TITLE:     ENTREPRENEUR

AUTHOR:     Eva Barrett; Sweet Home High, OR

GRADE LEVEL & SUBJECT AREA:   Grade  10 - 12
          American Government and Economics

OVERVIEW:  This activity is used as a group activity.  The
students work in groups of four to establish a profitable
business that also helps the economy of the community.  Give
students  2-4 days to do research--then schedule
presentations.

PURPOSE:  This activity involves students with economic
factors at a local level.

OBJECTIVES:
  l.  Awareness of factors that effect a local economy.
  2.  Transfer of this knowledge to a national level.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
  Area codes for your location.
  County and city officials can be helpful.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
l.  Divide the class into groups of four.
2.  One group will play the role of city council.
3.  City Council Role:
    a.  research:
        l)  What the community needs.
        2)  What will be the long term as well as the
            short term effects.
        3)  What permits, etc., will be required.
        4)  What is the opposition?
    b.  Presentations:
        l)  Listen and question the group enterprises
            will be approved.
4.  Group Roles:  (Each group has a beginning capital of
    $100,000)
    a.   Research:
         l)  What does the community need?
         2)  Decide on one enterprise
         3)  What will be the effects
         4)  What permits, etc. will be required
         5)  Additional capital
         6)  Specific location
         7) Number of employees
         8)  Future Development.
    b.   Presentation to the city council.

*Note:    I also frequently allow students to testify at the
hearing against enterprises in an attempt to sway the
council.

**  Brainstorming prior to the activity about state or local
economic problems sometimes will motivate the students to
become more actively involved in the group activity.