Country/Economic Systems/Continuum Review Activity Directions: 1. Place students into groups of three. 2. Give each group an envelope containing Country Cards and Country Flags, a copy of the Country Continuum, an Answer Sheet and a copy of the Economic Freedom Index. 3. Instruct students to select a group reader. This person will read the Country Card clues to other group members. Stress to the readers that they should not reveal the country name until group members make guesses. Group members should use the information on the Country Card to name the countries being discussed. (Activity can also be conducted by having students rotate the role of group reader) 4. Instruct students that they should complete the Answer Sheet as they are naming each country. 5. When all groups have completed their Answer Sheets call on different students and ask them to name the countries. (This should be done to check for accuracy.) 6. Tell students to refer to the Economic Freedom Index to find the economic freedom scores for each of the countries just discussed. 7. After finding individual economic freedom index scores from the Economic Freedom Index, students should place the Country Flags on the Country Continuum in the proper place. Example… If Germany has an economic freedom score of 72.8, students should place the German flag above the 72% point on the Country Continuum line. 8. Debrief student findings by asking group members to discuss the differences in low and high scores on the continuum. (Low scores are generally synonymous with command economies while higher scores are generally synonymous with market economies.) 9. Debrief student findings by asking group members to discuss how their economic lives would differ if they lived in a country with a low score on the Economic Freedom Index vs. if they lived in a country with a high score on the Economic Freedom Index. (Higher score usually means more room for entrepreneurship, higher GDP, higher standard of living, more control of factors of production, greater competition, greater variety of goods and services, etc.)
1. Place students into groups of three.2. Give each group an envelope containing Country Cards and Country Flags, a copy of the Country
Continuum, an Answer Sheet and a copy of the Economic Freedom Index.3. Instruct students to select a group reader. This person will read the Country Card clues to other
group members. Stress to the readers that they should not reveal the country name until group members make guesses. Group members should use the information on the Country Card to name the countries being discussed. (Activity can also be conducted by having students rotate the role of group reader)
4. Instruct students that they should complete the Answer Sheet as they are naming each country.5. When all groups have completed their Answer Sheets call on different students and ask them to
name the countries. (This should be done to check for accuracy.)6. Tell students to refer to the Economic Freedom Index to find the economic freedom scores for
each of the countries just discussed.7. After finding individual economic freedom index scores from the Economic Freedom Index,
students should place the Country Flags on the Country Continuum in the proper place. Example… If Germany has an economic freedom score of 72.8, students should place the German flag above the 72% point on the Country Continuum line.
8. Debrief student findings by asking group members to discuss the differences in low and high scores on the continuum. (Low scores are generally synonymous with command economies while higher scores are generally synonymous with market economies.)
9. Debrief student findings by asking group members to discuss how their economic lives would differ if they lived in a country with a low score on the Economic Freedom Index vs. if they lived in a country with a high score on the Economic Freedom Index. (Higher score usually means more room for entrepreneurship, higher GDP, higher standard of living, more control of factors of production, greater competition, greater variety of goods and services, etc.)
10. Randomly distribute large country flags and ask students to correctly affix them to the Teacher Continuum Poster at the front of the room.
Materials:
1. Country Cards and Country Flags sets…placed in envelopes.2. Country Continuum 3. Answer Sheet4. Economic Freedom Index 5. Large country flags for poster6. Teacher continuum poster7. Tape
Country Cards (6th Grade)
#1 Brazil
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Federal Republic
Geographic Size: Larger than the continental U.S.
Geographic Feature: Amazon River
Environmental Issue: Deforestation
GDP: $2.425 trillion (2012 est.)
#2 Canada
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy, Parliamentary Democracy
Geographic Size: Larger than the continental U.S.
Geographic Features: Hudson Bay, St. Lawrence River
Environmental Issue: Acid rain, pollution of Great Lakes
GDP: $1.77 trillion (2012 est.)
#3 Cuba
Economic System: Command
Government Type: Dictatorship
Geographic Size: Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Geographic Feature: Island nation
Trade Issue: Facing a U.S. embargo
GDP: $72.3 billion (2012 est.)
#4 Mexico
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Federal Constitutional Republic
Geographic Size: Three times the size of Texas
Geographic Feature: Sierra Madre Mountains
Trade Issue: Member of NAFTA
GDP: $1.163 trillion (2012 est.)
#5 Germany
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Federal System
Geographic Size: About the size of Montana
Geographic Feature: Rhine River
Environmental Issue: Acid Rain
GDP: $3.367 trillion (2012 est.)
#6 Russia
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Federation
Geographic Size: World’s largest country
Geographic Feature: Ural Mountains
Environmental Issue: Nuclear Waste
GDP: $2.053 trillion (2012 est.)
#7 United Kingdom
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Parliamentary System
Geographic Size: About the size of Oregon
Geographic Feature: Island(s) nation
Environmental Issue: Air Pollution
GDP: $2.434 trillion (2012 est.)
#8 Australia
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Federal Parliamentary Democracy
Geographic Size: World’s largest island
Geographic Feature: Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock
Environmental Issue: Forest fires
GDP: $1.542 trillion (2012 est.)
Country Cards (7th Grade)
#1 Israel
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Geographic Size: About the same size as Lake Michigan
Geographic Feature: Borders Gaza Strip
Environmental Issue: Fresh Water
GDP: $246.8 billion (2012 est.)
#2 Saudi Arabia
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Monarchy/Kingdom
Geographic Size: About ¼ the size of the continental United States
Geographic Feature: Bordered by the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf
Trade Issue: OPEC nation
GDP: $657 billion (2012 est.)
#3 Turkey
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Geographic Size: Slightly larger than Texas
Geographic Feature: Straddles two continents…Europe and Asia
Environmental Issue: Air Pollution in large cities
GDP: $783.1 billion (2012 est.)
#4 Nigeria
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Federal Republic
Geographic Size: About the Size of California, Arizona and Nevada combined
Geographic Feature: Niger River
Environmental Issue: Water Pollution
GDP: $272.6 billion (2012 est.)
#5 South Africa
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Republic
Geographic Size: About twice the size of Texas
Geographic Feature: Southernmost African nation
Environmental Issue: Air Pollution in large cities
GDP: $390.9 billion (2012 est.)
#6 China
Economic System: Command (official)
Government Type: Communist State
Geographic Size: Slightly larger than the United States
Geographic Feature: Gobi Desert
Environmental Issue: Air Pollution and Flooding
GDP: $8.26 trillion
#7 India
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Federal Republic
Geographic Size: About 1/3 the size of the United States
Geographic Feature: Ganges River, Bay of Bengal on Southern Coastline
Environmental Issue: water pollution, air pollution, flooding
GDP: $1.947 trillion (2012 est.)
#8 Japan
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy
Geographic Size: Slightly smaller than California
Geographic Feature: Sea of Japan on Western Coastline
Environmental Issue: Air Pollution
GDP: $5.984 trillion (2012 est.)
#9 North Korea
Economic System: Command
Government Type: Communist Dictatorship
Geographic Size: Slightly smaller than Mississippi
Geographic Feature: Yellow Sea along Western Coastline
Trade Issue: Facing a U.S. Embargo
GDP: $28 billion (2009 est.)
#10 Iran
Economic System: Mixed/Market
Government Type: Theocracy
Geographic Size: Slightly larger than Alaska
Geographic Feature: Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf along southern border
Environmental Issue: Fresh Water
GDP: $483.8 billion (2012 est.)
Country Flags (6th Grade)
BRAZIL CANADA CUBA
MEXICO GERMANY RUSSIA
UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA
Country Flags (7h Grade)
ISRAEL SAUDI ARABIA TURKEY
NIGERIA SOUTH AFRICA CHINA
INDIA JAPAN NORTH KOREA
IRAN
Economic Freedom Index
FREE
rank country overal
l rank country overall
1 Hong Kong 89.3 4 New Zealand 81.42 Singapore 88.0 5 Switzerland 81.03 Australia 82.6
MOSTLY FREE
rank country overall rank country overall
6 Canada 79.4 21 Georgia 72.27 Chile 79.0 22 Lithuania 72.18 Mauritius 76.9 23 Iceland 72.19 Denmark 76.1 24 Japan 71.810 United States 76.0 25 Austria 71.811 Ireland 75.7 26 Macau 71.712 Bahrain 75.5 27 Qatar 71.3
13 Estonia 75.3 28 United Arab Emirates 71.1
14 United Kingdom 74.8 29 Czech Republic 70.915 Luxembourg 74.2 30 Botswana 70.616 Finland 74.0 31 Norway 70.5
17 The Netherlands 73.5 32 Saint Lucia 70.4
18 Sweden 72.9 33 Jordan 70.419 Germany 72.8 34 South Korea 70.320 Taiwan 72.7 35 The Bahamas 70.1
MODERATLY FREE
rank country overall rank country overall36 Uruguay 69.7 61 Thailand 64.137 Colombia 69.6 62 France 64.138 Armenia 69.4 63 Rwanda 64.139 Barbados 69.3 64 Dominica 63.940 Belgium 69.2 65 Cape Verde 63.741 Cyprus 69.0 66 Kuwait 63.142 Slovakia 68.7 67 Portugal 63.143 Macedonia 68.2 68 Kazakhstan 63.044 Peru 68.2 69 Turkey 62.945 Oman 68.1 70 Montenegro 62.646 Spain 68.0 71 Panama 62.547 Malta 67.5 72 Trinidad and Tobago62.3
48 Hungary 67.3 73 Madagascar 62.049 Costa Rica 67.0 74 South Africa 61.850 Mexico 67.0 75 Mongolia 61.751 Israel 66.9 76 Slovenia 61.752 Jamaica 66.8 77 Ghana 61.353 El Salvador 66.7 78 Croatia 61.354 Saint Vincent/Gr. 66.7 79 Uganda 61.155 Latvia 66.5 80 Paraguay 61.156 Malaysia 66.1 81 Sri Lanka 60.757 Poland 66.0 82 Saudi Arabia 60.658 Albania 65.2 83 Italy 60.659 Romania 65.1 84 Namibia 60.360 Bulgaria 65.0 85 Guatemala 60.0
MOSTLY UNFREE
rank country overall rank country overall
86 Burkina Faso 59.9 116 Senegal 55.587 Dominican Rep. 59.7 117 Greece 55.488 Azerbaijan 59.7 118 Malawi 55.389 Kyrgyz Republic 59.6 119 India 55.290 Morocco 59.6 120 Nigeria 55.191 Lebanon 59.5 121 Pakistan 55.192 The Gambia 58.8 122 Bhutan 55.093 Zambia 58.7 123 Mozambique 55.094 Serbia 58.6 124 Seychelles 54.995 Cambodia 58.5 125 Egypt 54.896 Honduras 58.4 126 Côte d'Ivoire 54.197 The Philippines 58.2 127 Djibouti 53.998 Tanzania 57.9 128 Niger 53.999 Gabon 57.8 129 Guyana 53.8100 Brazil 57.7 130 Papua New Guinea 53.6101 Benin 57.6 131 Tajikistan 53.4102 Belize 57.3 132 Bangladesh 52.6103 Bosnia and Herz57.3 133 Cameroon 52.3104 Swaziland 57.2 134 Mauritania 52.3105 Fiji 57.2 135 Suriname 52.0106 Samoa 57.1 136 China 51.9107 Tunisia 57.0 137 Guinea 51.2108 Indonesia 56.9 138 Guinea-Bissau 51.1109 Vanuatu 56.6 139 Russia 51.1110 Nicaragua 56.6 140 Vietnam 51.0111 Mali 56.4 141 Nepal 50.4112 Tonga 56.0 142 Central African Republic50.4113 Yemen 55.9 143 Micronesia 50.1114 Kenya 55.9 144 Laos 50.1115 Moldova 55.5
REPRESSED
rank country overall rank country overal
l145 Algeria 49.6 162 Uzbekistan 46.0146 Ethiopia 49.4 163 Kiribati 45.9147 Liberia 49.3 164 Chad 45.2148 Burundi 49.0 165 Solomon Islands 45.0149 Maldives 49.0 166 Timor-Leste 43.7150 Togo 48.8 167 Republic of Congo 43.5151 Sierra Leone 48.3 168 Iran 43.2152 Haiti 48.1 169 Turkmenistan 42.6153 São Tomé and Príncipe 48.0 170 Equatorial Guinea 42.3154 Belarus 48.0 171 Democratic Republic of Congo39.6155 Lesotho 47.9 172 Burma 39.2156 Bolivia 47.9 173 Eritrea 36.3157 Comoros 47.5 174 Venezuela 36.1158 Angola 47.3 175 Zimbabwe 28.6159 Ecuador 46.9 176 Cuba 28.5160 Argentina 46.7 177 North Korea 1.5161 Ukraine 46.3
What is economic freedom?
Economic freedom is the fundamental right of every human to control his or her own labor and property. In an economically free society, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they please, with that freedom both protected by the state and unconstrained by the state. In economically free societies, governments allow labor, capital and goods to move freely, and refrain from coercion or constraint of liberty beyond the extent necessary to protect and maintain liberty itself.
What is a perfect score on this index?
100
Source: www.heritage.org/index
Answer Sheet (6th grade)
Directions: After listening to the country clues, decide which 6 th grade focus country is being discussed. Write the name of each country on the lines below.
Country #1 ____________________
Country #2 ____________________
Country #3 ____________________
Country #4 ____________________
Country #5 ____________________
Country #6 ____________________
Country #7 ____________________
Country #8 ____________________
Possible Answers:
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, Germany, Mexico, Russia, United Kingdom
Answer Sheet (7th grade)
Directions: After listening to the country clues, decide which 7 th grade focus country is being discussed. Write the name of each country on the lines below.
Country #1 ____________________
Country #2 ____________________
Country #3 ____________________
Country #4 ____________________
Country #5 ____________________
Country #6 ____________________
Country #7 ____________________
Country #8 ____________________
Country #9 ____________________
Country #10 ___________________
Possible Answers:
China, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey
