Period 6: What is Economics? Day 6

I talked today about booking flights to Europe because of a company mixing up my ticket order for the Men's Basketball Gold Medal game at the London Olympics. It worked out. Eventually, I had these seats with my brother for that game (this picture was taken from our row) and I had a lot of free credit for flights. Good times. Satisfied consumer/customer. :-)

Hi everyone,

Hopefully today was a nice and easy day of review. Read on for some links that might help you study for the Chapter 1 test, on Friday.

Soundtrack: “The Hardest Part” by Coldplay. Chosen for today because the hardest part of the chapter 1 test should be reviewing - the test itself should be a breeze. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/20/13:

Warm Up

Finish Chapter 1 Review

Study for Chapter 1 Test

Homework: Finish Chapter 1 review packet. Read the blog. Bring 3 x 5 card of notes for test if you completed the Learning Targets HW on time. Study up!

Warm Up: Today's warm up question (#5 in your notebook) was: Why are seat belts required in cars, but not in school buses?

Plenty of great responses and discussion here. This is the somewhat lengthy reasoning I found for the answer: ThinkGeek.com - Why are There No Seatbelts on School Buses?

I think it is crazy that you have to sit three to a row on the bus to come to school! The times are a changing, I guess. The high schools in Portland Public don't even use buses at all.

Finish Chapter 1 Review: As it sounds, I had the class continue to work on the Chapter 1 review packet, which will be due next class. We will go over it together next class, before the test (I will give you plenty of time to do the test). In case you missed class or somehow forgot the review packet, here it is to download:

Google Drive: Chapter 1 Review Packet

There are some questions on the review packet that you do not have to answer - a couple of the crossword terms I couldn't even figure out, myself! Just try your best, please. This will help on the chapter 1 test, because it will be on the same exact terms.

Study for Chapter 1 Test: This was going to be a section of class for writing out note cards and studying, but much of the class did not finish the review. Just in case you would like to prepare at home, here is the Chapter 1 PowerPoint on the learning targets:

Google Drive: Chapter 1 Learning Targets PowerPoint

All good? Let me know if I can clear anything up or otherwise help you get ready for the test on Friday! It will be multiple choice/scantron, with two short answer questions. See you on Friday!

Period 6: What is Economics? Day 5

To go with the air travel theme of the soundtrack, here is a picture on the roof of Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, that I took in December of 2011. The major airports in Asia are like an entirely different world than our airports in the United States.

Hi everyone,

Last class before a three day weekend! I hope you rest up and come back ready for next week. We will review the Chapter 1 packet on Wednesday and take the Chapter 1 test on Friday.

Soundtrack: “Paris, Tokyo” by Lupe Fiasco. Chosen because tomorrow, I am going to go visit the Boeing Airplanes 737 factory in Seattle area. Air travel is a huge part of the world economy! Lyrics here. 

AGENDA 2/15/13:

Warm Up

TED Talks – Tim Jackson

What Do You Want?

Chapter 1 Review

Homework: Read the blog, keep reviewing the learning targets.

Warm Up: The question for today (warm up #4) was: Why does women’s clothing always button from the left, while men’s clothing always buttons from the right?

As usual, Avi brought the heat with a possible reason (apparently in a documentary). Here is the somewhat convoluted (and possibly made up) answer.

TED Talks - Tim Jackson: We watched the first 10 minutes or so of this video. I had students take notes on familiar terms from the Chapter 1 learning targets. What was he saying about scarcity? About the Want-Satisfaction Chain?



What Do You Want?: Next, I had the class think of something quantifiable (a good or service) that they want. What were the factors of production to make that item? I asked you to write a short response imagining everything that went into making something that you want.

Chapter 1 Review: For the rest of class, I had students quietly work on the rest of the Chapter 1 review packet. I will give you a little time to finish this next class, then we will review it together during that class before the Chapter 1 test on Friday. Sound like a plan? Again, if you somehow do not have the packet to work on, here it is to download: Google Drive: Chapter 1 Review Packet.
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Have a great weekend! Let me know if there is anything I can help you understand better with the Chapter 1 learning targets.

Period 6: What is Economics? Day 4

I talked about football uniforms changing as a form of marketing, or "perceived obsolescence" today in class. As a fan of the Oregon Ducks, I am VERY aware of all the crazy different uniform combinations that are used! This picture is of three eventual NFL players in 2006: 

Jonathan Stewart, Jeremiah Johnson, and Patrick Chung.  

Dear class,

I need to find a stool or something to sit on, because all of this standing and talking with the class is killing my back! I wonder if Fred Meyer would start giving my family furniture coupons if I go buy one from them. :-) On to the recap!

Soundtrack: “Can’t Buy Me Love” by The Beatles. Chosen because money isn't everything. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/13/13:

Warm Up

Finish The Story of Stuff

Chapter 1 Review

Homework: Read the blog, keep reviewing learning targets. To repeat: the Chapter 1 review packet is NOT homework. We will keeping working on it together next class.

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Warm Up: Today should be Warm Up #3 in your economics notebook. The question was: Why is milk often sold the farthest from the doors of supermarkets?

The first answer in class was pretty much right on the money. I typed out "Most people drink milk and need to buy it, at the back because people have to go through different products/sales/aisles so it increases chance they will spend more money." 

A more thorough explanation can be found here: Why is milk at the back of the store?

Finish The Story of Stuff: We were about halfway through "The Story of Stuff" after last class. If you missed part or all of it, here it is (we started at about 9:30 in today):

As you were watching the film, I had you note the five stages of consumption that are talked about:

Extraction --> Production --> Distribution --> Consumption --> Disposal

After the film, I had the class respond to these three questions, then we had a class discussion. If you missed this part of class, you need to complete the answers to these questions in your notebook:

1) What is your first reaction to this video?

2) Can you think of an example of planned or perceived obsolescence in your own life?

3) What was the most debatable or interesting "fact" that the woman uses?

I really enjoyed the responses here. Thank you!

Chapter 1 Review: To start getting ready for the Chapter 1 test (probably next week), I passed out a review packet and went through parts of the first two pages on the overhead. If you missed class, or lost your packet, you can download and print another one here (I have a few extra copies in the room, as well):

Google Drive: Chapter 1 Review Packet

Again, this is NOT homework. I want to go through it together so that we are all on the same page before the chapter test.

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That was it for today! Hopefully the terms in the Chapter 1 learning targets are starting to make more and more sense. Please let me know if you are confused at all! See you on Friday!