Factors of Production and Interdependence
How Many
Industries Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?
Overview
This lesson is designed to make students aware of interdependence
in any economy. It may be used as an introduction, review
or illustration of the concept learned, and is easily
adapted to Grade 5 and Grade 6. The point is to have
students think of all the additional industries necessary
for the named one to succeed, and to discuss that concept
in a fun way that aids comprehension.
Outcome
Students will understand that most production of goods
requires other goods, and that this requirement leads
to specialization and interdependence.
Standards Addressed
Grade 5
Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark A
02. Explain that individuals in all economies must
answer the fundamental economic questions of what
to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce.
Social Studies —
Economics, Benchmark B
03. Explain how education, specialization, capital
goods and the division of labor affect productive
capacity.
Social Studies —
Economics, Benchmark C
04. Explain how regions in North America become interdependent
when they specialize in what they produce best and
then trade with other regions inside and outside North
America to increase the amount and variety of goods
and services available.
05. Explain the general relationship
between supply, demand and price in a competitive
market.
06. Explain why competition among
producers/sellers results in lower costs and prices,
higher product quality and better customer service.
Grade 6
Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark A
01. Explain how the availability of productive resources
and entrepreneurship affects the production of goods
and services in different world regions.
Social Studies —
Economics, Benchmark B
03. Explain why trade occurs when individuals, regions
and countries specialize in what they can produce
at the lowest opportunity cost and how this causes
both production and consumption to increase.
04. Identify goods and services
that are imported and exported and explain how this
trade makes countries interdependent.
Materials
Procedure
-
Decide whether this lesson will be accomplished
as a whole class or in teams.
-
Teach and/or review the concept of interdependence.
-
Hand out the Lamp Diagram student handout.
-
Have students brainstorm all the industries necessary
to produce the lamp. If necessary, allow time for
research. If desired, allow time for constructing
a display of findings.
-
Have students or teams report findings.
-
Discuss what was learned.
Evaluation
Whether or not comprehension was achieved can be evaluated
by observation of the discussion as students share and
display their findings.
Rubric for
Evaluation of Discussion
This rubric could be used by students to evaluate their
own discussion or the discussion of peers.
|
Category |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| Use of Facts / Statistics |
Every major point was well-supported with several
relevant facts, statistics and/or examples. |
Every major point was adequately supported with
relevant facts, statistics and/or examples. |
Every major point was supported with facts, statistics
and/or examples, but the relevance of some was questionable. |
None of the major points was supported. |
| Understanding of Topic |
The team clearly understood the topic in depth
and presented its information forcefully and convincingly.
|
The team clearly understood the topic in-depth
and presented its information with ease. |
The team seemed to understand the main points
of the topic and presented those with ease. |
The team did not show an adequate understanding
of the topic. |
|
