Washington State
Curriculum Based Assessment [CBA] Links to the National Archives and Records Administration's Primary Documents located at [web]www.ourdocuments.gov
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8th Grade

Meeting Needs and Wants (Economics)

Student assignment:
In a persuasive paper or presentation, you will:
  1. Describe examples of how two societies have met their needs and wants.
  2. Explain how both societies' rights, values, and/or beliefs have affected their economic choices.
  3. Compare and contrast the two groups' economic choices with specific similarities and differences.
  4. Show a thorough understanding of opportunity cost through your explanation and analysis.

Primary source documents from "Our Documents, 100 Milestone Source Documents from the National Archives and Records Administration," relating to this Curriculum Based Assessment [CBA]:

Important notes for using this section:

  • Following each sub-topic is a list representing specific documents that are believed to best illustrate a topic. Each document is linked to an interactive digital copy of the record itself, complete with description, background information, a transcribed copy [for convenience and for students having difficulty reading handwriting] and teaching suggestions, from the "Our Documents" web site [see [web]www.ourdocuments.gov]. Just click on the document title and it will take you to the specific "Our Documents" page.
  • In addition, there is a "Document Only" link which can be used in classrooms with fewer web connections. This is an "Adobe Acrobat" [.pdf] file and can be opened in advance and copied by the instructor or student directly, without a web connection, on any type of computer, as long as Adobe Acrobat is loaded on the computer. For a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat program [web]click here.

Sample Topics and Associated Primary Sources:

United States Economic Principles and Development

Anti-Monopoly Movement Effects of US Tariffs Expansion of Territory Fair Labor Policies Federal Banking System Government Programs International Economics Populating Unpopulated Areas Price Fixing Commerce Raising Revenue

Associated Washington State Standards {EALR}

  • Economics 1.1.2a - Provide examples of how groups and individuals face choices and consider price and personal values, etc., in making choices in present and in historical situations (opportunity cost).
  • Economics 2.2.2a - Understand how differences in property rights, ownership and non-economic values and beliefs result in different methods of production and distribution of goods and services.
  • Social Studies Inquiry and Information Skills 3.1.3a - Identify the central issue; formulate appropriate questions; identify multiple perspectives; compare and contrast; validate date using multiple sources; determine relevant information; paraphrase problem

Scoring
EALR Scoring
(*for additional levels, see OSPI Scoring Rubric)
Economics 1.1.2a *at highest level... Explicitly describes four (or more) accurate and specific examples of how the two societies have met their needs (food, clothing, shelter) and wants (at least one example for each society).
AND
Shows thorough understanding of opportunity cost*

* defined as "the best alternative given up when making a choice." To show understanding of this concept, students do not need to reference it explicitly, but rather discuss an economic choice made by one or more society in terms of what alternative it gave up in making this choice.
Economics 2.2.2a *at highest level... Accurately explains how both societies’ rights, values, and/or beliefs have affected their economic choices.
Social Studies Inquiry and Information Skills 3.1.3a *at highest level... Compares and contrasts two groups' economic choices with three (or more) similarities and differences (including at least one similarity and one difference).
National Archives and Records Administration
6125 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
http://www.archives.gov/pacific-alaska