Lesson Plan

Grades 9-12

Making it in America

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40 minutes (Part 1); 1 hour (Part 2)

SUBJECTS: Language Arts, Math, Social Studies

TOPICS: Economics, U.S. Population Trends/History, Wealth & Poverty

Resource Overview

Students use wealth tokens to compare actual wealth distribution in the United States to perceived distribution, then analyze historic documents related to the American Dream.

Students will be able to:
  • Compare their perceptions of wealth distribution in the U.S. to the actual wealth distribution.
  • Interpret historic data on the distribution of wealth in the U.S. and analyze changes from 1962 to 2016.
  • Evaluate the current state of the American Dream using historic documents and current statistics.

Features of This Resource

  • Students must read like a historian and interpret primary documents
  • Opportunity for historical inquiry

Supplemental Materials


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