1.

0 Lesson Plan Details

Title: Economics of the New England States
Day: 11
Author: Katie Walsh
Grade: 4
Expected Duration: 45 minutes
Concepts: Economy of individual states, importance of
resources, impact on United States
Vocabulary: persuasion, economy, resources
Skills: Understand how resources matter in the United States,
use previous knowledge of states to guide presentation
1.1

Integration of Learning Outcomes/Objectives

1.2

Students will be able to identify at least three major economic

contributions of their assigned state and describe how those
products influence the economy of the United States.
Students will be able to present the information about their
assigned state to the class in three to four minutes while still
meeting all necessary criteria.
Standards

Pennsylvania Core Standards

6.1.4.D- Explain what influences the choices people make.
6.2.3.A- Identify goods, services, consumers, and producers in
the local community.
NCSS Standards- Theme 7, Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Subtheme- NCSS.1.7.e- Guide learner analysis of the role of
specialization and exchange in economic processes.
Subtheme- NCSS.1.7.f- Provide opportunities for learners to
assess how values and beliefs influence economic decisions in
different societies.
1.3

Anticipatory Set
Teacher will begin the lesson by showing students a thirty second
persuasive
commercial made by Walt Disney World that
attempts to make them want to go to Disney World each and
every time they see it on
television
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2nyXEIvRq8
After watching this commercial, as a class we will briefly discuss
what makes it persuasive and how it relates to what their task
for the day will
be.

1.4

Teacher will then reference the previous days lesson and how
each small group will be using the newly learned concepts about
town meetings to decide how they are going to inform the class
about their assigned state.
Procedures
After the teacher has concluded the anticipatory set, he/she will
explain to the students what their task for the day will be.
The teacher will first put the students into six pre-assigned
groups (one for each state) and have them move their desks into
small groups.
The teacher will then assign a state to each group, selecting from
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont and distribute the state descriptions,
presentation criteria, and supplemental pictures if necessary.
Next, the teacher will complete a general overview of what the
students are to be doing in their individual groups and how much
time they will have to do so (about 15 minutes). This overview
includes the presentation criteria, that they have options as to
how to present their information, and the amount of time that
they will have to present.
Teacher will then explain that the major goal of each group will
be to persuade the other students in the class that their assigned
state is most beneficial to the United States economy and why.
After letting the students begin their group discussion/type of
town meeting, teacher will conduct formative assessment as
they move around the room asking questions and discussing with
each individual group what their persuasive approach will be.
As the teacher is walking around they will also be available for
individual group questions and clarification if necessary.
After the fifteen-minute group work period has concluded, each
of the groups will present their information about their state. This
will happen in reverse alphabetical order, starting with Vermont,
then Rhode Island, then New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine,
and ending with Connecticut.

 Each group will have 3-4 minutes to present their information, in

whatever way they have chosen. Summative assessment will
take place as each group is presenting and the teacher is
checking off whether or not they have met all necessary criteria.
After each group has presented their information, as a closure
activity, the class will conduct a vote as to which state they
believe has the economy that best benefits the United States
and explain why.
1.5

Differentiation
English Language Learners- When put into groups, English
Language Learning students will be given images of the major
resources of their assigned state to supplement the short piece
of reading that they are given to help support the content of the
lesson.
All Students- Every group will have the option of how to express
the information about their assigned state and present the
information to the class as long as it meets the required criteria,
allowing students to choose the way their product is presented.

1.6

Closure
Once the students have concluded their three to four minute
presentation about their assigned state, the teacher will then
conduct a class vote to see which of the New England states the
students feel is most important to the economy of the United
States and why.
Before voting, the teacher will review the major economic
contributions of each state and answer any questions that still
remain.
Voting will take place by having a chart projected on the Smart
Board and having students come up and place a X above the
state they feel is most important to create a graph.
Once voting has concluded, the teacher will explain the
importance of knowing the resources that your state has to offer
as well as what other states contribute to our nations economy
and how it affects them at citizens of the United States.
The teacher will then explain how the following day the class will
conclude their unit on the Northeast region of the United States.

1.7

Formative/Summative Assessment of Students

Formative Assessment will take place as the lesson is going on.
The teacher will be walking around the room and observing the
students as they work in their groups, asking questions about
their ideas, clarifying any information that is still unclear and
adjusting explanation of the student task if necessary.
Summative Assessment will take place as each group presents
the information about their assigned state to the class. While
working, each group will have received a checklist about what to
include in their presentation, which will allow the teacher to be
sure that all criteria were met and that students used all
necessary information in their presentation.

1.8

Materials/ Equipment

Student Materials- description of each state for their group,

criteria checklist, lined paper, markers, pencils

Teacher Materials- description of each state, one per group,

written and created a head of time, creation of presentation
criteria- one per group, research on each of the New England
states economies from various websites, questions prepared to
ask throughout group work, content outline of information,
commercial from internet site, computer, Smart Board, projector

1.9

Technology
Technology will be used in this lesson when the teacher shows
the students the persuasive commercial for Walt Disney World on
the Smart Board in the anticipatory set.

2.1 Reflection on Planning

Through developing this lesson I have learned so much about

myself as well as how to write a social studies lesson plan.
Having never written a Social Studies lesson plan before and also
being somewhat uncomfortable using the overall lesson planning
format I was extremely insecure about my how my lesson would
end up turning out. Before I could even begin my planning, I had
to take into account the little that I knew about the New England
states as well as my lack of understanding about the overall
concept of economics. My first step was to come up with a
creative way to teach the concept of economics while also

making it enjoyable for the students. After solidifying my idea I

began to research each New England state individually as well as
what products help make their economies successful. I then
decided to write up a description of each individual state for the
students to use as a resource as well as for my own notes to
follow as my lesson continued to grow. I feel that although the
researching process was lengthy, it ultimately helped my lesson
be even more successful and helped me to learn a lot of new
information as well. I think that there is always room for
improvement and if I were planning this lesson again I would try
to use other resources besides websites for my information and
also make a longer lesson out of my ideas. Overall, the planning
of this lesson has made me feel more confident in my abilities to
create strong lessons not only in Social Studies but in other
subject areas as well.
I believe that there are potential successes for my lesson but I
also do have some concerns. I think that my lesson has the
ability to make the students really interested in the topic of the
New England States and how and why their resources are
important. I believe that giving the students the choice of how to
present their material also has the potential to work in my favor.
By using small group work to complete this project I could see
either successes or concerns. I believe that working in small
groups will allow students to discuss their ideas openly and use
each other as sparks for ideas, and the hope is that by preassigning groups, there will be no conflict. However, because
many situations are unpredictable, I place a small amount of
concern on how I group the students together and if they are all
going to be able to agree on how to present the information in
such a short amount of time. My only other concern would be
that I would run out of time teaching this lesson or that my
students would not grasp the overall concept of what I was trying
to teach them.

Content Outline
Economics of the New England States
I.

Connecticut
A. Leader in productivity
1. Helicopters
2. Jet aircraft engines
3. Submarines
B. Technical Fields
1. Metalworking
2. Electronics and plastics
3. Contribute to states economy
C. Leads New England states in production
1. Eggs
2. Pears
3. Peaches
4. Mushrooms
D. Oysters
1. Second largest producer in the United States
E. Farming Income
1. Large amounts of poultry
2. Large amounts of dairy products

F. Insurance, Finance, Real-Estate

1. Largest industries in Connecticut
2. Hartford is the insurance capital of the United States
3. 105 insurance companies that are based in
Connecticut
II.

Maine
A. Blueberries
1. Blueberry plants are abundant in Maine
2. Able to survive the harsh weather and rough soil
3. Maine produces 99 percent of all of the blueberries in
the United States, largest producer in the nation
4. One of Maines largest exports and is commonly used
in jams, jellies, pies, and fruit salads
B. Pulp, Paper, and Wood Products
1. Almost 89 percent of Maine is made up of forests
which makes it known for these products
2. Maine is the home of many of the largest paper
producing mills in the country
3. 90 percent of the countrys toothpick supply is
produced here
C. Lobster
1. Major resource of the state
2. What Maine is most known for
3. Lobsters enjoy living in the cold waters off the coast
of Maine
4. People come from all over the world to eat them
5. Vital part of Maines economy
6. Over 90 percent of the lobsters in the United States
are caught along the coast of Maine

III.

Massachusetts
A. Cranberry crop
1. One of the major products of Massachusetts
2. Massachusetts is the nations second largest
producer at 25 percent
B. Tourism
1. Similar to New Hampshire
2. Important factor in the states economy
3. Tourist attractions range from recreational areas to
historic landmarks

4. These attractions include Cape Cod, the city of

Boston, and many famous colleges and universities
5. Boston- Fenway Park, Boston Common
6. Massachusetts was home to numerous former
Presidents, famous writers, and artists
7. Known for its historic landmarks, high technology
industries, and beautiful landscape
C. Location on Cape Cod
1. Massachusetts is one of the leading commercial
fishing states
2. Town of New Bedford accounts for about half of the
scallops produced in the United States
3. Commercial fishing industry include cod, flounder,
haddock, lobster, clams, crabs, tuna, and swordfish
IV.

New Hampshire
A. Granite
1. Well known in the United States for its granite
quarries
2. One of the major products of New Hampshire
3. Official state rock
4. Found all throughout the state and is distributed
throughout the nation
B. Tourism
1. Large part of the economy
2. The Seacoast, Lakes Region, and White Mountains
are popular spots to visit
3. A place where many people choose to own a second
home
4. Every year, tourism and visits from homeowners
bring in billions of dollars to the states economy
C. Most important part of economy
1. Production of computer and electronic products such
as telephone equipment, military communication
systems, and computer microchips
2. All of those products are important to United States
economy
3. Most of the production of these materials takes place
along the Seacoast and in the Upper Valley of New
Hampshire

V.

Rhode Island
A. Silverware and Fine Jewelry
1. Well known for producing both of these products

2. Leading jewelry producer in the United States

3. Jewelry Capital of the World
4. Costume jewelry is especially important to economy
B. Tourism
1. Beautiful shoreline and mild summer climate
2. Well known as a vacation state- Newport is a popular
city
C. Industries
1. Agricultural and mining industries are of little
importance
2. Electrical industry is very important
3. Electrical industry produces surge protectors, light
bulbs, lighting fixtures, and some machinery
4. Economy is based more on services, trade, and
finance but their electrical industry is still important
VI.

Vermont
A. Maple Syrup
1. The states most well known product
2. Takes many years to collect
3. Forty years are required to grow a maple tree large
enough to get syrup from it
4. Vermont produces over 500,000 gallons of maple
syrup per year
B. Milk
1. Not usually thought of as a farming state
2. Nearly one half of the dairy farms in New England are
located in Vermont
3. Milk is Vermonts number one farm product and is
produced all throughout the state
C. Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream
1. First store opened in Burlington, Vermont in a
renovated gas station in 1978
2. A popular product of Vermont
3. Give their ice cream waste to local farmers who then
feed it to their hogs
4. Distribute their ice cream all over the world

MAINE
Maine is the northernmost state in the Northeast
Region of the United States of America. Its main
products include blueberries, pulp, paper, and wood
products, and lobsters. Blueberry plants are
abundant in Maine because they are able to survive
through the harsh weather and rough soil in the
state. Maine produces 99 percent of all of the
blueberries in the United States, which makes it the
largest producer of blueberries in the nation.

Blueberries have become one of Maines largest

exports and are commonly used in jams, jellies, pies,
and fruit salads. Almost 89 percent of Maine is made
up of forests, making it known for pulp, paper, and
wood products. Maine is currently the home of many
of the largest paper producing mills in the country
and 90 percent of the countrys toothpick supply is
produced here. The major resource in Maine,
however, is lobsters and is what the state is most
known for. The lobsters enjoying living in the cold
waters off the coast of Maine and people come from
all over the world just to eat them. They are a vital
part of Maines economy and over 90 percent of the
lobsters in the United States are caught along the
coast of this Northeast state.
Your task: You and your group members must come
up with a way to persuade your classmates in 3-4
minutes about why Maine is important to the
economy of the US. You can do this by creating and
presenting a persuasive speech, acting out a skit, or
any other way you choose.
Please follow the checklist attached to this
paper to make sure you meet all of the criteria.

MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts, one of the most historical states
in the nation, has a very large and diverse economy.
One of the major products of Massachusetts is the
cranberry crop, making it the nations second largest
producer at 25 percent. Similar to New Hampshire,

another New England state, tourism is an important

factor in the economy of Massachusetts. Tourist
attractions range from recreational areas to historical
landmarks and include Cape Cod, the city of Boston,
and many famous colleges and universities. Boston,
in particular, is home to famous places such as
Fenway
Park
and
the
Boston
Common.
Massachusetts was also home to numerous former
Presidents of the United States, famous writers and
artists. Due to its location on the bay and the famous
Cape Cod, Massachusetts is one of the leading
commercial fishing states and the town of New
Bedford accounts for about half of the scallops
produced in the United States. Their commercial
fishing industry also includes cod, flounder, haddock,
lobster, clams, crabs, tuna, and swordfish. Overall,
Massachusetts is known for its historic landmarks,
high technology industries, and its beautiful
landscape.
Your task: You and your group members must come
up with a way to persuade your classmates in 3-4
minutes about why Massachusetts is important to the
economy of the US. You can do this by creating and
presenting a persuasive speech, acting out a skit, or
any other way you choose.
Please follow the checklist attached to this
paper to make sure you meet all of the criteria.

VERMONT
Vermont, a state located in the Northeast
Region, is known for having a wide variety of

industries and businesses that make or manufacture

a lot of different things. Its main products include
maple syrup, Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream, and milk.
Maple syrup, the states most well known product,
takes many years to collect. Forty years are required
to grow a maple tree large enough to get syrup from
it and Vermont produces over 500,000 gallons of
maple syrup per year, making it the largest producer
of maple syrup in the United States. Although many
do not think of Vermont as a farming state, nearly
one half of the dairy farms in New England are
located in Vermont. Milk is Vermonts number one
farm product and is produced all throughout the
state. Another one of Vermonts popular products is
Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream. The first Ben and Jerrys
Ice Cream store opened in Burlington, Vermont, in a
renovated gas station, in the year 1978. They give
their ice cream waste to local farmers who then feed
it to their hogs and also distribute their ice cream all
over the world.
Your task: You and your group members must come
up with a way to persuade your classmates in 3-4
minutes about why Vermont is important to the
economy of the US. You can do this by creating and
presenting a persuasive speech, acting out a skit, or
any other way you choose.
Please follow the checklist attached to this
paper to make sure you meet all of the criteria.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire, a neighboring state to Vermont,
is known for its breathtaking appearance all
throughout the year and is a very popular New
England state. It is well known in the United States
for its granite quarries and is nicknamed The
Granite State. Granite is one of the major products
of New Hampshire and is also the official state rock.
It is found all throughout the state and is distributed
all over the United States. New Hampshires
economy depends not only on its natural resources,
but also on different tourist attractions that make
people from other states want to visit. The Seacoast,
Lakes Region, and White Mountains are popular spots
to visit and New Hampshire is also a place where
many people choose to own a second home. Every
year, tourism and the visits from homeowners bring
in billions of dollars to the states economy. The most
important part of New Hampshires economy is their
production of computer and electronic products such
as telephone equipment, military communication
systems and computer microchips all of which are
important in todays economy. Most of the production
of these materials takes place along the Seacoast
and in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and also
employs a large amount of workers.
Your task: You and your group members must come
up with a way to persuade your classmates in 3-4
minutes about why New Hampshire is important to
the economy of the US. You can do this by creating

and presenting a persuasive speech, acting out a

skit, or any other way you choose.
Please follow the checklist attached to this
paper to make sure you meet all of the criteria.

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut, the third smallest state in the
nation, has made great contributions to not only the
United States, but also the world. For years, this state
has been well known for its productivity and is
currently a leader in the production of helicopters, jet
aircraft engines, submarines, and other items
including technical fields like metalworking and
electronics and plastics, all of which have made a
significant contribution to the states economy.
Connecticut leads the New England states in the
production of eggs, pears, peaches, and mushrooms
and is also the second largest producer of oysters in
the United States. The state also produces a large
amount of poultry and dairy products, which
contribute a large portion to their farming income.
The city of Hartford has the oldest newspaper in the
United States that is still being published called the
Hartford
Courant.
The
largest
industries
in
Connecticut are the finance, insurance, and real
estate industries and Hartford is the insurance capital
of the entire nation. There are also around 105
insurance companies that are based in Connecticut,
which began with a marine insurance company over
180 years ago.

Your task: You and your group members must come

up with a way to persuade your classmates in 3-4
minutes about why Connecticut is important to the
economy of the US. You can do this by creating and
presenting a persuasive speech, acting out a skit, or
any other way you choose.
Please follow the checklist attached to this
paper to make sure you meet all of the criteria.

RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island, the smallest state in the United
States, was one of the original thirteen colonies and
has a lot of interesting historical background. It is
well known for making silverware and fine jewelry
making Rhode Island a leading jewelry producer in
the United States. It is the Jewelry Capital of the
World and costume jewelry is extremely important to
the states economy. Rhode Island, like New
Hampshire, is a popular tourist attraction in the
United States. It has a beautiful shoreline and mild
summer climate, which makes it very well known as
a vacation state, particularly in the city of Newport.
There are certain types of industries in Rhode Island
that are more important than others. For example,
the agricultural and mining industries are of little
importance whereas the electrical industry is of large
importance. The electrical industry produces surge
protectors, light bulbs, lighting fixtures, and some
machinery. The traditional economy in Rhode Island
has changed greatly over time and is now based on
services, trade, and finance, but their electrical

industry is still extremely important and will continue

to be for quite some time.
Your task: You and your group members must come
up with a way to persuade your classmates in 3-4
minutes about why Rhode Island is important to the
economy of the US. You can do this by creating and
presenting a persuasive speech, acting out a skit, or
any other way you choose.
Please follow the checklist attached to this
paper to make sure you meet all of the criteria.

Presentation Criteria
1. Must include your assigned states name.
2. Must include at least three important resources
of the state.
3. Must include how those resources contribute to
the economy of the United States.
4. Everyone in the group must speak.
5. Present the information in an organized way.
6. Presentation has to be between 3 and 4 minutes.
7. BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!

Connecticut

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

Vermont

Formative Assessment Questions

These will be the questions asked by the teacher as the students are
working together in their assigned groups and discussing and outlining
how they are going to present their information.
1. What is your groups plan about how you are going to present the
information you have about (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)?
2. How are you going to persuade the class that your states
resources are the most important to the United States economy?
3. Are you going to use any pictures or visual aids?

4. Is there anything else that I can do to help you?/ Do you need

anything else from me?