Lesson Five

Michigan’s Economic Future

The Economy of Michigan Unit Two:

economic activities

different ways people use resources and produce goods and services.  Example: Farming and mining are economic activities.

Farmers grow soybeans on soybean farms. Farmers grow corn on corn farms. What do farmers grow on wind farms?

The BIG Ideas

The economic activities of a state have to change with the times. Therefore, businesses have to find new goods and services to produce.

To produce new goods and services, businesses in Michigan have to use the resources Michigan has.

The production of wind turbine parts could be an important new good for Michigan businesses to produce.

Michigan could also create more wind farms to produce energy.

It will take entrepreneurs, new ideas, and the good use of resources to help Michigan’s economy grow in the future.

The Model-T

This car had a huge impact on Michigan’s economy.

This was a car that a lot of people wanted.

If this car was so popular why aren’t we still producing them?

Economic wants change over time. People wanted newer and better cars and research and development was used to meet consumers demands.

Keeping up with people’s economic wants is a challenge for states.

Current challenges in Michigan relating to the automobile industry include the desire for electric battery-powered cars, out-of-date automobile factories, global competition, etc.

Michigan’s economic future depends on the state’s ability to meet economic challenges like current problems with the automobile industry.

In this lesson they will explore four ways to meet economic challenges:

Creating new products and businessesFinding new energy sources

Meeting changing economic wantsMaking good use of available resources

Harvest Wind Farm

Harvest Wind Farm Map and Photo. 19 July 2009 <http://www.wpsci.com/HarvestWindFarm.aspx>.

What grows on a wind farm?

Wind farms harness the wind to produce

electricity.

wind farms

a group of wind turbines in the same location   Example: Wind farms are being created in Michigan to provide electricity.

wind turbine

a tall tower with blades that makes use of wind to create electricity  Example: Making and using wind turbines will probably be an important part of Michigan’s economic future.

An inset map is a special kind of map that enlarges a part of a map and shows it close up.

This inset maps helps people better see the location of the Harvest Wind farm.

Construction of the wind farm began in June 2007, and the farm began generating electricity in December 2007.

A total of 32 windmills were installed on 3,200 acres in Huron County's Oliver and Chandler townships,

The farmers who leased their land for the windmill plots share in the sale of power generated by the wind turbines.

This wind farm can power more than 15,000 homes.

Most of these farms are located near a Great Lakes. Why do you think this is true?

Michigan Wind Map

The Thumb region is where the Harvest Wind Farm is located.

The dark green color of this region shows that it is quite a windy area.

Where are the windiest places near Michigan?

The windiest places are actually right over the Great Lakes themselves, not over land.

What implications this might have for wind farms.

it may be possible to create an offshore wind farm.

“Wind Energy Animation” at the following website: http://www.managenergy.net/kidscorner/en/u11/wind.html#. This animation shows how a wind turbine works. It is also available to download at the MC3 website.

The “Wind Farm Slide how” located at this website: http://www.aerialpics.com/B/windgenerators.html. This slide show has excellent photos showing are wind turbines are erected and what Michigan wind farms look like.

Some of the slides in the “Wind Energy for Kids PowerPoint” located at this website: http://www.kidwind.org/lessons/PPoint.html. This is another good source for photos and information.

How will wind farms help Michigan’s economy?

Wind farms will help produce electricity that can be used in homes and factories.

They make use of a renewable energy source that does not pollute or endanger the environment.

How else might Michigan’s economy benefit from the desire for wind farms and wind

power?

Besides creating wind farms Michigan could also manufacture

wind turbine parts much like Michigan did with the automobile

industry.

Identify what kind of informational text this next slide?

Highlight the following in this newspaper:

Headline Date By-line (news writer) City Name of newspaper

Thursday, May 7, 2009Wind turbines generate Michigan job hopesChristina Rogers / The Detroit News

Manistee, Michigan --Not long ago, MasTech Manufacturing's future looked almost hopeless.

The latest auto industry problems had nearly stopped production in the factory. The plant, which made high-tech machinery for car and truck plants, was limping by with only five workers. Parts orders were drying up.

But today, the huge, two-story factory is producing something else. It is making wind turbines to meet a fast-growing demand for this renewable power source. MasTech has restored its workforce to more than 40 employees -- hiring many former auto workers -- with plans to grow.

"If we didn't have these wind turbines," said John Holcomb, the plant's manager, "we wouldn't be here talking today. The doors would be closed."

The small factory is located in Manistee, Michigan. This town was once famous for salt mining and lumber mills. But, things have changed. Now, the factory is helping bring about manufacturing changes. State officials hope changes like this will help Michigan become a major producer of wind turbine parts. These are needed for the country’s growing number of wind farms. Adapted from: Wind Turbines Generate Michigan Jobs Hopes. 18 July 2009 Detroit News website. http://www.detnews.com/article/20090507/BIZ/905070406/Wind-turbines-generate-Michigan-job-hopes

Read the first two paragraphs. Why the MasTech company was in trouble?

Read the third paragraph and highlight the important change the MasTech company made.. The company changed from making auto

parts to making wind turbine parts. Read the fourth paragraph. What is

special about this paragraph? This paragraph is a quotation, or someone’s

direct words.

Read the last paragraph.

The creation of wind turbines can help solve some of Michigan’s economic problems such as the following:

Factories like this one that once made auto parts can now be used to create wind turbine parts.

These factories can give jobs to people who lost their jobs in car factories.

These factories can supply wind turbines for Michigan wind farms and also for wind farms in other states

natural resources

things in nature that people find useful   Example: Water, soil and trees are

natural resources.

capital resources

goods that are used to produce more goods and services

  Example: Factories and tools are capital

resources.

human resources

workers and their skills  Example: Truck drivers, doctors, and

teachers are human resources.

Michigan Resources for Producing Wind Turbines

Michigan Resources for Producing Wind Turbines Sample Answers

Water

Iron and other minerals

Factory workers who could be

trained to make wind turbine

parts

Factories that could be used to

make wind turbine parts

Michigan Resources for Creating Wind Farms

Michigan Resources for Creating Wind FarmsSample Answers

Wind

Land

Laid off auto workers who could be trained to build and maintain wind

farms

Factories that could produce the

wind turbines

entrepreneur

 someone who combines natural, human,

and capital resources to produce goods or services

 Example: Henry Ford is an example of a

Michigan entrepreneur.

What role do you think entrepreneurs will play in the creation of new products and

businesses such as wind turbines and wind farms?

Meeting Economic ChallengesSmall Group Activity

1. People want cars that run on something other than gasoline.

2. Tourists want new places to visit and new things to do.

3. Michigan has to find something to do with old factories.

4. People who lost their jobs in car factories need jobs.

5. Michigan has a lot of copper but it’s deep in the ground and expensive to mine.

Which number has your group been assigned? ________

Describe one way to meet this challenge:

Draw an illustration to describe your idea:

Each group should work together to find a way to

meet the challenge. Your group should explain the your idea in words then

create a simple illustration of your idea.

Your Task…

Now you will design a short presentation to explain your idea to the entire class. You must create a visual aid.