East Detroit Public Schools
Lesson Design

Author: Sharon Mazurek
Subject: Economic Perspective
Grade: Eighth Grade
Course: U. S. History
Title: Economics Using SimCity 2000

Length of Unit: Three to ten days
Materials Need: MEAP practice booklet
Power Macintosh G3 computers
Epson LCD Display
large screen
SimCIty 2000 software program
world almanac

Standards-Based Outcomes (MDE):

Social Studies:

IV. Economic Perspective

Content Standard IV, 1: All students will describe and demonstrate how the economic forces of scarcity and choice affect the management of personal financial resources, shape consumer decisions regarding purchase, use, and disposal of goods and services, and affect the economic well-being of individuals and society. (Individual and Household Choices

3. Analyze the reliability of information when making economic decisions.

Content Standard IV, 3: All students will describe how government decisions on taxation, spending, public goods, and regulation impact what is produced, how it is produced, and who receives the benefits of production. (Role of Government)

2. Identify and describe different forms of economic measurement.
4. Distinguish different forms of taxation and describe their effects.

Prior Knowledge:

Students must have basic computer skills such as how to turn it on and off, the use of the mouse, and how to follow directions from the monitor screen.

Students must be familiar with the fifth grade MEAP Social Studies test.

Cue Set:

1. Students will be given an Economics MEAP Practice Test.

2. Students will fill out the Prerequisite Skills Test to determine their knowledge of the SimCity computer program.

3. Students are divided into pairs according to their knowledge of computers. A student with strong computer skills will be placed with one who has weaker skills. The first day the less skilled student uses the mouse. The second day the more skilled student will use the mouse. This arrangement can easily be changed according to each classroom situation.

Best Shot Instruction:

• Students will take the Prerequisite Skills Test to determine their knowledge of the program SimCity . Results will be used to create pairs of experienced and unexperienced students.
• During the first session, students will construct and design an operating city. The teacher will demonstrate construction of a city on the large screen before allowing the pairs to work together.
• The second session will focus on balancing a budget. Again the teacher will first demonstrate the method using the large screen and explaining assets and deficits. The pairs will be challenged to increase the population in “Budget City” because a high population means a fiscally healthy city.
• During the third session, the student pairs will manage a city in economic trouble after first seeing a large screen view comparing “City 2000” to Detroit. They will be challenged to reach the year 2000 with a balanced budget.
• The fourth session will be comprised of a class discussion of economic terms on the MEAP. The terms will be related to the SimCity 2000 experiences.
• The students will work with the previous session's economic terms during the fifth session. They will fill out worksheets (Economics - World Almanac) which will then be used in a class discussion.

Reteaching and Enrichment:

The following SimCity options may be used:

1. Groups of three students will compete to create the best city. Points will be given for year, money, population, RCI, etc. (The students will decide in what order each will take a turn on the computer.
2. Working together, pairs of students will start at the "Easy year 1950" level and must reach the year 2000 with money and population.

Review and Closure:

1. The Economics MEAP practice Test will be given again.
2. The class will discuss how the test relates to Sim City in the computer program.

Assessment:

1. A grade will be given for each lesson completed by the student.

2. The final assessment will be their understanding of the Economics section of the MEAP.

Top

Lesson Plan List