Robyn+Eshelman

Click here to access [|lesson plan] that will help elementary school students learn about scarcity in the world around us.
 * __First Grade__ [[image:http://www.netweed.com/prohiphop/graf/scarcity.jpg width="405" height="328" align="right"]] **

**Lesson Plan Summary** This lesson plan will make the stdents be more aware of what scarcity is, and how to deal with it if it is a problem. It involves group effort to decide what to do depending on how many objects are in the bag they are given. The students will learn how to divide the objects fairly between the group, and what to do when they do not have enough objects to divide between them. **Goals** To have students become aware that scarcity requires people to make choices when trying to satisfy their unlimited wants.

**Objectives**
 * Determine a way to distribute the goods.
 * Reach consensus on how to distribute the goods.
 * Understand the consequences that a choice has.


 * Procedure **
 * 1) Before the class starts, get 5-7 paper bags and put different amounts of an item in each bag. The items can include peanuts, gum, candy, fruit, and other items. In bag 1, one item should go in, bag 2 should have two items and so on.
 * 2) Divide the class into groups of 4 to 6 students.
 * 3) Discuss with the class what might be in the bags.
 * 4) Have each group select a recorder, time keeper, speaker and material person.
 * 5) The group recorder will need to fill out the Distribution Handout as the group moves through the questions.
 * 6) Hand out the bags. **Do Not Open** at this time.
 * 7) Give the groups 10-15 minutes to discuss, after they open the bags, several methods for distribution of the bags' contents and finally how they would distribute the contents among the group members in a way that is acceptable to all.
 * Evaluation**
 * 1) Discuss the answers to questions on the [|distribution handout] for each group.
 * 2) Have each group discuss the final method of distribution of the goods.
 * 3) Give the groups five minutes to discuss the idea of how scarcity affects their daily life then discuss the effects as a class.

**//Claire Stave://** This lesson plans sounds enjoyable for the students because of the surprise hiding in the bags. The overall lesson is very effective, but I believe they will need a little instruction on what possibilities there are for sharing the item(s), which could be included by the teacher. The group with just one item may have some questions if they have never known this type of scarcity (which is to be expected with any scarcity lesson plan). Also, it might be fun to have the groups trade bags after one round so that the group who had the bag with the highest number of items could experience having fewer items, and vice-versa. Overall, with a few additions and alterations, I would enjoy using this lesson plan with my own students, and I think it is a great one for the first grade level.
 * Lesson Plan Comments**


 * //Kayla Macadam:// The kids would really like the surprise aspect of this lesson plan, it would get them excited about it initially which is really important. The discussion questions at the end are great too - they sum up the lesson but it's not too much or too precise for young kids to complete. One thing about this plan is that the kids would definitely need a lot of guidance throughout the process, but I guess that that's true for any first grade classroom. **


 * //Danielle Booth://** This needs a summary of the lesson plan in addition to the lesson plan link that is already provided. That way it will be more clear what the lesson plan is about. I also think that more detail could be provided about the lesson plan in general about what questions the students might be asked in discussion. There are a lot of really good ideas here, but I am a little unclear about what the goals of the lesson plan are, as well as how the idea will be implemented in the classroom. I really enjoy the idea, but a little more guidance could be provided.