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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?
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ClipArt
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Build Background Knowledge
First, you will need to develop your understanding about
standard of living:
 Read about Standard of Living (World Book)
 Watch this video explaining all about GDP, GDP per capita,
and its relationship to economic growth and standard of living.
 Write your own definition of standard of living. Your teacher
may create a Padlet for sharing students’ definitions.
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
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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.
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Service
Industry
Mining
Forestry
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.
Manufacturing
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Transportation
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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).
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To learn more about standard of living and economic
development, check out these resources.
 BrainPop: Population Growth *Click once on the BrainPop
icon here to authenticate, then open this link.
 ABCNews: Our Crowded Planet
 The Science of Feeding an Expanding Population
(Defined STEM video)
Port in Morocco
Small Market
in Tunisia
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 Video: Economics of Feeding a Growing Planet
 Kenya: National Geographic
 Nigeria: National Geographic
 CultureGrams: 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 *Click once on
the BrainPop icon here to authenticate, then open this link.
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BCPS Curriculum
7th Grade: KSI-D, evaluate the degree to which economic development in selected African nations can improve
the standard of living
Maryland State Curriculum
7.4.A.4. Compare the levels of specialization and economic development in different parts of the
contemporary world
7.2.B.2. Examine how increasing diversity in global societies results from immigration, settlement, and
economic development
7.4.A.2. Analyze how scarcity of economic resources affects economic choices in contemporary world regions
7.4.B.2. Analyze the role of government in the economies of contemporary societies
R1.3.4. 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 Students
3.0: Use a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration.
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Time Frame: Two 50 Minute class periods, additional time may be
needed for the presentation of material.
Differentiation:
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Direct students to use comprehension tools included in
databases, such as: audio read-aloud, labeled reading levels,
and embedded dictionaries.
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Connect information to the Five Themes of World Cultures.
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Allow students to work with partners or groups to complete
the presentation
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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:
 Create a Padlet wall 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: August 2015
Created by Karen Yelito, Social Studies Department Chair & Library Media Intern
BCPS 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.