer Poll to predict which products would sell to the student body at Harvie. During the product development, students had the oppourtunity to use a variety of technology in development. One group decided to take a risk and develop a product that was not researched during the Consumer Poll. After completing the Harvie Expo, students reflected on what they could have done differently and what worked well on the classroom blog.
During the course of the lesson, students had to decide if the product they produced would sell and why. For example, bookmarks are given out for free at the Harvie library, and students already have “Harvie house” bracelets. This lesson is abundant with freedom of choice opportunities for the students to make about using appropriate digital tools, as well as questioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving strategies to solve authentic tasks. The students reflected on the classroom blog about their critical thinking and problem solving experiences and shared ideas regarding future growth.
The students used the “Consumer Poll” to decide which products would sell to the student body at Harvie. During the product development, students had the oppourtunity to use a variety of technology resources. One group decided to take a risk and develop a product that was not researched during the Consumer Poll. After completing the Harvie Expo, students reflected on what they could have done differently and what worked well on the classroom blog.
