Students will think about their role in the local economy. Students will develop a plan to give public input into the local economy. Introduction to topic Tell students that we want to do a lesson on the local economy because they have told us over and over again that this is their greatest concern. Tell students that they shouldn t expect to have the answers to questions we pose. Relate this lesson to citizenship and democracy.
Students fill out the survey and share their thoughts with their neighbor.
Follow-up with a group discussion. Brainstorm Have students brainstorm the names of factories that have closed in New Bedford during the last ten years. In our classes, students generated the names of about fifteen factories. The tax rate and the cost of doing business for companies in New Bedford is higher than the rate somewhere else. Imagine that all the people who are responsible for the present economic situation are sitting in front of this class.