Scope Site Lesson Plan s4

Third Grade Economic Development

Lesson 11

Title: The Assembly Line

Grade Level: Third

Unit of Study: Grade Economic Development

GLCE: E1.0.4 Describe how entrepreneurs combine natural, human and capital resources to produce goods and services in Michigan. E1.0.1 Explain how scarcity, opportunity costs, and choices affect what is produced and consumed in Michigan. E2.0.1 Using a Michigan example, describe how specialization leads to increased interdependence.

Abstract: Students will use an assembly line to produce cards to understand production and specialization.

Key Concepts: production model, interdependence, specialization, assembly line, scarcity, opportunity cost, natural resources, human resources, and capital resources

Sequence of Activities: (approximately two 30 minute sessions) 1. Introduce the production model. The production model combines natural resources + human and capital resources to produce goods and services. 2. Introduce Henry Ford as inventor of the moving assembly line in the production of cars. (Optional information included) 3. Read the book The Night Henry Ford Met Santa by Carol Hagen. This fiction book suggests Santa took Henry to his factory where Henry witnessed Santa’s elves constructing toy trains in an assembly line in response to Henry’s and Edsel’s Christmas letters. The non-fiction note at the end reveals the truth about the meat packing plant. Henry Ford saw an assembly line in reverse in a meat packing plant in Chicago, IL where the butchers hung the meat on a line and cut their specific cut off and then passed it to the next butcher. 4. Split students into two groups. One group will make cards by themselves and one group will use assembly line format. Group making cards individually should have supplies to make 12 to 15 cards (same as assembly line group). Neatness counts! 5. Move assembly line students into a circle or long line to form an assembly line. Have supplies for 12 to 15 cards. For approximately 12 students in the assembly line…(for more students, add cutting flower tops.) 1. One student folding 8 X 11 white paper in half for the card 2. One student drawing flower top on 4” square yellow paper 3. One student drawing stem with leaf on 2 X 3 green paper 4. Two students cutting out the yellow flower 5. Two students cutting out the green stem and leaf

Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project Third Grade Economic Development

6. One student gluing stem on card (Remind to glue on the correct side of card) 7. One student gluing flower top on card 8. One student writing “Have a Nice Day!” on front of card 9. One student writing “Made in the USA.” on the back of the card 10. One student inspecting the cards 6. Students will work until all of the cards are complete. A timer may be used to help demonstrate the effectiveness of the assembly line. 7. Group discussion of the assembly line should include amount of cards completed by each group, neatness of finished product, and specialization of the job each student performed “I became good at gluing the stems!” 8. As students became “specialists” at their job, they will need less help and be independent at their job. Relate this to production “specialization” becoming “interdependent.” 9. Students should discuss how natural, human, and capital resources were discussed in the story. 10. Group discussion should also include how Henry Ford’s costumers were scarce “few people could afford the expensive cars” and how opportunity cost may have been a factor for Henry Ford or his costumers.

Connections:

English Language Arts The Night Henry Ford Met Santa by Carol Hagen

Mathematics

Instructional Resources:

Equipment/Manipulative

Student Resources

Teacher Resources White, yellow, and green construction paper for flower cards, scissors, glue Web site about assembly line and Henry Ford http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/ford.html Another Web site about assembly line and Henry Ford http://www.sos.state.mi.us/history/museum/explore/museums/hismus/1900- 75/erlyauto/assembly.html The Night Henry Ford Met Santa by Carol Hagen

Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project