FREE Online Classroom Tools
LOGINORREGISTER FOR FREE
HotChalk
LessonPlansPage.com
Math Language Arts Science Social Studies Art Computers & Internet Music P.E. & Health Other Multi-Disciplinary
HotChalk.com EdScope, L.L.C. EduBanners.com Learn PC Hardware @ SitesForTeachers @ Teach-nology Education Master's Teacher Magazines Teaching Jobs About This Site How To Use Contact Info Advertising Info Educational Links Having Problems?
Online Degrees Teacher's Guide
Bookmark and Share
Join LPP Newsletter:  
Search This Site:  
Creating a Community Based on Real Situations
A SPECIAL INVITATION FOR TEACHERS... LEARN MORE CLOSE

Concordia University Online

LessonPlansPage.com would like to take a moment to let you know about Concordia University's new Master’s Degrees in Education that you can complete online in just one year!

Available Master's Degrees in Education include:

  • Curriculum & Instruction: Reading
  • Curriculum & Instruction: Methods & Curriculum
  • Curriculum & Instruction: English to Speakers
    of Other Languages
  • Educational Leadership

These programs can help you:

  • Open the door to a variety of school leadership career opportunities like higher education teaching, department chair, ELL consultant, literacy coach, or curriculum coordinator
  • Complete your degree in one year, on your schedule,
    from the comfort of your home
  • A Master's Degree could mean an automatic salary increase in your school district!

Find Out More!




A national university system with 10 campuses throughout the United States, Concordia was founded more than 100 years ago and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
CLOSE
Printable Version for your convenience!

Title - Creating a Community Based on Real Situations
By - Julie Kuzma
Primary Subject - Social Studies
Secondary Subjects - Other
Grade Level - 3-5
Civics and financial situations can be difficult for a child to understand. This is a helpful, real life unit to help them truly grasp the concept.

I begin the unit by telling them I will "pay" the students $20 a day for coming to work. We discuss laws, consequences and taxes and develop our own town. For example, going to the bathroom when it is not a break time is $2 or playing on the computer is $5. We, as a class, decide on all three of topics I just spoke of.

We have a mock election where the students create a campaign, act out debates with questions from the class and vote for the mayor. Once this is decided, we take names for the name of our town and vote on it.

Each day a new student is given the job of banker, this builds constant Math skills since they are in charge of paying each employee every day and making change when necessary.

The students are also responsible for paying a county tax. The chosen amount this year was $6. All of this money goes into separate fund which can be spent on class activities, such as extra recess=$200 or watching a 20 minute 'fun' movie=$400. This is another activity which the class must vote on. I do explain to the students that as adults we must pay taxes and this money goes to building schools and creating better roadways. If we don't pay it, we are punished. If the students choose not to pay it, they loose their recess time, which costs $5 and pay the tax, $6.

I set up a robbery so we can go to court. The two students involved in the crime choose a lawyer and the other students will be the jury. My job is to be the judge and oversee the process.

Along with all of the areas involved in this unit, we discuss the adult aspect of this and how it works outside of our classroom.

At the end of the unit, the basic assessment will be a test of thier knowledge on civics. Throughout out the whole process I am sure to use terms that we, as adults, use so when its time for the test it is not foreign knowledge.

E-Mail Julie Kuzma!

Click to visit other good teacher sites
Click here for more great teacher sites