Detroit Financial Collapse - 2008 Standard: P2.2 Read and interpret data in tables and graphs 9.1.

1 Economic Changes Using the changing nature of the American automobile industry as a case study, evaluate the changes in the American economy created by new markets, natural resources, technologies, corporate structures, international competition, new sources and methods of production, energy issues, and mass communication. (National Geography Standard 11, p. 206) Anticipatory Set: Where do you get your information? Write it down and share with your neighbor. Possible examples could be news shows, 24 news networks, facebook, twitter, buzzfeed, ipad/tablet, phone the list goes on and on. How do you know that the news that you are reading is a credible source? Flow: Explain that as part of being a democratic thinker, and responsible citizen, knowing what is happening in the world is extremely important. There are a number of news websites that each have a different slant on the story of Detroit. Some talk very negatively, most blame the big businesses, but today we are going to see what the world thinks about Detroit, and we are going to do it through the news. Students will spend the first half of the class period diving into newspapers and articles online that spell out the Detroit story in groups, with the goal of becoming experts in one area of the financial collapse, and then we will jigsaw to get the complete picture. Groups will focus on Congress, Kilpatrick, Auto Industry (GM), and people, as well as the public offices and corruption. Students will use a variety of sources to investigate, and each story will be a little bit different based on the sources they use. We will then come together and share the groups finding, and then I will have the students compare their stories to what actually happened which I will present unbiasedly. The fact that the market was so based in the Auto Industry, and the fact that the auto industry struggled getting to the bailout of the federal government. Corruption in the city governance also impacted greatly the fallout, and how even today, so much of the city is empty that animals are returning, people are setting homes on fire for fun, and Detroit is still rooting out corruption. The elite of the city lived so large, and yet when things failed they were unable to save the city, because they did not know how. We will then have a discussion on how easy it is to get an incorrect story, and also how different news stations play different angles to support a certain political party etc. I will stress the importance of getting well rounded, factual evidence. However this is not the end. Detroit is doing better than it has, still not good, but its coming along, and that is what the final project is going to be about Explain project about the business going in, and how they would have to combine their knowledge of citizenship, public writing, and the history of detroit to develop a business that would help detroit thrive again. Materials Needed: Computers/ Personal Devices Links for good places to start on collecting news

 Paper for the closure activity (RAFT) Explanation of the RAFT process Closure: Students will complete a RAFT about the collapse in Detroit. They will have the opportunity to write a letter, complaint, etc. about the collapse to the government, the automakers, a friendall explaining what they believe about the collapse and the state that we find Detroit in.

RAFT writing:

R Detroit Newspaper Writer

A City of Detroit

F Newspaper Article

T Presenting a summary of how Detroit ended up where it is Experience as a member of a declining neighborhood Explaining why you need a bailout Letter of concern over what they have heard about Detroit.

Citizen in Detroit

City Council

Speech

GM executive Concerned Relative

Congress Sibling living in Detroit

Speech Letter