8-17 Investigate the role of government in United States
history to Reconstruction.
Grade Level Benchmark:
1. Distinguish between public and private goods using
contemporary examples. (IV.3.MS.1)
Learning Activity(s)/Facts/Information
1. Discuss what goods and services are public and which are private. Ask them who should determine if some goods and services should be provided publicly and what criteria should be used to make that determination. Generate a list of services. Finally, pose the following question, “If the national, state, and local governments had no power to tax, what goods and services would we have to do without?” List their answers on the board. End by discussing which public goods or services they would rather see in the hands of the private sector and why.
2. Students will correctly label goods as public or private, i.e., park systems, roads, infrastructure, schools, post office, etc.
Resources
New Vocabulary: Public goods, private goods, contemporary
Social Studies
Activity Worksheet
GRADE LEVEL:
Eighth
Course Title:
U.S. History to Reconstruction
Strand:
IV. Economics
Topic:
Role of Government
Grade Level Standard:
8-17 Investigate the role of government in United States
history to Reconstruction.
Grade Level Benchmark:
2. Identify and describe different forms of economic
measurement. (IV.3.MS.2)
Learning Activity(s)/Facts/Information
1. Define and discuss examples of the different forms of economic measurement, i.e., profit and loss, employment, GDP, trade balance, stock market, inflation.
2. Students create a project that uses one or more economic measurement(s) to compare two countries in the global market.
Resources
New Vocabulary: Economic measurement, global market
Social Studies
Activity Worksheet
GRADE LEVEL:
Eighth
Course Title:
U.S. History to Reconstruction
Strand:
IV. Economics
Topic:
Role of Government
Grade Level Standard:
8-17 Investigate the role of government in United States
history to Reconstruction.
Grade Level Benchmark:
3. Use case studies to assess the role of government in the
economy. (IV.3.MS.3)
Learning Activity(s)/Facts/Information
1. Describe and discuss the six roles of government in the economy:
2. Given a case study, explain how government actions impacted the economy, i.e., Emancipation Proclamation, Hamilton’s National System, Louisiana Purchase.
Resources
New Vocabulary: Economic growth, employment, price stability, economic freedom, distribution of wealth, economic security, economy
Social Studies
Activity Worksheet
GRADE LEVEL:
Eighth
Course Title:
U.S. History to Reconstruction
Strand:
IV. Economics
Topic:
Role of Government
Grade Level Standard:
8-17 Investigate the role of government in United States
history to Reconstruction.
Grade Level Benchmark:
4. Distinguish different forms of taxation and describe their
effects. (IV.3.MS.4)
Learning Activity(s)/Facts/Information
1. Have students compile a list of at least five different taxes in the United States (Economics in Our Times, pp. 374-377), and the different ways that the tax money is spent. For example, taxes provide for public schools, a police force, national defense, garbage collection, and snow removal. Mention that while many people do not like to pay taxes, they do like the things for which taxes provide.
Then, have students organize the information for property taxes and social security taxes in a Compare/Contrast graphic organizer (see source below). Each of the taxes they are using will be labeled as Name 1 and Name 2, respectively, in the graphic organizer. Then, students will provide three effects for each of these taxes listed. Attributes 1, 2, and 3 on the graphic organizer will be labeled effect 1, 2, and 3 (see Economics in Our Times, pp. 374-377, US State Tax Resources, and Michigan Taxes)
Resources
New Vocabulary:
Social Studies
Activity Worksheet
GRADE LEVEL:
Eighth
Course Title:
U.S. History to Reconstruction
Strand:
IV. Economics
Topic:
Economic Systems
Grade Level Standard:
8-18 Apply economic systems in United States history to
Reconstruction.
Grade Level Benchmark:
1. Compare the historical record of market economies in
solving the problem of scarcity. (IV.4.MS.1)
Learning Activity(s)/Facts/Information
1. Define and discuss how market economies solve the problem of scarcity, i.e., triangular trade, European colonization, market economy.
2. In the United States History Focus on Economics, have the students complete lesson one, “Indentured Servitude: Why Sell Yourself into Bondage?” The students should explore the background of indentured servitude in North America. Have the students answer why someone would sell themselves into bondage and why someone would buy them as they examine examples of a contract for an indentured servant. Why did this system exist? Explain how a scarcity of workers allowed this system to prevail. Finally ask the students to brainstorm for any ideas in today’s world where someone signs a contract for labor in exchange for some future benefit.
3. Given a scenario in the United States, the student will identify how a market economy solved the problem of scarcity.
Resources
New Vocabulary: Market economies, scarcity
Social Studies
Activity Worksheet
GRADE LEVEL:
Eighth
Course Title:
U.S. History to Reconstruction
Strand:
IV. Economics
Topic:
Economic Systems
Grade Level Standard:
8-18 Apply economic systems in United States history to
Reconstruction.
Grade Level Benchmark:
2. Describe the roles of the various economic institutions
which comprise the American economic system, such as governments, business
firms, labor unions, banks, and households. (IV.4.MS.2)
