Throughout this semester, a personal goal of mine is to clean up my lesson templates and make them more attractive. I will be providing extra credit to students who help me design these templates.

The first thing I want to beautify is my Sculpt & Tell Slides.

Requests:
The first slide must be the title/instruction page.
The second slide must be the example section.
The slides need to be updated to reflect the words "Sculpt" and "Tell" at the top of each slide-- not sketch.
A new color palette/theme should be applied to the slides. The orange and white are simple but boring. The colors can be anything but make sure it is easy on the eyes, not distracting, and the information put on the slides can be seen.
Replace the icons at the top of the slide with more updated icons. 
You will only need to submit three slides: Title/Instructions, Example, and an Empty slide. Submit your finished project to this assignment page.

This assignment is for students who do not show up/participate in the Congressional Hearing. It will be the day of finals, which is the final week of May. If you need extra credit, you can do this if you also attend the Congressional Hearing. Please use the Google document that I provided to write your response; do not submit outside documents.

Welcome to the end of the beginning! As you guys are finishing the last step of high school, I wish to congratulate all of you on making it to this point. We will be reflecting on our high school experiences and setting our sights on our lives in the future. 

On the front of the pennant, you will illustrate your plans for the future. 
What college are you going into? What major?
What Trade/Service school are you going to?
What job/career are you going into?
Taking a gap year and traveling?
On the back of the pennant, you will answer the following questions:
Give a brief description of what you illustrated on your pennant.
To what degree did you enjoy your time at King/Drew? What was your favorite part?
What were your opinions of this class specifically? What should I continue to do or do differently in the future?
What concrete goal are you going to commit to for the future? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
What advice do you give to future seniors?
What is your personal email that you will use in the future?
All of your pennants will be kept up for display next year, with your advice given to my next set of seniors. Afterward, your pennants will be put into storage for 10 years. At the end of the 10 years, I will be sending you an email with a picture of your pennant, checking in with you guys, and reflecting on our new experiences. It has been an honor to be your teacher. 

Please feel free to email me ([email protected]) or text me (3126590720) if you ever need advice or support through college and beyond. Ultimately, my goal is to provide support and help all of you build lives you are proud of. Instragram: PrestonBecker

Write 1-2 paragraphs explaining your vision for the future.

Please write down your name and where you are going to go after high school in the Excel sheet attached.

Over the semester, we will be doing an investing simulation through the website Investopedia.

Here is the login information to join our investing session: 
Game Name: King Drew Investing Competition 2025
Password: 2023-2024

For full credit, make sure to fill out the class excel sheet by end of Sunday. In the excel sheet, you must put the value of your account at the end of the week and write down what you invested in.

Today is the day we figure out if you are ready to be an independent adult! Your goal today is to create a budget for yourself and see if you can survive on your paycheck. There are multiple components that you need to complete for this assignment:
1. The Budgeting Worksheet: This is the document where you will gather all your numbers of your bills and money coming in. Ideally, this is what all adults should be doing to make sure they are meeting their financial goals. 
2. Shopping Lists: This worksheet is a breakdown of your food/personal items. Fill it out with approximate prices. You will then put your total onto your budgeting worksheet.
3. Budgeting for Success PowerPoint/Slides: You will input the information you gathered into a presentation. This will help evaluate if you successfully budgeted. Please decorate your slides, add photos, and change the theme.

For today's activity, we are going to be making baseball-inspired trading cards on key economic influencers throughout history.

You will choose one person/organization that has affected either the U.S. or global economy since 2016. Think inventors, politicians, heads of state, economists, government officials, activists, unions, etc.

For example, I will be doing one on Bernie Sanders. 
On your baseball card, you need to include the following things:
1. Name of person/organization (on front)
2. Picture (on front) 
3. Years actively influencing the economy-- not birth/death years (on front)
4. What contributions did they make to the economy? On who/what? (on back)
5. What accomplishments did they have? What did they not accomplish that they wanted to (on back)?
6. How did their country/world change as a result of their actions? Include at least one Statistic/Data Point (on back).

In the wake of Teacher Appreciation Week and the rapid end to our year, let us show our appreciation for each other!

Pick one of the options listed in the assignment.

Key Terms:
Custom Unions
EU
NAFTA
WTO
OPEC

For each program you pick, write a response about:
1. How does the program relate to you
2. What is the biggest advantage of the program
3. Describe the impact the program has on Americans

We will be watching 3-4 interviews in class, in addition to 1 by yourself. Please write a comment for each video you have watched. The comment should be about something you found interesting, something you learned, or advice you would give to another person.

Key Terms:
Remote Work
Cost-of-Living

Write at least a paragraph or multiple bullet points articulating what your vacation is, what you are doing, and what the associated prices are.

Key Terms
Foreign Exchange Market
Foreign Exchange Rate
Flexible Rate of Exchange ("Floating Rate")
Trade-weighted
value of the dollar

We are going to be trying out a new lesson called Game of Quotes. You will have 15 minutes to read over an article talking about the relationship between the U.S. and China. After 15 minutes, I will be giving different prompts. Your goal is to find the best quote that fits the prompt. For full points for this activity, you will answer the questions about the article and write down your response for each prompt.

Sample Text: Here's a random paragraph from "The Devil in the White City":
"'What's it like?' Holmes asked, regarding the building with undisguised interest.
Burnham turned to face him. 'It's like nothing you've ever seen, I assure you. We're pushing the boundaries of architecture, of engineering. It's a city within a city.'
'And the people?' Holmes asked, his eyes scanning the crowds milling about the fairgrounds.
'The people?' Burnham echoed. 'They come from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe. The fair is a melting pot of humanity, a celebration of progress and innovation.'
Holmes nodded thoughtfully. 'Sounds like quite the spectacle.' He turned back to the imposing structure before them, a faint smile playing on his lips."

Sample Prompt: Something you wouldn't want to hear in the bathroom
It's like nothing you've ever seen, I assure you.

Extra credit is given if you complete the reading questions by our Sunday deadline.

Key Terms:
Remote Work
Cost-of-Living

A congressional hearing is a formal meeting held by a committee or subcommittee of the United States Congress. During these hearings, members of Congress gather information, hear testimony from witnesses, and discuss specific topics or issues within their jurisdiction.

Overall, congressional hearings are a vital aspect of the democratic process, allowing elected representatives to gather information, hold government officials accountable, and make informed decisions on behalf of their constituents.

Our class will be holding a Congressional Hearing during our block period to discuss the issue of College Education and whether or not it should be free for all who pursue it. This hearing will be worth 36 points. If you miss the in-person session, you will be given an alternative assignment.

We explored the 2008 Great Recession, we also want to take a look at the more recent 2020 pandemic. As we explore what the 2020 financial crisis is, why it happened, and how the government responded to it, we need to take a look at how individual people were impacted by it. For many, it was life-changing for better or for worse-mostly worse. 
Your goal is to interview a conversation with anyone of your choice on how the financial crisis in 2020 impacted them. It can be older friends, family members, or even other teachers. 

The interview must be recorded and posted on the class Padlet, so make sure you ask for permission. The conversation must be a minimum of 5 minutes.

The link to Padlet and an example are posted below, in addition to some questions you may use.

Write a minimum of 4 sentences.

Key Terms
Congressional Hearings
Tik Tok Ban

After spring break, we are going to have a congressional hearing/debate on a contemporary issue society is facing. With these polls, we are voting on what the topic of the debate is going to be. There will be three rounds of voting to determine our topic.

Today is the day we break down the cost of college and figure out which college is the best fit financially. To uncover the most financially optimal college, we will be filling out a worksheet on paper. If you are absent, complete it virtually.

*While finances are important, your decision may ultimately be decided by a factor that you find more important to your situation.

Snowball Question: What is your opinion on China? Are they an enemy? Are they a friend? What do you know about the country and how does that shape your perception of it?

Key Terms
Trade War
Tariffs
Rare-Earth Metals

You will be assigned a slide to work on. On your slide, you will create a sculpture that illustrates your term. Additionally, you must write about the term and explain it to the rest of the class.

You must write a minimum of three sentences per question.
Key Terms:
Tariffs 
Embargo
Imports/Exports
Protectionism

Today, you are going to be researching about Business Cycles, otherwise known as Boom and Bust Cycles or Bull and Bear Markets. These include periods where the economy has stagnated, in the process of expanding, or in the process of contracting.

Your objectives: 
1. Choose a business cycle period based on the list provided by the National Bureau of Economic Research. These are different time periods when the economy contracted and expanded (e.g. 2008 Great Recession)
2. On one side of your trifold, identify and explain the different parts of a business cycle (i.e. Peak, Recession/Depression, Trough, Recovery, Expansion) as it relates to your specific historical cycle.
3. Additionally, you will provide an annotated graph of the cycle (Similar to a timeline). This graph will show the growth/contraction of GDP (how big the economy is) over time. I recommend using the website World Bank to help you visualize what your graph will look like. 
4. After you have finished the research, writing, and graphing portion, on the other side of your trifold you will create an illustration representing the specific business cycle you focused on. The illustration should showcase the main cause or outcome of the business cycle (e.g. Abandoned house = 2008 Recession)

Take a look at the slides for detailed instructions.

You will be assigned a slide to work on. On your slide, you will create a sculpture that illustrates your term. Additionally, you must write about the term and explain it to the rest of the class.

You must write a minimum of five sentences/answer all the questions
Key Terms:
The Great Recession
Dodd-Frank Act
Gold Standard
FDIC

Key Terms
Recession/Depression
The 2007-2008 Great Recession
Inflation
Interest Rates
The Great Depression

Watch the video and take a look at the various articles. What is DOGE trying to accomplish? Is this something Americans want?

Key Terms
Department of Government Efficiency
Government layoffs

You will be assigned a slide to work on. On your slide, you will create a sculpture that illustrates your term. Additionally, you must write about the term and explain it to the rest of the class.

You must write a minimum of five sentences/answer all the questions
Key Terms:
The Great Recession
Dodd-Frank Act
Gold Standard
FDIC

Watch the video and take a look at the various articles. What is DOGE trying to accomplish? Is this something Americans want?

Key Terms
Department of Government Efficiency
Government layoffs

The State of the Union Message is a message from the President to Congress, usually given once a year in January or February. In the message, the President talks about important issues facing Americans and offers his ideas on solving the nation's problems, including suggestions for new laws and policies. The State of the Union is March 4th, @ 9 pm ET. 

Fill out the document attached after watching the State of the Union Address.

Due end of Week 10

Please complete the Everfi Module: Tax Simulation: Understanding Taxes. Complete 1. Filing Your Taxes 2. Tax Credit for Families 3. Taxes for students.

Key Terms:
IRS
1040
W-2
1098T
Simple Filing
Everfi can be accessed by going through Clever or Schoology. If you never logged on before, please contact me for join code.

You will complete this assignment individually. I will assign numbers in class. If you are absent feel free to choose a slide of your choice.

Note: Some of these articles contain baseball jargon (vocab/language). It is okay if you don't know the sport. Focus on what the issues/complaints are. Feel free to ask me questions.

Key Terms:
Monopoly
Antitrust Laws
Labor Protections
Unfair Business Practices
Consumer Protections
MLB/MiLB

Please read the instructions attached.

In order to get full credit:
The team accountant needs to fill out project information on Google Sheet
Actively participate 
Key Terms:
Incentives
Financing

Read the primary sources from the textbook in order to answer questions regarding the changing control over concert ticket prices in the United States.

If the link to the textbook page does not work, you can find it under Chapter 6, Case Study.

Read the article below and fill out the Nacho Paragraph slides. Your objective is to learn the various causes that would cause of shift of supply/demand in relation to food costs. 

The other links provide updated information on the rising food costs in 2022-24.

Take a look at the graph provided below and answer the following questions:

Note: (Demand minus supply is how you calculate surplus/shortage)
1. What is a shortage? What is a surplus?
2. Is there a surplus or a shortage when the price is $10? How big is that surplus
or shortage? How great is the surplus or shortage when the price is $2?
3. What does this graph illustrate about surplus, shortage, and equilibrium price?

Key Terms
Shortage/Surplus
Equilibrium

Please complete this by Thursday, 4pm for student-led conferences

Instructions are attached, this project will be done in class with a group of your choosing. This project will be due Monday when we come back to class. You will be utilizing ideas known about demand and learning about supply throughout this project while also doing daily warm-ups. 

You will be submitting both your project poster and the questions document. The questions document must be completed by each group member individually. 

Key Terms
Law of Supply
Supply Schedule
Supply Curve
Fixed Costs
Variable Costs 
Profit-Maximizing Output 
Elasticity

In class, we will be beginning to learn about Demand's opposite: Supply. Look at the picture with the NBA players and answer the two questions in at least 4 sentences.

Chapter 5, Section 1.
Key Terms:
Law of Supply
Supply Schedule
Supply Curve

Read the primary sources from the textbook in order to answer questions regarding the rising demand for vehicles in the United States.

If the link to the textbook page does not work, you can find it under Chapter 4, Case Study.

Complete one of the slides-- one slide for each member in your pod. Please upload an image of your index card onto your slide.

If you need help finding information, please refer to Chapter 4, Section 2 of the online textbook. 

Key Terms:
Normal/Inferior Goods
Substitution Effect
Income Effect
Law of Diminishing Utility

Take a look at the image below and answer the following two questions:

1. Montclair is a tourist destination in the summer. At what month was the population the highest throughout the year? (Figure 4.10)

2. Explain what happened to the demand for pizza in the city during the period in which the population was at its peak. (Talk about the price of pizza in relation to its quantity)

3. What would happen to the demand for pizza during the slowest point of the year (in this example, December)?

Key Terms:
Demand Shift
The 6 factors that cause a change in demand: Income, Market Size, Consumer Tastes, Consumer Expectations, Substitute Goods, Complementary Goods

Key Terms:
Demand
Law of Demand
Demand Schedule/Market Demand Schedule

Fill out page two on Kami before submitting.

Key Terms:
Demand Curve

Complete one of the slides-- one slide for each member in your pod. Please upload an image of your index card onto your slide.

If you need help finding information, please refer to Chapter 4, Section 2 of the online textbook. 

Key Terms:
Normal/Inferior Goods
Substitution Effect
Income Effect
Law of Diminishing Utility

Key Terms:
Demand
Law of Demand
Demand Schedule/Market Demand Schedule

Read the primary sources from the textbook in order to answer questions regarding the rising demand for vehicles in the United States.

If the link to the textbook page does not work, you can find it under Chapter 4, Case Study.

Complete one of the slides-- one slide for each member in your pod. Please upload an image of your index card onto your slide.

If you need help finding information, please refer to Chapter 4, Section 2 of the online textbook. 

Key Terms:
Normal/Inferior Goods
Substitution Effect
Income Effect
Law of Diminishing Utility

Please complete the Everfi Module: Pathways: Financing Higher Education. Complete the sections "Identifying Your Goals" to "Student Loan Basics".

In addition to completing the modules, please answer the following:
What is the Return on Investment (ROI) for your personal path? Is college or trade school a good investment for you?
To consider: How much is college going to cost for you per year? (Don't just look at the sticker price. What is your plan? How are you commuting? Where are you living? Honestly, how much money are you going to spend outside of necessities? Food? Clothes? Bars? Video Games?)

Key Terms:
ROI
Unsubsidized Loans
Subsidized Loans
Parent PLUS Loans
Certificate School
Everfi can be accessed by going through Clever or Schoology.

Please play the game and fill out the worksheet attached. 


The first financial literacy topic of the year is the cost of college. There are many things you need to consider when you are getting ready and going through college. These financial literacy Fridays serve as an opportunity to teach you the economics of daily life and I advise you on the best financial choices. 

Disclaimer: I am not a certified CPA/Financial advisor. My advice is based on personal experiences and in-depth research and may not fit your situation. If you need personalized advice, please talk to me one-on-one.

Choose 2 photographs from those provided in this assignment. You will complete an 8*Parts slide for each of the photos you choose. In your paragraph, provide a creative narrative describing how the photo connects to the terms Externality and/or Free Rider. This is a creative writing assignment, so make a narrative that is detailed and realistic. 

Example of a response:
The photo I analyzed was the one that showed a construction company building a new apartment building. A new apartment building might be considered a positive externality if it lowers housing prices in the neighborhood. With 100 new units available, people can afford to live in the nice area. This development may also contribute to lower crime rates if people have less of a financial burden. A potential negative externality may be increased pollution. The construction company is working year-round leading to constant exposure to hazards like wood dust, lead, chemical runoff, leftover construction, and degradation of local roads.

The mayor of Los Angeles wants to build a water park to attract visitors, who will spend money at the city's restaurants and stores. But what you pay in sales tax will rise by about $100 a year to cover the cost. With that money, you could buy a couple of video games or some clothes. What will you choose—public wants or private wants?

Key Terms:
Positive/Negative Externality
Infrastructure
Free Rider
Market Failure

Our goal today is to create an illustrated foldable that highlights the struggles that businesses face along with the rewards that are gained. What are things companies struggle with? How may consumers be negatively affected by the company? What about the community? On the other hand, what gains do companies make? How are the employees treated? What benefits are brought to the customers or community?

Foldable Layout:
Left Flap: Risks and Disadvantages
Middle Section: Personal Experience and Illustration
Right Flap: Rewards and Advantages
Research Guidelines:
Choose a company you're familiar with or shop at
Preferably select a local business
Middle Section:
Write a personal narrative about the business
Options: a) Company's struggle and closure story b) Success story of business growth
Analyze:
What went wrong/right
Lessons learned
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
Left Flap - Risks and Disadvantages:
Investigate risks or challenges for:
a) Big companies
b) Small companies
c) Companies across all sizes
Include statistical data or anecdotal evidence
Example sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, business reviews
Create an original illustration representing the business's risk/reward journey

Right Flap - Rewards and Advantages:
Explore benefits for:
a) Big companies
b) Small companies
c) Companies across all sizes
Include: Employee treatment, Customer benefits, Community impact
Key Terms:
Entrepreneur (Chapter 3, Section 3)
Free Rider (Chapter 3, Section 3)
Negative Externality (Chapter 3, Section 3)
Positive Externality (Chapter 3, Section 3)
Below, I provide a couple of examples of advantages/rewards or disadvantages/risks some companies face.

Complete with one to two partners. Make sure to write the names of your partners. 

Key Terms:
Free Enterprise System (Chapter 3, Section 1)
Legal Equality (Chapter 3, Section 1)
Free Contract (Chapter 3, Section 1)
Profit Motive (Chapter 3, Section 1)

Complete in Class Companion

Key Terms:
Gentrification
Profit Motive (Chapter 3, Section 1)

If the link does not work, please go to Chapter 3, section 2.

Key Terms:
Consumer Confidence (Chapter 3, Section 2)
Polling

Complete with one to two partners. Make sure to write the names of your partners. 

Key Terms:
Free Enterprise System (Chapter 3, Section 1)
Legal Equality (Chapter 3, Section 1)
Free Contract (Chapter 3, Section 1)
Profit Motive (Chapter 3, Section 1)

Read the article attached to the retell-in-rhyme assignment in order to answer the questions. The article is listed on the website Investopedia. If you wish to see the published work itself, it is attached as a PDF.

Key Terms
Invisible Hand 
Mercantilism
Scarcity
Wealth of Nations
Gold/Silver Standard (Bimetallism)
Atlantic/Triangle Trade

Complete in Class Companion.

Key Terms:
Consumerism (Chapter 2 Section 3; Page 48-49)
Market Economy (Chapter 2 Section 3; Page 48-49)
Consumer Sovereignty (Chapter 2 Section 3; Page 50)

We will watch together in class. I recommend subscribing to Caleb Hammer, he is a great resource on budgeting/finance strategies for those deep in debt. I will be showing clips of him throughout the semester.

You will complete one slide and submit it when done. Done Individually.

Information can be found in your textbook in Chapter 2.

Read the article attached to the retell-in-rhyme assignment in order to answer the questions. The article is listed on the website Investopedia. If you wish to see the published work itself, it is attached as a PDF.

Key Terms
Invisible Hand 
Mercantilism
Scarcity
Wealth of Nations
Gold/Silver Standard (Bimetallism)
Atlantic/Triangle Trade

Please use quantitative (numbers, stats, information expressed as a number) data and qualitative (experiences, interpretations, observations, information that cannot be expressed in a number) data.

Example: Mr. Becker decides to play with his e-sports team instead of lesson planning for his economics class. The opportunity cost of this decision is that Mr. Becker's students get a potentially worse education, fewer students enjoy the class, and five of his students fail their next test due to inadequate teaching.

We will watch the video after sharing our answers.

Key Terms:
Macro Economics (Chapter 1 Section 4; page 27)
Micro Economics (Chapter 1 Section 4; page 27
Normative (Chapter 1 Section 4; page 29)
Positive (Chapter 1 Section 4; page 29)
The video will be shown in class after we share answers. (What, How, Whom)

Note to Self: Read the Introduction on Page 24

Your family won the state lottery, winning $10 million after taxes. With your group, make an annotated list (Quantity, price, reason why you'd get the service/good) of all the things that you would buy with that money. Your goal is to make a realistic list.

Questions to consider:
What would be the first step in spending that money?
What necessities would you get?
What things would you delay buying? In other words, what is your plan for the future?
What things would you splurge on?
Would anyone else get some of your money?
Key Terms:
Scarcity (Chapter 1 Section 1; Page 4)
Opportunity Cost (Chapter 1 Section 2; Page 14)

Please use quantitative (numbers, stats, information expressed as a number) data and qualitative (experiences, interpretations, observations, information that cannot be expressed in a number) data.

Example: Mr. Becker decides to play with his e-sports team instead of lesson planning for his economics class. The opportunity cost of this decision is that Mr. Becker's students get a potentially worse education, fewer students enjoy the class, and five of his students fail their next test due to inadequate teaching.

We will watch the video after sharing our answers.

You will answer questions about Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Company while watching a video in class.
For each term listed below, give me an example of how Ben & Jerry's company and its practices connect. The video does not directly give the answers, so you have to brainstorm ideas.

Opportunity Cost: What did Ben & Jerry give up by going to college after high school?
Scarcity: What was the demand like for ice cream when they originally open their store? What is the demand like for their company's ice cream today?
Who has the Absolute Advantage (who produces more ice cream): Häagen-Dazs or Ben & Jerry
Who has the Comparative Advantage (who produces more ice cream at a lower cost): Häagen-Dazs or Ben & Jerry
In what ways is Ben & Jerry's company successful? What did they do right as a company?

Please complete the google form. This is a required assignment.