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Metaphorical Expression
Lesson Plan
Social Studies
6
50
Ashley Jenkins

Instructional Unit Content

Standard(s)/Element(s)
Content Area Standard
SS6E4. The student will explain personal money management choices in terms of income,
spending, credit, saving, and investing.
TAG Standard
Creative Thinking & Creative Problem Solving Skills
7. The student uses analogies, metaphors, and/or models to explain complex concepts.

Summary/Overview
The focus of this lesson is to give students the opportunity to develop new insights and
provide powerful explanations of the debt problem in America and its lasting impact.

Enduring Understanding(s)
At the end of this lesson the student will understand
a. The lasting impact of the debt problem affecting Americans.
b. How to better manage personal finances to avoid debt.

Essential Question(s)
How has the debt problem in America affected families and individuals' financial decisions?
Concept(s) to Maintain

Evidence of Learning
What students should know:
a. The reasons for Americans' debt.
b. The groups who are most and least affected by the debt.
c. How decisions to save have changed over the years.

What students should be able to do:

a. use direct analogies, personal analogies, and compressed conflicts to explain the debt issue in
America.

Suggested Vocabulary

debt
income

spending

credit

saving

investing

Procedure(s)
Phase 1: Hook
1.

Students will participate in a Carousel Brainstorming Activity. Students will inspect the
question posed at each station, develop/record all ideas, and rotate to expand ideas at another
station. Review the three types of metaphorical expressions experienced by the students: direct
analogies, personal analogies, and compressed conflicts. Explain to the students that today we
are going to examine the debt problem in America using these three types of metaphors.
- Carousel Questions
How is a credit card like a prison cell?
If impulse were a machine, what would it look like? Draw your idea below.
If you were a pizza, what topping would best match your personality? Why?
If America was an ice-cream flavor, what would it be? Why?
How would you feel if you were in a sinking boat without a paddle?
What are some things that are both rich and poor?

Phase 2: Examine the Content

Set the Scene: The instructor will ask students what's the last item they purchased; how much did
it cost?; what item is on your wish list?; how much does it cost?; where will you get the money
for the item?; if you borrow, how will you be able to pay it back?
Pose the Essential Question: " How has the debt problem in America affected families and
2.

individuals' financial decisions?" How is our essential question connected to our discussion
about your personal financial decisions?
3.

Students will then work individually to analyze Americans spending. Each student will pair up
with another to compare their answers and verify their understanding of America's debt.

Phase 3: Analogies
4.

Direct Analogy: Students will identify the similarities and differences between America's current
debt and the Great Depression. In groups of 4 record how they are alike and different using the
Direct Analogy organizer.

Personal Analogy: Students will compare themselves to an indebted person. Individually record
the answers to the following questions:
Where do you live?
How do you feel when you are unemployed?
How do you feel when you apply for several jobs but do not hear back from any?
How do you feel when you finally find a job, but it only pays minimum wage?
Students will write a paragraph, poem, or song in the first person about their life in debt.
6. Compressed Conflict: Students will brainstorm antonyms of living in debt in order to create
compressed conflict phrases using the Compressed Conflict organizer.
5.

Phase 4: Synthesis Activity

7.

Candidates will generate another direct analogy by completing the following sentence: Living in
debt is like ________. Give at least 5 reasons why living in debt is like the item in your sentence.

Summarizing Activity

Exit Ticket: How can you make decisions now to avoid living in debt later?

Resource(s)
Anchor Text(s):
Technology:
Handouts:
Handout 1:
Handout 2:
Handout 3:
Handout 4:
Handout 5:
Handout 6:
Handout 7:

Carousel Questions
Spending Spree Documents
Content Organizer
Personal Analogy Organizer
Direct Analogy Organizer
Compressed Conflict Organizer
Synthesis Activity