Creator: McKinney and Urban Ministries of Durham | visit site
Grade Range: 7 - 11
This employment/economics site leads you through the process of looking for a job, trying to make it through the month on a limited income, understanding the repercussions of participating in a strike, and facing a time when there is no money. It is similar to a "real life" choose your own adventure. Most choices offer three options and share some pros/cons for each. After you select the job you would like to try for, the activity leads you to the requirements and possible pre-tests. If you do not qualify, you must apply for one of the remaining and less desirable jobs. Once you choose your job, you learn about costs of health insurance, taxes, housing, transportation, child care, and more.
In the Classroom
Use this site when you are teaching budgeting or learning about poverty in America. Business classes or courses on "life in the real world" will benefit from trying the entire simulation. Challenge students to work this site individually and keep notes of the choices/consequences they discovered on their path. Have them write blog entries based on their experiences. If individual computers aren’t available, share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups create online "how to" books on surviving the challenges learned about on the website using a tool such as Bookemon, <a href="/single.cfm?id=10404">reviewed here</a>.
At Home
Consider the issues on this site when accepting a new job or contemplating moving to a new location. Share with your young adult as they consider getting a part time job.
Tags
Subjects
Character Education, Current Events, Economics, Family and Consumer Science, Math, Social Studies, Social Studies,