Down+Buttermilk+Lane+Reinforcing+Activity

**Down Buttermilk Lane Reinforcing Activity**
Benchmark 3-5 B. Explain why entrepreneurship, capital goods, technology, specialization and division of labor are important in the production of goods and services.

====The teacher should read the book aloud to the students. This book focuses on economics, so the teacher should review/go over the definition of economics. The teacher should focus on the concept of specialization. In the book, there are several examples of specialization. The family in the book goes to several stores in order for them to get all of the supplies that they need. They go to Zimmerman's General Store, a fabric store, a hardware store, a bakery, etc. It is important that the students make connections to their own lives in order for them to understand specialization. In order for the students to grasp specialization, they will be creating a reflective piece as well as using a Venn diagram.====

====After the teacher has finished reading the book, she/he should pass out a Venn diagram graphic organizer. They will need to fill out this Venn diagram in which they will be comparing each of the stores mentioned in the book to a store that they are familiar with. For example, Zimmerman's General Store is comparable to a Wal-Mart or Target. The bakery could be comparable to a hometown bakery, etc. Have the students fill out similarities and differences for the stores that they compare.====



====After they complete the graphic organizer, have the students "think-pair-share" with another student about their comparisons. This should last a few minutes and after, the class should discuss these comparisons as a whole.====

====After the class discussion, the students will need to get out a piece of paper. They will start to write their reflective pieces. The students should choose one of the comparisons they made. They will do this in order to expand and create a narrative piece that elaborates on how the store they are familiar with in their lives is similar to the store in the book. They should discuss their experiences at the store, give several examples of how the two stores compare, what they specialize in, etc. Their pieces should almost be like a journal entry; around one page in length. After the students write their piece, the teacher can ask for volunteers to share their pieces with the class.====

//Another proposed activity for specialization:// Students could create a writing piece that describes their own store (rather than describing one that already exists). The students' task could look like this: "Zimmerman's General Store sold a wide variety of products while the bakery in the book only sold baked products. Describe a store that you would create. This could be done with writing, drawing, physical model, or some other type of presentation (check with me first). However, the following things must be evident: What does your store specialize in (i.e. what are the products being sold)? What type of workers need to be hired at your store? What needs to happen in order for your store to be successful?" Make sure you stress the students attention to detail on the given criteria. Be flexible on their creativity and allow them to really take their own individual approach.