Course Title / Introduction to Sociology
Format / Traditional, although adaptable to online or hybrid formats
Instructor / Evan Brown / Lesson Title / Monthly Budget
Time Required / 40 min + homework / Class Size / Any
Relevant Chapter(s) / -Economy, Politics, and Government
-Stratification/Global Stratification
Description / In this three part activity, students are asked to compose monthly budgets for different scenarios. In part 1, they are asked to make a monthly budget for a comfortable lifestyle. In part 2 they are asked to readdress their budget to fit a minimum wage salary. In part two, they will construct and evaluate monthly budgets from two different countries. Questions follow part 2 and 3.
Learning Objective(s) /
- Compare personal economy from multiple perspectives
- Relate personal economy to national and global political and governmental issues
- Evaluate strategies regarding economic inequality
Relevant Course Objective(s) /
- Describe the processes of socialization, the formation of social structure, and assess the social construction of reality from a multi-cultural perspective.
- Define and describe such sociological terms as society, culture, socialization, groups, deviance, institutions (e.g. religion, family, education, work, political), social movements, demographics (age, gender, race, ethnicity), social change and social stratification.
- Identify primary institutions and examine how interactions within and between institutions affect our daily lives.
- Describe sociological concepts and their application to everyday living – ways that these concepts facilitate meeting life’s daily challenges.
Core Concept(s) Addressed / 1. Economy, Government, Politics
2. Stratification, Global stratification
Student Retention Features / In class, product related, small group activity. Both formative and summative assessments. Application to local and global realities. Outside class responsibility.
Bloom’s Taxonomy Targets / Remembering / X / Analyzing
Understanding / X / Evaluating
Applying / X / Creating
Other Learning Targets / 1. Contextualize and analyze complex connections among local and global phenomena.
2. Make choices and decisions informed by multiple frames of reference, including international and cultural contexts.
3. Recognize oneself and one’s culture through the perception of others.
4. Apply contextualized knowledge of at least one culture, nation, and/region beyond the U.S.
Pre- Class Preparation / For Instructor / Make copies of Part 1, 2, & 3 for class
For Students / Read chapter on economy and government, review stratification chapter
Needed Materials / 1. Handouts for Part 1, 2, & 3
2. Access to internet for homework
3. For students a calculator is helpful
Activity Description / Group Size: 1-2
Group Dynamics/Responsibilities: analyzer, problem solver, recorder
Step 1: Break class into groups of 2. Have them start on Part 1. Don’t show them Part 2 or 3. Make sure they have scratch paper to work with. Students can have their own results, but can help one another estimate costs.
Step 2: Once Part 1 is complete, give them Part 2. Questions at the bottom of the sheet are for homework.
Step 3: Part 3 should be handed out after most of Part 2 is complete. Part 3 is homework.
Wrap up / Relate to core concepts and objectives of stratification, economy, and inequality
Assessment Details / Formative: Feedback in class on Part 1 and 2 regarding realistic monthly expenditures
Summative: Questions at the end of Part 2 and 3
Results / Students can demonstrate humility and willingness to adapt one’s own practices, values, and behaviors. Students have willingness to act upon acquired knowledge, skills, and attitudes in global and local contexts. Students have willingness to think ethically about global issues, inequalities, and one’s efficacy in the world.
Notes/Modifications/Adjustments
Adaptation to other formats / For online or hybrid formats, attach Parts 1-3 as attachments in appropriate session with instructions for completion and links to resources.
Further Resources /
Other