http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/02/news/economy/unemployment_rate_obama_election/index.htm?iid=SF_E_
LN
Grade Level: High School Economics Class
National Standards:
2.1.6 Unemployment – Analyze the character of different types of unemployment including frictional,
structural, and cyclical.
2.1.7 Economic Indicators – Using a number of indicators, such as GDP, per capita GDP, unemployment
rates, and Consumer Price Index, analyze the characteristics of business cycles, including the
characteristics of peaks, recessions, and expansions.
2.1.9 American Economy in the World – Analyze the changing relationship between the American
economy and the global economy including, but not limited to, the increasing complexity of American
economic activity (e.g., outsourcing, off-shoring, and supply-chaining) generated by the expansion of the global
economy. (National Geography Standard 11, p. 206)
Objectives:
Students will understand the effects of unemployment.
Students will understand the different kinds of unemployment.
Students will understand the difference between recession and depression.
Students will realize the affect of unemployment on public opinion.
Assessment: Students will be assessed by completing an exit slip
Activity
The Teacher Will…
The Student Will…
Duration
Hook
Clips will be shown about
unemployed people who have
been trying to get jobs. This will
create a sense of reality and
sympathy among students.
Watch video and participate in class
discussion.
10 minutes
Read the article and answer the
assigned questions given to their
group. Participate in group
discussions and understand the
connection between the article and
the class.
15 minutes
Discussion will be given on how
business cycles have affected this.
Article
Divide the class into six groups,
each group getting a copy of the
article. The teacher will wait
until all groups have read the
article and then ask questions to
follow up on the article on how
this applies to economics.
Students will learn how to connect
modern articles with “school” and
will be able to understand the
universality of social studies.
Discussion
Students will be asked the main
ideas about the article and why
they think it was assigned.
Students will be asked to connect
this with a past event(The Great
Students will discuss the various
types of unemployment. The
difference between Recession and
Unemployment and how
government spending can affect this
20 minutes
Depressions).
Discussion about different types
of unemployment and how a
recession should be differentiated
from a depression.
will be discussed.
Connection between public
opinion and economy should be
made.
Wrap Up/Exit
Slip
Students will be asked to fill out
an exit slip that tests them on a
type of unemployment. Students
will then be asked to defend
whether they believe the US is
currently in a recession or a
depression.
Students will fill out an exit slip
Discussion Questions:
What is unemployment?
How is unemployment measured?
What are the different types of unemployment?
What is the difference between a recession and a depression?
How to government actions affect this?
Are we currently in a recession or a depression? Defend.
Materials needed:
Note cards, Copies of article, one for every table, exit slip
5 minutes