Schedule

Our fourth grade Mini-Society schedule is presented below, based on three, one and one-half hour classes each week. The lessons use many of the resources defined in the Marilyn Kourilsky's Mini-Society books. It is highly suggested that anyone interested in teaching Mini-Society in their classroom should purchase the Mini-Society instruction books.

The following schedule provides suggestions for the content that should be taught in each lesson. Of course, as teachers, we understand that flexibility is key and often things have to be rearranged to ensure top-notch instruction!

The Kourilsky program provides guidance but it does not offer worksheets for every activity. Although worksheets can defeat the experiential atmosphere, I felt they were needed in some instances to assess the students' learning experiences. I've included worksheets that I created as well as forms to help facilitate activities that involve parents, helpers, and/or students.

Also provided are links to actual Mrs. Nick's fourth grade class examples that will help give good insight into how Mini-Society functioned in a real classroom.

Most documents require MS Word (or Word Viewer) or Adobe Reader 6.0 to launch.

Lesson

Content and Activity

Lesson 1
(Week 1)

Scarcity and worksheet (resource: Citizen's Journal in For More Information section); write definition
Distribute Mini-Society folders (students will keep all paperwork and definitions in the folder)
Discuss purpose of Mini-Society
Send home parent letter describing Mini-Society
Note: Students keep a log of economic definitions in their Mini-Society folders. A list of definitions can be found at the Michigan Council on Economic Education web site.

Mrs. Nick's Example:
Mini-Society Parent Letter

Lesson 2
(Week 1)

Review scarcity
Determine country and money names
Define (folder) and determine denomination

Lesson 3
(Week 1)

Discuss scarcity again
Select classroom jobs for all students to receive pay
Determine amount to pay for each job
Define (folder) and discuss goods/services
and needs/wants; do Goods and Services worksheets
Define (folder) and design currency; design flag (homework)

Mrs. Nick's Example:
Mystic Society selections

Lesson 4
(Week 2)

Select flag and currency design
Have students attach a cost to produce flag and
design masters of money
Clarify that money should be ornate enough to
deter counterfeiting
Define (folder) and discuss Civil Servant Jobs
Explain how to prepare for an interview

Click for larger image

Lesson 5
(Week 2)

Distribute request for parent interviewers
Re-discuss Civil Servant Job qualifications

Students complete an application
(in writing or online):

Treasurer application

Paymaster application

Moneycutter application

Temporary Help application

Flag Raiser application

Math Problems Worksheet

Moneycutter Shapes Cutout Worksheet

Students send application via email if able to interviewer
Have students hire adults to copy money masters

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

-	Treasurer application (.pdf)
-	Paymaster application (.pdf)
-	Moneycutter application (.pdf)

Lesson 6
(Week 2)

Review prepare for an interview techniques
Students continue to complete applications (in writing or online):
Send application via email if able to interviewer
Set up interview appointments. (Interview appointment schedule)
Send Interview C onfirmation Letter to interviewers

Lesson 7
(Week 3)

Interview Day 1
Distribute Day of Interview Instructions, Interview Scoring Sheet, and Interview Appointment Schedule to interviewers
Complete Civil Servant and Flag/Design Worksheets (resource: Citizen's Journal in For More Information section)
Define (folder) and discuss opportunity cost

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

-	Photos of Interview Sessions

Lesson 8
(Week 3)

Interview Day 2
Read "The Biteable Bonanza Fable" in Mini-Society Economics book (re: scarcity and opportunity cost)
Have students write a paragraph on a personal opportunity cost experience in folder

Lesson 9
(Week 3)

Announce Civil Servant positions/winners
Have Moneycutters create denomination masters as soon as possible
Have Moneycutters find adult copy person to duplicate money (determine amounts/denomination beforehand)
Meet with Treasurer and Paymasters re: their daily responsibilities
Discuss procedure for payments with class
Discuss record keeping (Accounting Sheet and Daily Sales and Expenses) define (folder) and discuss expenses, sales, deposits and withdraws

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

- Mystic denomination master (.pdf)

- Paymaster student log sheet (.pdf)

Click for larger picture

A student makes sure she accounts for her deposit by logging it on her Accounting Sheet
Click for larger picture

Lesson 10
(Week 4)

Introduce auction and send home auction letter regarding auction items
Define (folder) and discuss entrepreneurship
Define (folder) and discuss types of resources (human, natural, capital)
Outline parameters for businesses in society (sole ownership, partnerships)
Provide list of business ideas from Mini-Society Framework book

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

A student counts her money after payment from the Paymaster
Click for larger picture

Lesson 11
(Week 4)

Define (folder) and discuss complements and substitutes (.pdf)
Define (folder) and discuss market demand survey from Mini-Society Framework book
Have students conduct market survey with classmates

Lesson 12
(Week 4)

Auction day
Have students complete the Business Idea and Prototype worksheet (resource: Citizen's Journal in For More Information section)

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

Auction Photos

Lesson 13
(Week 5)

Define and discuss supply and demand (journal); demonstrate supply/demand curve
Discuss supply warehouse (resource: Citizen's Journal in For More Information section)
Send warehouse help letter home requesting parent help for warehouse

Lesson 14
(Week 5)

Open warehouse for purchases
Discuss importance and different forms of marketing (advertising)
Auction day

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

Warehouse Photos

Lesson 15
(Week 5)

Open warehouse for purchases
Design advertising

Click for larger picture

Lesson 16
(Week 6)

Open warehouse for purchases
Describe need for business license and to pay rent
Develop advertising
Discuss upcoming Market Day with teachers one grade level below and how students can earn money for purchases
Arrange a Market Day time with teachers one grade level below (i.e., if fourth graders are doing Mini-Society, third graders will come to shop at Market Day)

Lesson 17
(Week 6)

Open warehouse for purchases
Prepare products, advertising, etc., for first Market Day
Apply for business licenses and pay rent for space
Send Market Day flier home

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

Market Day Flier

Business License

Lesson 18
(Week 6)

First Market Day! (with one grade-level below)

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

Market Day Photos: Day 1

Lesson 19
(Week 7)

Debrief regarding success of first Market Day and how to improve products for next time
Define (folder) and discuss profit and loss, especially re: the first Market Day

Lesson 20
(Week 7)

Open warehouse for purchases
Define (folder) and discuss competition and monopolies
Prepare products, advertising, etc., for second Market Day

Lesson 21
(Week 7)

Second Market Day! (with other grade-level classes and/or with parents/teachers/other adults/other students)

Mrs. Nick's
Class Examples:

Market Day Photos: Day 2

Lesson 22
(Week 8)

Debrief regarding success of second Market Day and how improvements made after first Market Day may have helped
Review for test

Lesson 23
(Week 8)

Provide Mini-Society test and close of Mini-Society
Obtain student feedback re: Mini-Society