Lesson Plan: Trading Places (1983)
Subject: Business
Grade Level: 11
Duration: 30 minutes
Overview
This lesson plan centers around the movie Trading Places, a comedy that highlights themes of economics, social class, and market manipulation. Students will analyze and discuss the film's content while connecting it to real-world business concepts.
Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Understand the key economic concepts presented in Trading Places.
- Analyze the effects of social class and environment on individuals' opportunities.
- Discuss the implications of insider trading and market ethics.
Materials Needed
- Movie Clip: Selected scenes from Trading Places (approximately 10-15 minutes of screening).
- Discussion Questions: Prepared list of questions based on the film.
- Whiteboard/Marker: For brainstorming and jotting down ideas.
- Notebooks/Pens: For student note-taking.
Lesson Outline
Introduction (5 minutes)
- Hook: Start the lesson with a brief introduction to the film Trading Places. Ask students if they are familiar with the film or the actors involved.
- Context: Provide a short summary of the movie's plot, focusing on the roles of Louis Winthorpe III (a wealthy broker) and Billy Ray Valentine (a homeless man) who swap lives due to a bet between two wealthy brokers.
Movie Clip Screening (15 minutes)
- Watch Selected Scenes: Show key scenes that illustrate economic concepts such as:
- The life of Louis Winthorpe III before the swap.
- The moment they switch lives.
- The climax featuring the trading floor and insider trading events.
Discussion (5 minutes)
- Guiding Questions: After viewing, facilitate a discussion using the following questions:
- What were the main economic principles illustrated in the film?
- How did the environment and social class impact the characters' lives?
- What ethical dilemmas did the characters face regarding insider trading and market manipulation?
Activity (5 minutes)
- Brainstorming Session: Divide students into small groups and have them brainstorm the potential consequences of real-life actions similar to those taken by characters in the film. Each group can present their ideas briefly.
Conclusion (5 minutes)
- Wrap up the lesson by summarizing the main points discussed. Highlight the importance of understanding economic principles, ethical considerations in business, and the impacts of social inequality.
- Assign a quick reflective writing task for students: “What lesson can be learned from the exchange of lives in Trading Places, and how does it apply to our understanding of business today?”
Assessment
- Participation in discussion and activity.
- Reflective writing task completion.
Homework Assignment
Students will write a one-page response to the following prompt: "Discuss the implications of trading and market ethics as portrayed in Trading Places and how they relate to current business practices."
This lesson plan offers an engaging way to analyze and discuss critical business concepts through film, encouraging students to make connections between entertainment and real-world economic issues.