Development: Topics in Development
Learning Objectives
- Students will analyze the various ways in which development can be impacted by globalization by discussing the distribution of vaccines and petroleum.
- Students will discuss the importance of taxation as it relates to the development of a country.
Length
One 45 minute period
Grade Level
High School
Materials
Homework
- Students will complete Parts 1+2 of the guided reading handout.
Class
- (10 Minutes) Debrief Homework: Ask students to share key takeaways with a partner. As a class, discuss how vaccines and the free flow of oil are connected to development. Potential Questions: How did developed countries respond to the need for a COVID-19 vaccine? Was there incentive for developing nations to get access to the vaccine? Why is oil considered a global commodity? What impact can price shocks have on both developed and developing countries?
- (15 Minutes) Complete: Students should complete Part 3 of the Guided Reading Handout. After they finish, debrief key takeaways about taxes. Potential Questions: Why are taxes important? How do governments use taxes? How does development factor into taxation? What are the arguments for and against the rich paying more? What are some challenges collecting taxes?
- (20 Minutes) Topic Mini-Debate: As a class, students will engage in short debates using one or more of the following questions:
- Vaccines: Should developed countries help developing countries get vaccines? Why or why not?
- Oil: Considering the detrimental effects of oil price shocks, should the world be moving towards renewable energy sources more quickly? Why or why not?
- Taxes: Should countries use progressive taxes? Why or why not?
Vocabulary
- alternative energy
energy sources that are not fossil fuels. Derived from biofuels, solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, or even nuclear power, these sources release few to no greenhouse gas emissions.
- epidemic
an increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is typical for a certain population in an area.
- Food and Drug Administration
U.S. regulatory agency that decides whether or not certain drugs and foods are safe to sell to the American public.
- greenhouse gases
gases that absorb heat in the atmosphere and re-emit it back toward earth, causing a warming effect.
- gross domestic product
a measure of a country’s economic output determined by the value of goods and services it produces in a given year.
- pandemic
disease outbreak that has reached at least several countries, affecting a large group of people.