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Essential Question
What question will guide the project and learning?
Community Partners
What organizations and individuals will collaborate and enhance the learning experience?
Reflection
What opportunities are there for us to reflect on our academic and socio-emotional development?
Assessment
In what ways can we demonstrate what we have learned and how we have grown?
Exhibition
How and who will we celebrate our learning with?
Project Launch
What shared experiences will engage us in the content, skills, and mindsets of the project?
Core Content
What will we need to learn and practice in order to engage in the project?
Critique and Revision
How will opportunities for feedback and refinement be embedded in the project?
Product
What will we make, build, or do that will have an impact on us or the world around us?
What question will guide the project and learning?

How do societies decide what to produce and for whom?

9th Grade  Project 2 weeks

"Goods Galore: Role Play Allocation Challenge!"

Gretchen Riem
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Purpose

Students will engage in a dynamic roleplay that simulates the allocation of goods and services within a society, starting with a project launch activity featuring a guest speaker from a local food bank. This experiential learning activity will allow them to explore and understand the decision-making processes involved, investigating how different allocation methods and incentives influence economic behavior and societal outcomes. The project aims to deepen students' understanding of core economic concepts, such as resource allocation and incentives, by actively involving them in real-world scenarios. By participating in this roleplay, students will develop critical thinking and collaborative skills as they navigate the complexities of economic decision-making, culminating in a written or video reflection on their learning experience.

Learning goals

Students will explore how societies determine the allocation of goods and services through role-play activities that simulate real-world economic scenarios. They will analyze the impact of incentives on individual and collective decision-making, gaining a deeper understanding of resource allocation. By actively participating, students will demonstrate their grasp of economic principles and apply critical thinking to address the essential question: How do societies decide what to produce and for whom? The project will launch with a guest speaker from a local food bank, providing a real-world context, and conclude with a written or video reflection to synthesize learning and personal insights.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
  • Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSF.LE.A.1: Distinguish between situations that can be modeled with linear functions and with exponential functions.

Products

Students will collaboratively engage in a dynamic role-play simulation where they assume the roles of different societal stakeholders, such as government officials, business leaders, and consumers. The project will launch with a visit from a local food bank representative to provide real-world context and inspiration. Throughout the project, students will create a comprehensive plan for allocating resources and goods, demonstrating their understanding of economic incentives and resource allocation. By the end of the project, students will present their allocation strategies and decisions in a mock town hall meeting, showcasing their ability to apply economic concepts to real-world scenarios. Students will conclude with a written or video reflection on their learning experience and the impact of their decisions.

Launch

Kick off the project with a visit from a local food bank representative who will discuss real-world challenges in resource allocation and the role of incentives in their operations. Following the talk, engage students in an interactive simulation where they form small groups representing different societies with unique resources. Each group must decide what goods and services to produce and how to allocate them, responding to unexpected events or incentives like resource scarcity or trade opportunities. This immersive experience will lay the groundwork for exploring the essential question and core content.

Exhibition

At the end of the project, students will participate in a dynamic roleplay exhibition where they simulate a marketplace. Each student or group will represent different societal roles, such as government officials, business owners, and consumers, to demonstrate their understanding of resource allocation and incentives. Invite peers, teachers, and community members to observe and engage in discussions about the decisions made and the outcomes observed. This exhibition will provide an opportunity for students to articulate their learning and reflect on how different allocation methods impact societal choices. The project will launch with a guest speaker from a local food bank to provide real-world context, and students will conclude with a written or video reflection on their experiences and insights.
Plan
Week 1 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Activities
Project Kickoff with Guest Speaker - Host a visit from a local food bank representative who shares real-world challenges in resource allocation and the role of incentives in their operations, setting the stage for the project. (30 min)
Interactive Discussion - Facilitate a class discussion where students reflect on the guest speaker's insights and brainstorm initial ideas on resource allocation and societal decision-making. (20 min)
Form Project Teams - Students form small groups representing different societies, each choosing a unique set of resources and societal characteristics to simulate in the upcoming roleplay. (10 min)
Introduction to Roleplay - Introduce students to the roleplay simulation, explaining the roles of government officials, business leaders, and consumers, and the objectives of their societal groups. (20 min)
Exploring Economic Concepts - Students engage in an activity to explore key economic concepts such as incentives and resource allocation through real-world examples. (25 min)
Team Planning Session - Teams begin drafting their initial plans for what goods and services their society will produce and how they will allocate resources, considering potential incentives and challenges. (15 min)
Scenario Development - Guide students in creating unexpected scenarios that might affect their societies, such as resource scarcity or trade opportunities, to incorporate into their roleplay. (20 min)
Role Assignment and Preparation - Within their teams, students assign roles and prepare for their upcoming roleplay, ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities and objectives. (20 min)
Mock Roleplay Practice - Teams conduct a brief practice session of their roleplay, focusing on initial resource allocation decisions and responding to the pre-determined scenarios. (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Groups submit an initial strategy outline for allocating resources within their simulated society.
Preparation 1. Coordinate with the local food bank to arrange the guest speaker visit.
2. Prepare materials for the interactive simulation, including scenario cards for incentives and resources.
3. Set up a space conducive to group work and discussion.
4. Provide guidelines and templates for strategy documentation.
Week 2 Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Activities
Resource Allocation Simulation - Students refine their resource allocation plans by responding to new incentives and unexpected events in their simulated societies, applying economic principles to adjust their strategies (25 min)
Peer Feedback Session - Groups present their updated allocation strategies to peers for constructive feedback, focusing on clarity and the effectiveness of their responses to incentives (20 min)
Strategy Revision - Using peer feedback, groups make final refinements to their allocation plans to better address societal needs and incentives (15 min)
Mock Town Hall Preparation - Students prepare presentations for a mock town hall where they will explain their resource allocation decisions and the role of incentives in their strategies (20 min)
Rehearsal and Coaching - Groups rehearse their presentations, receiving guidance on delivery and clarity from the teacher and peers (20 min)
Reflection Preparation - Begin drafting or planning a written or video reflection on the learning experience and personal insights gained throughout the project (20 min)
Mock Town Hall Presentation - Students conduct their presentations in a simulated town hall setting, demonstrating their understanding of resource allocation and incentives to an audience (30 min)
Audience Engagement and Q&A - Students engage with questions from peers and invited guests, discussing their decisions and the implications of their strategies (15 min)
Final Reflection - Complete the written or video reflection synthesizing learning experiences, insights, and the impact of their decisions during the project (15 min)
Deliverables
1. Refined resource allocation strategy presentation with peer feedback.
2. Revised plan addressing the new scenario and its impact on resource allocation and incentives.
3. Final presentation for the mock town hall meeting detailing their group's allocation strategies, incentive considerations, and reflections on the decision-making process.
Preparation 1. Ensure access to digital presentation tools and resources for students to create multimedia elements.
2. Prepare scenarios that introduce unexpected events affecting resource allocation, tailored to each group's context.
3. Organize a space for the mock town hall meeting, and invite peers, teachers, and community members to attend.
4. Provide reflection guidelines and prompts to help students articulate their learning experiences in their presentations.
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