The Prototype: An Exercise in Role Play and Simulation Learning

1. The Prototype: An Exercise in Role Play and Simulation Learning John Miliziano Global School Project The University of South Florida Social Studies Education Program http://www.coedu.usf.edu/GlobalSchoolsProject

2. Do you recognize the following names? • Ruth Handler • Richard James • James Wright • Dr. Lonnie Johnson • D.F. Duncan Sr.

3. What do these people have in common? • Ruth Handler - Barbie • Richard James - Slinky • James Wright - Silly Putty • Dr. Lonnie Johnson - Super Soaker • D.F. Duncan Sr. – Yo-Yo

4. Economic Systems • What is an economic system? • An economic system is is the way people in a society organize the making and distributing of goods and services. • Every economic system must answer three basic questions: what to produce, how to produce it, and whom to produce it form.

5. The objective of our lesson today is to create a product that people will want to buy. As you present your products to the class, you will answer the basic economic questions.

6. Today you will become an inventor • We will form production teams. • Each team must design a product using scare resources. • Each team will answer the three basic economic questions: what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom to produce it for. • Each team will present their product to the class.

7. What resources do you have to work with? • Newspapers • Scissors • A Stapler • A Ruler • 2 Markers

8. Presentation Rubric* * Rubric can be expanded based on grade level

9. Closing • Students will complete a writing prompt: Which of the products presented in class can be marketed globally. Explain what changes might be necessary to sell these products in global markets. Use the economic terms learned in this lesson in your response.

13. Economic Lesson Plan Ideas and Resources • www.learner.org http://www.learner.org/libraries/socialstudies/k_2/gonzalez/index.html Making Bread Together • http://fffl.councilforeconed.org/ Florida Council on Economic Education