Standards and Benchmarks:
Michigan Social Studies: Economic Perspective
Examine the historical and contemporary role a major industry has played in Michigan and the United States.
Content Standard 2:3

Michigan Technology: Applying Appropriate Technologies
Compare and contrast technological solutions to problems of today and the past.
Content Standard 3:1

Materials:
    *Laptop connected to Projector
    *Computer bookmarked to the Video clip:
    "I Love Lucy" / Ethel and Lucy at the Candy Factory
    *bookmark at: Michigan Auto Tour and Model T. Road Trip
    *PowerPoint Presentation on Henry Ford
    *Digital Camera
    *PowerPoint software
    *Word Processor

This lesson will take approximately 3 class periods and 1 full day for the field trip.

Procedure:
Engage: (Day 1)
Students will watch a video clip of "I Love Lucy." What was it that brought the candy to Lucy and Ethel as they worked? (assembly line)  Introduce the students to the assembly line and its function.  Why was this video clip so funny? (the assembly line moved faster than they could work)

Anticipatory Set:
Talk about the advantages of an assembly line. What are the benefits of faster production?  Explain that a company can save money if the workers do the job or make a product in less time.  Lucy was funny because the line was moving much faster than it should have been.  Assembly lines move at a more natural pace but they still help jobs get done faster.  Henry Ford was able to sell his cars for less money which made it possible for more people to buy their own cars.  Producers like Henry Ford can charge lower prices for the product.  At one time very few people owned cars.  Can you imagine not owning a car? How many of us own more than one car? What are some of the things we rely on our cars for?  Henry Ford was the first to use an assembly line to make cars.

Prior to the field trip students should view the PowerPoint presentation on the life of Henry Ford. Explain the following:

• Henry Ford’s assembly line was much like Lucy’s. The workers remained in place adding one part to each automobile as it moved past them on the line. It took less time to build each automobile so Henry Ford who was the producer could charge less for the price of each Model T. He also decided to pay his workers $5.00 an hour which was much more than they made before.  His workers could now afford to buy their own cars.

• Henry Ford’s invention of the assembly line changed people’s lives because he could produce more cars for less money and as a result people who are the consumers could now afford to buy their own automobiles.

Independent Practice:  (Day 2)
Have the students view Model T. Road Trip and Michigan Auto Tour on the Internet.  Students will explore the changes in automobiles and compare the Model T and other cars of the past with cars of today.  Explain that as the years went on cars became more developed because of the advances in technology.  As you view these cars consider the changes in the cars of today.  Are they different for a reason?  Do you think the cars of today are more complicated to make?  Why?

Using a word processing program students will write about the differences between cars of the past and the cars they see in their community today.

(Day 3)
Students will attend a field trip in their local community - Dearborn. They will be guided through the Henry Ford Mansion.  They will record their trip with digital photos.

Journal writing extension:  Upon returning from their field trip, students will write about their experience in their journals. (This writing will serve as a guide when they write captions for their photos in the PowerPoint presentation.)

(Day 4)
Using the photos taken on their field trip the students will make a PowerPoint presentation of the trip.  They will write captions explaining the highlights that they photographed.

Thank you letters will be sent to our guide using email.

Closing: The students will share their PowerPoint presentation with other members of their community.

Evaluate:  Students will be evaluated on their written assignment - describe the differences in cars of the past compared with cars of today according to the established rubric.

Resources:
web sites

1999 Michigan Historical Center
Http://www.sos.state.mi.us/history/autoshow/vehicles/

You'll Love Lucy
http://fortunecity.com/lavender/meyer/22/avi.htm

Michigan Magazine for Kids
http://www.sos.state.mi.us/history/mag/kids/issues.html

Model T Road Trip
Http://www.hfmgv.org/education/smartfun/welcome.html
 
 
 

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