Our Nation is designed to provide practical information about business operations and economic issues in the United States.
The learning objectives listed beside each activity state the skills and knowledge the students will gain.
Activity One: Organization The students discover the common forms of business organization in the United States. They discuss the variety of resources necessary for business operations.
Key Learning Objectives
The students will identify the three common forms of business organization give examples of the natural, human, and capital resources needed to start a business
Activity Two: Human Resources The students learn about the importance of human resources to a business. They discover the factors that influence one’s ability to obtain work, and they practice interviewing skills.
Key Learning Objectives
The students will list qualities employers look for in their employees recognize the steps necessary to get a job
Activity Three: Production The students use three different strategies to make pens. They develop an understanding of how different production strategies affect productivity and profits.
Key Learning Objectives
The students will compare unit, mass, and batch production methods recognize the importance of productivity
Activity Four: Advertising The students learn about the importance of advertising. They evaluate how advertisements are targeted to specific audiences.
Key Learning Objectives
The students will explain why businesses advertise identify different types of advertisements
Activity Five: Annual Meeting The students will present the results of their business plans before an annual meeting of stockholders.
Key Learning Objectives
The students will assume responsibility for stockholders’ meeting
demonstrate their knowledge of business operations
evaluate business plans
Our Nation enhances the students’ learning of the following concepts and skills:
Concepts – Advantages • Advertising • Advertising techniques • Annual meeting • Career • Corporations • Different • Disadvantages • Division of labor • Job • Market • Partnerships • Price • Product • Production • Productivity • Profit • Resources • Service • Similar • Sole proprietorships • Specialization • Stock
Skills – Assembling products • Building self-esteem • Calculating profit • Conducting interviews • Critical listening • Decision making • Drawing conclusions • Formulating a plan • Giving reports • Interpreting, conceptualizing, and designing advertisements • Justifying actions • Making observations • Role playing • Teamwork
All JA programs have technology enhancements and are designed to support the skills and competencies outlined in the SCANS (Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) report. These programs also augment the school-based, work-based, and connecting activities for communities with school-to-work initiatives.
identify the three common forms of business organization