Materials

• Computer lab with Internet access
• Copies of the following for each student
  – Notes for “Developed and Developing Nations” (Attachment A)
  – A copy of a world political map
  – Teacher-prepared overhead to show locations of developed and developing nations
• Colored pencils

Instructional Activities

NOTE: The following Web resources may be helpful with this lesson:

• “Education Place.” <http://www.eduplace.com/ss/ssmaps/>.This site permits visitors to print a variety of maps.
• The World Factbook 2002. <https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/>

1. Begin with a brainstorming activity. Put the word list below on the board. Ask students to develop two columns on their paper: One column should be labeled “ I Know What This Means”; the other should be labeled “I Need to Learn About This.” Discuss the list as a class.
   • refugee
   • “guest workers”
   • bioethics
   • developing nation
   • pollution
   • loss of habitat
   • ozone depletion
   • poverty
   • illiteracy
   • famine
   • migration
   • free market economy
   • standard of living
   • political freedom
   • multinational corporation
   • international interdependence
   
   
2. Instruct students to respond in writing to the following question:
   • Why does the United States arguably have the highest standard of living in the world?
   
   
3. Review the students’ answers. Discussion should lead students to the conclusion that the United States is a highly developed nation.
   
   
4. Distribute a copy of the notes (Attachment A), and discuss each note. (This probably cannot be completed in one session, if not, spread it out over several.)