I had an excellent time creating this lesson plan. I put myself in the place of my student and thought about what I would enjoy doing. I have not conducted the lesson in a classroom, but I will! I’m very interested in seeing how students will respond to a lesson like this.
Enjoy! Emily 
Lesson Title: We’re Going on a Road Trip
Grade Level: 2-5
Goals/Objectives: Students will use economic reasoning skills and knowledge of major economic concepts. They will make informed choices as producers and consumers. Students will be able to identify different forms of money, and recognize that money facilitates the purchase of goods, services, and resources. Students will read and interpret maps by using the map title, map key, direction indicator and symbols.
Ohio Content Standards:
Standard: Geography
Benchmark: A-Use map elements or coordinates to locate physical and human features of North America
Indicator: 3.Read and Interpret maps by using the map title, map key, direction indicator and symbols to answer questions about the local community.
Standard: Economics
Benchmark: B-Explain why entrpreneurship, captial goods, technology, specialization and division of labor are important in the production of goods and services. Indicator: Identify different forms of money used over time, and recognize that money facilitates the purchase of goods, services and resources and enables savings.
Essential Questions:What will students need to know when planning a trip? How will they go about planning a trip? What would happen if there were an unexpected emergency?
Assessment:
Students will be required to give a final destination and accurate directions to their destination. Students will research the cost of taking such a trip. Certain information must be included such as cost of fuel, cost of food, cost of lodging, and cost of entertainment. Students must also determine what an appropriate emergency fund consist of.The students will hand in a detailed list of their costs along with the directions. Students must give a breif itenerary of some of the activities that are available to travelers at their final destination. Students will also hand in an evaluation of their work and the work of their group mates.
Learning Activities:
Students will research a particular place that they would like to visit. This place must have an educational value and could be related to what the class is learning about at the time of this lesson. This place could be historic Williamsburg or Conner Prairie. The students will then have to plot their course to their destination. This will first be done with maps or a road atlas. After students have plotted their course, they can then go to the internet to make sure their directions are the most efficient by using mapquest.com or some similar website.
Students will then have to find out the cost of gas, for the entire trip. They will also have to determine their budget for food, for the entire trip. Students will also need a fund for entertainment, lodging, and emergencies. This will require them to use the internet or travel resources to find out the prices of lodging,of entertainment, and restaurants.
Teaching Strategies:
Students will be instructed as a whole class in the beginning. The teacher will ask the students if they have ever been on a trip. The students will then be asked if they have ever planned a trip by themselves. The students will then be presented with the project and arranged in small groups of 3-5 students, depending upon the overall class size. The students will then collaboratively agree on a trip destination and begin plotting their course. After they have plotted their course, they will have to figure a sum of money to bring with them to be able to pay for the trip.
Accommodations:
Since this is a group activity, all students will be able to work on something. If students have special needs, they will be appropriately placed within a group and they will have a task that they can manage. If students are unable to access any of the resources for research, they will be able to ask for assistance.
If it is too difficult to find out the prices of fuel or lodging, the teacher can have a list of prices available.
Materials and Resources:
Maps for each group
Atlas if needs
Internet
Paper Pencil
Travel Brochures of Historic Places around the country
We’re going on a Road Trip!
Destination:
Total Miles:
Cost of Gas:
Where are you Eating?
Cost of Food:
Where are you staying?
Cost of Lodging:
What are some things you are going to do when you get there?
Cost of Entertainment:
Emergency Fund:
In three to four sentences, briefly describe your destination and its historical importance to the United States.
1(Not so good)
2(Should have done more)
3(Did what needed to be done, but not the best work done)
4(Pretty Good)
5(Awesome)
Did you do everything you were supposed to?
1 2 3 4 5
Did you help your other group members when they became stuck?
1 2 3 4 5
Rate each of your group members overall performance using the number ratings from above. If you have any comments, write them down.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
