Cara Fiore

Capitalism vs. Socialism

Student Objectives

Students will play rock, paper, scissors to experience the differences between capitalism and socialism.

Through a debriefing, students will discuss the advantages and disadvantages to capitalism and socialism.

Content Standards

14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism, communism).

Materials

Capitalism vs. Socialism PowerPoint Lots of candy

Teacher’s Goals

Students will see the benefits of capitalism and how unfair socialism is All students will participate in rock, paper, and scissors (hopefully have fun too)

Time (55 minutes)

7 minutes Start of Class: Bell ringer. Answer in their notebooks: Can greed help or hurt a society? Do you like to take risks? Why or why not? Let students finish writing for 2-3 minutes after the bell rings. Have students share their answers.

5 minutes Introduction of Lesson: Themes for the day: greed, risk, competition, and fairness. For honors students play clip from Milton Friedman on greed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A) and risk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezmx8lCWET4 ). For REI play risk clip only.

35 minutes Lesson Instruction: T-Chart on the board with capitalism and socialism on each side. Have students take notes. What is capitalism?

Society ruled by individuals Individuals assess what will benefit them Government doesn’t intervene Supply and demand Risk and reward Free market

Play rock, paper, scissors, lizard, spock clip to introduce game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSLeBKT7-sM)

Allow students to play rock, paper, scissors. Everyone gets 2-5 pieces of candy. They must go around to different classmates and bet some candy. Whoever wins,

takes the candy. When students run out of candy, they sit down. We play until one person wins all the candy. They then distribute the wealth to everyone simulating paying them wages, donating their money to charity, investing it, etc.

Return to their seats. What is socialism? Fill in T-Chart on the board State owns means of production Distribute goods according to each person’s needs Work for the common good “One shoe to all feet” Government very involved

Now play rock, paper, scissors again, but under socialism. Everyone gets 3 pieces of candy, and play as usual betting against each other. The teacher goes around, and as they are playing, takes candy from those who are winning, and gives it to people who are out of candy. Play for 5 or so minutes.

Debriefing discussion: How did you feel at the start of the game in capitalism/socialism? How did you feel when you ran out candy in capitalism/socialism? Do you think this game was fair under capitalism/socialism? How motivated were you to play under capitalism/ socialism?

Youtube ClipsObama as socialist:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgh6wivCerEObama defending himself:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWIKup0RNNI

4 minutes Assessment: As an exit slip, have students explain in 3-4 sentences which form of government they would prefer to live with and why.

4 minutes Closure: What did we learn today? The differences between capitalism and socialism. You can decide for yourself which form of government you think is best, but history shows that socialism doesn’t work.