Creating a Business

2007-12-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

Nick Dudley
Theme: Cruisin USA
Grade: 6
Title: In the Biz- In this lesson students will have a chance to create their own business. The lesson will begin by looking at William H. Laird and his lumbering business he owned in Winona. This excercise will give students a chance to see a former business in their community. After discussing Mr. Laird's business students will begin to work on their own business as a group.
Time: 45 minutes

Materials/Resources: Internet, Magazines, Store Ads, PowerPoint, Dream Weaver, William H. Laird photo(transparency), Laird Norton & Co. advertisement (transparency, The Laird & Norton Interests, and William H. Laird biography.

Goals: The students will continue to work in their groups from the previous lesson and will work together to create a business. Students will have to budget and see how they spend their money and also understand how to make their business successful in the market economy.

Objectives: Students will learn about William H. Laird and his lumber business in Winona. Students will look at how businesses grow and evolve to become stronger and more competitive. Owning a business is no small or easy task and students will discover that finding a place that is affordable is difficult. Procedure:

1)Introductory Experience: 5 minutes: Ask students questions such as what are some of the companies or businesses in the community? How does the business make money? What does the business sell? Do any of the student’s parents own a business? Look for questions that will get them thinking about business and how it works.
2) 10 minutes: Give half the class the article discussing William H. Laird and his biography. Hand out to the other half The Laird & Norton Interests. Give each group adequate time to read each section. Have students give oral responses to what they read. Who is William H. Laird? What was his company? Did they have difficulty with any terms? How did they transport the logs? What would it be like to see logs floating down the Mississippi now days?
3) Have an overhead of both the picture of William Laird and of his advertisement. Show this to the class to give them more of a personal touch.

4) Developmental Experiences: After concluding conversation and questions about William Laird begin to get students thinking about a business they would like to create. Have students write a few ideas of what kind of business they would like to have. Have them think of ideas such as…Where would it go? What would it sell? When would it be open? Who would be their target consumers?
5) 25 minutes: Begin working on the worksheet to put the business together. Group should be working as a team so not everyone should be on the computer researching some can begin working on the layout of the website or the Power Point.

6) Culminating Experiences: 5 minutes: Return to groups and discuss what final touches will have to be finished.
7) The following day students will be presenting their website along with the Power Point.
8) Conclude lesson by answering any questions or concerns students are having with the beginning of their unit. Ask around for a few ideas of businesses that are being created.

Assessment: Check for understand by walking around and see what ideas students are having. Ask to find out if they are having any problems while working on this assignment. Students will also be assessed on their PowerPoint or website that they will create.

IN THE BIZ
Name_______________
Instructions: The following is a list of what goes into creating a business. Decide as a group how you will achieve each question to help form your business. STUDENTS WILL NOT HAVE A BUDGET BUT MUST KEEP TRACK OF ALL EXPENSES
What are you selling or serving?
How will you get the money to start up your business?
Where is the business located how does location affect how what and how you will be selling something? Find an actual business location and put it in your Power Point. Will you buy it, rent, or rent to own? Will your business be a large building; does it require a lot of storage? Can it be a small stand in the mall? Can it be only on the web?
What supplies will you need to invest in for your business (computer or tills)
What Physical features will help or hurt the business? (Example if you are opening a ski resort you will need hills or mountains)
Is the business based on service (Auto mechanic), tourism (resort), retail (American Eagle), private (investor)?
How many people will work for your company, do you even need workers? How much will you pay them (commission, salary, or hourly)?
Training-what will you or your workers be expected to already know?
Inventory- are you buying from a supplier, creating your own, or selling for someone else?
Transportation- will you be in a plan a lot is there a company car?
Advertisement- How will you get word out of your new business and create some things to be demonstrated during the class.
Create a slogan for your company (just do it)

2007-12-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

1. Theme: Cruisin USA

2. Title: Meeting up with the Governor and Friends-Students will have a chance to look at documents of the past and connect them with today. Students will look at a letter Hubert H. Humphrey sent to Winona along with discovering who he was. Students will have a chance to get an introduction to some of the Senators and Representatives of the United States.

Grade-6

3. Materials: Computer Lab, Social Studies book, almanacs, and teacher’s copy of “The Book of the States” 2006 edition—Book contains hard-to-find information from each state and territory in easy-to-read summaries, tables, and charts. Show the transparency of Governor Hubert H. Humphrey’s letter to Winona about the upgrade of a Post Office and another transparency of bidding for the job. Picture of the inside of the old Post Office.

4. Goals: Students will know who what the states tendencies are and which way it tends to vote. Also student will have an understanding of their government.

5. Objectives: The student will report on the Governor of their state along with two house representatives. The student will also find government buildings, monuments, and symbols that will be displayed in a PowerPoint slide show.

6. Procedures:
a. Introductory Experiences:
10 minutes
-Begin lesson by showing the document Governor Hubert H. Humphrey sent to Winona discussing what he wrote to the town. Ask students what they know about the Governor. Show them that writing to your representative is a great way to gain support and achieve goals you have set. Show the bidding sheet that states that Laird Norton Co. of Winona will be doing the interior work on the Post Office. This will tie into the preceding lesson of In the Biz and shows a connection between the Post Office and people within the community we have already discussed. Finally show the interior of the old Post Office.
-Write on the board a few terms including: Senator-Senate-House of Representatives-Representative
-Students will then come to the board and write in what they know about each term already-(MASS BRAINSTORM)
-Discuss as a class who is the Governor of Minnesota
-Discuss as a class are the Representatives of the State
-explain why different states have more or less
-electoral college
-Discuss why states have all have same number of Senators

b. Developmental Experiences:
1. 5 minutes-
2. Go over the terms and get ready to break into groups that we have been using during the unit.
3. 15 minutes- Groups will continue to work with the same regions as they have all unit. Since each region has roughly 7 states and you are in groups of 5 each student will have their own state.
a. Find the state’s Governor—A few biography points such as how long they have been in the government. Also look at which party they belong to and describe what that parties beliefs/forum are
b. 2 of the state’s House of Representatives—A few biography points such as how long they have been in the government. Also look at which party they belong to and describe what that parties beliefs/forums are
c. If possible find out which way they have voted on a few bills\
d. WEBSITE LINKS TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES ON HANDOUT
4. 15 minutes- Find key points of interest in the state
a. Find the Capital building of the state
b. Pictures of any large parks in the state—State Parks or National Parks
c. Find 3- States attractions
d. Find 3-Statues
e. All information will be put into a PowerPoint slide show where students will present information about their state and government officials included.

c. Culminating Experiences:

1. If time permits students will begin presenting their slideshow to the class
2. Close the class asking students questions specific to their state to see how they are different.

Assessments:
Formative: Students will present their PowerPoint to the class and show what qualities their state contains.

GRADING RUBRIC FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Knows the Senator and biography (5pts)
Knows party affiliation (5pts)

Knows State Representatives and biographies (10 pts)
Knows party affiliation (10 pts)

Capital Builiding (5pts)

3 State Attractions(5pts)

3 Statues (5pts)

TERMS-PASS OUT DURING DISCUSSION

Senate:

House of Representatives:

State Representatives:

Senators:

Governors:

(Minnesota) House of Representatives (Find out about your individual state-DON’T ALL LOOK AT MINNESOTA):

Independent Party:
Democrat:

Republican:

Bills:

http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/stover.htm#over

http://www.senate.gov/

http://www.house.gov/

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Creating a Business