Tenth Grade - Social Studies

 

Activities


The Crash of 1929

Financial and Economic Concepts: Retirement Planning

Tenth Grade – U.S. Government & Citizenship

Standard 5: Students will understand basic economic principles and how they influence everyday life.

Objective 1: Explore major economic systems.

How Benjamin Franklin Became the "Father of American Insurance"

Time: 60 Minutes
Materials: Computer with Internet, projector, writing materials

The unbounded optimism of the Jazz Age and the shocking consequences when reality finally hit on October 29th, ultimately leading to the Great Depression.

The Crash of 1929 The Crash of 1929

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Charge! But To Which Card? (Scenarios)

Financial and Economic Concepts: Loans and borrowing money

Tenth Grade – US Government & Citizenship

Standard 5: Students will understand basic economic principles and how they influence everyday life.

Time: 20 Minutes
Materials: Handouts, writing materials

Option 1 - Print the scenarios on individual pieces of paper (available in complete lesson plan link below).  Have one student come to the front, pick a card, then discuss the scenario as a class.  Help students determine if the people need a credit card, advantages, disadvantages, and things that should be considered.

Option 2 - Print the scenarios on individual pieces of paper (available in complete lesson plan link below).  Divide class into groups of 2-3 students.  Put each scenario at a different location in the room.  Tell students they have five minutes at each station.  Their assignment is to write advice to the people in the scenarios, including advantages and disadvantages of getting a credit card.

Sample credit card scenarios from lesson plan:

  1. The Millers are a young family of four, with both parents working. Phil is thinking about getting a new car in a year or two, and both he and Tonya will want to buy a house some day. They are thinking about getting a credit card now even though they don’t have a lot of need for credit at the present time.
  2. Allison Smith is a single mom with three young children. She has a good job, but she also has many expenses with the children and only one income in the household. She is considering getting a credit card.
  3. Joe Washington is a recent college graduate, but he has not started a job in his degree field. He is currently working in retail and has numerous expenses for material things. He wants a credit card.
  4. Tina Gonzalez is a college freshman in the first week of school. She is bombarded with credit card applications, many of which mention something about special “student rates.” Tina is starting a part-time job, and she is sure she’ll get a good job after graduation. She is wondering if a credit card is right for her.
  5. Jennifer Wilson was married but recently got divorced. She had a credit card when she was married, but she is depending upon her ex-husband to pay it off. She is wondering whether she should get another credit card.
  6. James Cole is excited because he has just gotten his first job. He wants to get a credit card so that he can buy new things and pay for them on time. He has decided that the most important thing for him is to get a card with a low minimum payment so that he won’t have large bills to pay each month.
  7. Tommy Jones has had a good job for a couple of years and is considering getting a credit card. He has been thinking about traveling and that it might be a good idea to get a card that offers frequent flyer miles.
  8. Marcus and Shontel Thomas both have had good jobs for several years and want to get a credit card. They expect to pay off all charges in full each month to keep from having to pay finance charges. They are trying to decide what kind of card to get.
  9. Felicia Williams has a good job and wants a credit card. She expects to carry over a balance each month as she buys the things she needs for her new apartment.
  10. Bill Johnson often finds that he cannot make it to his next payday on the money he makes, so he wants a card so that he can get cash advances when he needs them.

Complete Lesson Plan Complete Lesson Plan (pdf) - See pages 4-6

Music Connection Music Connection

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How Benjamin Franklin Became the "Father of American Insurance"

Financial and Economic Concepts: Insurance

Tenth Grade – US History II

Standard 1: Students will expand their knowledge of pre-Reconstruction America.

Objective 2: Investigate the development of the United States government, its institutions, and its politics.

How Benjamin Franklin Became the "Father of American Insurance"Time: 40 Minutes
Materials: Handouts, writing materials

How Benjamin Franklin Became the "Father of American Insurance" (pdf)

Have students read the article found at the site then summarize what was learned.

Have them include their ideas on how this changed the circumstances of those living during Benjamin Franklin’s time and how it influences us today.