October - December 2013

We are using an internal program now for my students called myUSM. Mr. M's blogs will still be active and be updated with content and lessons from time to time. But no daily posts for the time being.


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Monday, October 7th and Tuesday, October 8th

Monday, October 7th:

• Mr. M was out of school on a training trip to Junior Achievement. We are taking a trip through their Finance Park in November. Mr. M was getting it all set up!
• The students performed the skit titled - Three Brothers Coffee
• The skit introduced why and how companies expand.

Tuesday, October 8th:

• Mr. M reviewed all the lessons so far by name to point out what we have accomplished.
• Main lessons of the day were:
• Why do Companies Sell Stock?
• Why do people invest?
• How do you make money in stocks?
• We also began to look at how to read a stock quote...

Friday, October 4th, 2013

Our Agenda for this Friday was:

• Collect and discuss the Double Your Money assignment. EC for kids with the correct answer!
• Mr. M also handed out progress reports.
• Students were given a copy of two charts - the Millionaire Chart and the Chart of Stock Market History since 1925. Mr. M led a discussion on both of these - pointing out that, in the long run, stock market performance is up. Knowing this then made more sense for the Millionaire Chart.
• Students began a second exercise on Watching Your Money Grow!

Watching Money Grow!

Thursday, October 3rd!

Okay, our agenda today was:

• Lesson #2 - When is it a good time to start thinking about investing in yourself?
• Joe B reading
• T/F quiz on the reading
• Discussion of the main points in the reading
• Lesson #3 - The 8th Wonder of the World
• Two videos (on myUSM) to help introduce the power of compound interest
• Discussion
• Mr. M example on board
• Worked through the beginning of the Double Your Money assignment

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013

The agenda on this shortened schedule day was:

• Review the online quiz from the night before. Students asked questions.
• 1st Stock Lesson!
• Uncle Mort's Money - students downloaded the copy and read 
• Journal Entry #2 - What was unwise about Uncle Mort's decision to stash all that cash around the house?
• Students gave their ideas on why it was unwise. Mr. M pinpointed two from their ideas.
• A. Bad things can happen when money is kept around the house
• B. Money doesn't grow - misses out on the opportunity to have it grow through "investing"!
• Viewed the youtube clip - Million Dollar Mattress Thrown Away!  (Case in point)

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

For today:

• The students were allowed to play the Gazillionaire simulation.
• Mr. M met with students 1-1 about their progress in class.

Monday, September 28th, 2013

Our plan today was:

• Some classes finished "Thunderdome" the supply and demand challenge
• Tidied up notes on Supply and Demand
• Mr. M introduced the supply and demand simulation - Gazillionaire!

Thursday, September 26th - Friday, September 27th

This was our agenda over the last two days:

Thursday:

• We began with a T/F quiz on the Calling All Babysitters reading. 
• Discussion of the reading and MR. M introducing the principles of supply and demand. 
• Coke and Swedish Fish activity - Mr. M demonstrated supply and demand with this activity.
• Wrote down the definitions of supply and demand - began to organize our notes

Friday:

• Big homework assignment the night before over supply and demand. 
• To discuss the homework we did the "Thunderdome" activity! 
• Based on the movie "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" the idea was for two students to enter the arena and one leaves!  Divided class into groups.  Students faced off against each other with Mr. M firing questions at them. Those that got them right - lived! Those that did not had to choose their fate. Fates included:  Gulag (wearing a giant head down the hall), Glorious Leader, Shoe Head, Hox Bockey, Splish Splash, Ms. Abraham is my Best Friend, among others.....
• Lots of fun!

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

Unit 1 Test today!

Tuesday, September 24th, 2013

Plan for the day:

Began with a review activity since the test is tomorrow.
Allowed students to continue their Zapitalism simulations. Others could ask questions about the test.