Social Studies – Lesson Activity Planner: Austin Past and Present
Austin Independent School District
Grade: 8
Unit Length (Number of class periods): 2
Course: U.S. History
Topic: Economics
Required Technology: Austin Past/Present DVD, DVD Player or DVD compatible computer(s), Internet Explorer, Overhead or Epson projector
Optional Technology: Inspiration software
Concept: Markets
Overarching question: How does a market economy work?
Lesson Understandings:
Lesson Questions(s):
What are the characteristics of the Free Enterprise system?
How do businesses use the free enterprise system?
What examples of the free enterprise system do we see in historical and
present-day Austin?
We all like to have money. As you learned in our study of the Revolutionary
War period, once America was free from the British system of mercantilism,
free enterprise took root and American businesses boomed. Free enterprise,
though, isn’t something that just occurred back in the 18 th century. We can
see examples of it everywhere we look. In a system like this, business can be
conducted freely based on the choices of individuals. Government doesn’t
control the system, but only protects and regulates it. In this lesson, we’ll be
seeing how free enterprise was flourishing in places like Austin 100 years
after the Revolutionary war.
TEKS/TAKS
(15)(A) explain why a free enterprise system of economics developed in the new nation
(15)(B) describe the characteristics and the benefits of the U.S. free enterprise system during the 18 th and 19th centuries.
(30)(B) analyze information by…drawing inferences and conclusions.
(32)(A) use problem-solving process to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a
solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution.
Austin Independent School District
Social Studies Curriculum Department
June, 2006
Social Studies – Lesson Activity Planner: Austin Past and Present
Austin Independent School District
Materials:
Austin Past & Present DVD Especially these businesses found on the Geo-Tour
West-Taylor Lime Kiln, Davenport Ranch, Anderson Mill, Broken Spoke, Stanley Store, Victory Grill, Frazetti Store, University of Texas, Schneider Brothers Store,
Railroad, businesses in the Waterloo Compound, Old Bakery, Scholz Garden, KTBC, Paramount Theatre, Lamms Candy (found in biography about Lamm’s creator)
Creating America Textbook page 198
Austin Free Enterprise Mall Handout (attached)
Mall-Walkers Information Sheet (attached)
Preview:
Have students look at the Economics in History feature on page 198. Read through it with them and make sure they understand the free enterprise system as well as the five
main characteristics of the system listed there: Competition, individual property ownership, desire for profit, individual decision making, government protection.
Tell students that they are going to make a free enterprise mall by examining businesses from Austin’s past.
Student activities that support the TEKS/TAKS :
1. Assign each student or group of students a business from the Austin Past & Present DVD. Give them time to read the materials and think about the business they have
been assigned.
2. Give each student a copy of the handout. On the handout, students will, draw a sketch of the business, create a quick advertisement to show how they would compete with
other businesses and answer some questions designed to get them to think about free-enterprise.
3. After the students have finished their handouts, arrange them in a row on a wall or long hallway so that they resemble a “mall”. Let students go “shopping” and fill out a
mall-walkers information sheet. Discuss their responses on this sheet.
Austin Independent School District
Social Studies Curriculum Department
June, 2006
Social Studies – Lesson Activity Planner: Austin Past and Present
Austin Independent School District
Assessment(s):
Completed Mall Handouts
Completed Mall Walker Sheets
Test Question: Give an example of free-enterprise in an Austin business. Make sure you address how this business shows evidence of all five criteria of free-enterprise.
Austin Independent School District
Social Studies Curriculum Department
June, 2006