1. Question

There are now 7 billion people living on earth! One nation may have a higher standard of living than another nation. Many of the world’s people live in poverty, some in what is known as the “Developing World”. Governments of these countries struggle to end poverty through economic growth.

How can countries work to improve the lives of their citizens? How will improving the economy of a country improve their standard of living? Are nations in Africa in need of economic development? Why?

1 2 3 654 Next

How would you economically develop an African country in order to raise the

standard of living?

Economic Development

Image Source: Microsoft ClipArt

2. Information Sources

Build Background Knowledge

First, you will need to develop your understanding about standard of living:Test your prior knowledge about Standard of Livin

gStandard of Living- World BookStandard of Living- ThinkQuestWrite your own definition of standard of living on WallWisher

Now, explore what the standard of living is like in Africa. Begin by reading an overview of Africa’s Economy. Then, read about the economy of one African country to answer the question: What three economic activities could the government focus on improving to raise standard of living? Ethiopia Kenya Nigeria

1 2 3 654 Next

Image Source: Clipart.com by subscription

3. Student Activity

One example of an economic growth plan is a business plan. When businesses decide to invest in a country, they must first create a business plan. What kind of business plan would you create for your own business? Complete this activity to make economic choices for a business plan.

What makes up an economy? Complete this activity to determine how different economic activities might improve standard of living. Refer back to the standard of living resources on Slide 2 if needed.

Now, use the resources below to review economic data about the country you chose on Slide 2 and answer the question:What three economic activities should the government focus on improving to raise standard of living? Ethiopia Kenya Nigeria

Use this graphic organizer to help organize your notes.

1 2 3 654 Next

Image Source: Microsoft ClipArt

Mining

Service Industry

Forestry

Manufacturing Transportation

4. Assessment Activity

Now that you are an expert, you have been asked to present an economic development plan to the United Nations, explaining how you would improve the standard of living in an African country. Create your plan to help increase the standard of living for people living in the African country you’ve been investigating (Ethiopia, Kenya, or Nigeria). Use these questions as a guide: What three economic activities need to be improved?

Why? What resources are needed to help these economic

activities grow? Who will pay for the additional resources that businesses

need? What will happen to these businesses and the nation's

people as a result? How will your plan increase the standard of living in this

African country? Create a presentation to explain your plan to the United Nations, using a format such as PowerPoint, Animoto, Voki, Glogster, or any other format approved by your teacher. Remember, your plan must include your knowledge from all the activities and answer the questions above. Refer to the Scoring Tool.Present your plan to the United Nations (your classmates).

1 2 3 654 Next

Image Source: clipart.com by subscription

Image Source: Microsoft ClipArt

5. Enrichment Activities

To learn more about standard of living and economic development, check out these resources. BrainPop: Population Growth ABCNews: Our Crowded Planet Video: Economics of Feeding a Growing P

lanet Kenya: National Geographic Nigeria: National Geographic CultureGram: Ethiopia Library of Congress: Country Studies

To test your knowledge: Can you make good economic choices for your family? Brain Pop Game: Standard of Living in Haiti

1 2 3 654 Next

Image Source: clipart.com by subscription

Port in Morocco

Small Market in Tunisia

6. Teacher Support Materials

BCPS Curriculum7th Grade: KSI-D, evaluate the degree to which economic development in selected African nations can improve the standard of livingMaryland State Curriculum 7.4.A.4. Compare the levels of specialization and economic development in different parts

of the contemporary world7.2.B.2. Examine how increasing diversity in global societies results from immigration,

settlement, and economic development7.4.A.2. Analyze how scarcity of economic resources affects economic choices in

contemporary world regions7.4.B.2. Analyze the role of government in the economies of contemporary societiesR1.3.4. Uses understanding of the meaning, coherence, validity, and relevancy of ideas to

guide comprehension and make connections within and across texts.Common Core State Standards Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.Standards for the 21st Century Learner 1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real-world situations, and further investigations.

Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students3.0: Use a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration.

Time Frame: Two 50 Minute class periods, additional time may be needed for the presentation of material.

Differentiation: Direct students to use comprehension tools

included in databases, such as: audio read-aloud, labeled reading levels, and embedded dictionaries.

Connect information to the Five Themes of World Cultures.

Allow students to work with partners or groups to complete the presentation

Allow students to choose from a broad list of products to create in order to present the material.

Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory, Reflective, Global Understanding and Analytical Understanding

Notes to the teacher:You will need to make a wallwisher site for students to post their definition of “standard of living”You may want to make copies of the note taking guide for students to record notes. Students should have prior knowledge of economic interdependence, scarcity, specialization, economic diversification, standard of living and the impact of population growth. Last updated: July 2012

Created by Karen Yelito, Social Studies Department Chair & Library Media InternBCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2012, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. The models may be used for educational, non-profit school use only.

All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Lesson module.

1 2 3 654