When I first saw this word I cringed, and thought to myself "UH OH, I don't know anything about this boring subject!". Boy was I wrong! I actually knew a lot about economics, and this surprised me. I hear the word and I think boring stock market, and bouncy numbers and positive and negative signs. I know that positive signs is what you want when playing the stock market, and that different investments bring in different amounts depending on how much you invest and at what share. I know that it is a good way to make money if you know what to invest in, and if you know about different companies. I remember investing in stocks in my 8th grade Social Studies class with my favorite teacher. I don't remember how my group did or how the activity was ended, and I think that this is because like a lot of things my class did we just never finished it. I wonder about my fake stocks and where I invested my money, and how my stocks did. I believe that I would use this in my classroom to teach stocks and investment and how it influences nations, communities and people. Stocks can be bought from different countries, and for different companies. If I were to buy a stock in a company in Japan that makes electronics then I have influenced Japans economy. When I buy their product in the store I have influenced Japans economy. I am demanding a product that Japan supplies. Supply and Demand influences communities that have processing plants, or factories. When the demand is up the factories need more workers which means that more people in the community will be hired which means that more money is being made by the people. The people turn around and spend their money in their community to purchase such things as food and goods. It's the circle of Life in the world we now live in.
Economics can be included in the classroom in many different ways. The students could put together their own Lemonade stand, and learn about supply and demand. I think that for an elementary classroom this is the perfect exercise for them, and the students have to purchase their supplies and market their product, as well as design their store front and sell their product.
I worked for a small business owner throughout high school and a little bit into college, and I had a first hand glance at how the local economy effected his business. When the community was doing well and the tourists were in town the play house was open and the warehouse was on a hiring frenzy the business did great! When summer ended and the tourists went home, the playhouse only opened on weekends, and the warehouse was on a hiring freeze the business did poorly. During the winter he couldn't afford to keep on to his staff so he would let go some of his workers. The rest of his workers were on strict tight schedules and this would last until the holiday season. During the holiday season things picked back up, online orders were coming in, the playhouse was opening a few more days, tourists were back for their families, and other businesses demanded his goods. He would hire back on the ones who he had to lay off, and business would be good. The struggle for the small business is to survive through the winter and emerge again in the Spring ready and open for business. This is becoming harder and harder on small business and they are closing rapidly. I worked for this man for 6 years or so, and It has been a rough ride for him. I had only ever wanted to see him succeed in his visions but I am sad to say that he may not make it through this winter. The economy in my hometown has gotten so bad that no one is able to spend money in his bakery. There have been other shops that have gone out of business recently in that town. Wal-Mart opened down the street from his bakery, and has been winning over his loyal customers, customers who have been going there since they were kids and their parents were bringing them. Wal-Mart is a big business that has had a downsizing effect on the community, although their economy may be doing well the economy of the town is suffering.
--- This is an example of how economics effects the community, and the people who live with in it.
After listening to the class explain and go over the different points of economics and how to apply these in the classroom I don't feel so overwhelmed by this! Every body who had presented put a lot of work and thought into their slides to teach the rest of the class how to use economics in the classroom. I found it helpful that there are so many different sites out on the internet that can be used to apply these ideas of economics in the classroom.
These are the economic slides that my partner and I made for our presentation about Economics influencing People, communities and Nations.
The Glogster that I created that I thought was so much fun. This helped me understand economics better and to really get a handle on it. I thought that this could be used in the classroom as a group project or individual projects. I like that it had different backgrounds but you were not stuck to those you could pick your own. It allows you to add videos and pictures! I like that it is a multimedia poster and I am sure that I will be using this program in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment