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Lesson plan; “The Price of Change: Analyzing Political Rhetoric and Economic Promises”

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Lesson Plan Overview

This lesson explores the complexities of political rhetoric, economic policies, and public reactions, using former President Donald Trump’s statements as a case study. It encourages students to analyze political messaging, understand economic trade-offs, evaluate public response, and examine global economic interdependence. See links and references below.

Lesson Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

    • Analyze political statements and their implications.
    • Understand the concept of economic trade-offs in policymaking.
    • Evaluate public reactions to political promises and economic policies.
    • Develop critical thinking skills in interpreting media coverage.
    • Examine how national economic policies affect the global economy.

1. Introduction (Engagement & Prior Knowledge Activation)

Warm-Up Discussion: What Do Political Promises Mean?

  • Display the following statement from former President Donald Trump:“There will be a little pain for a while, but ultimately you’re going to be stronger and bigger and more powerful as a country, economically.”
  • Think-Pair-Share:
    1. Think: Students take 2 minutes to write down their initial interpretations of this statement.
    2. Pair: They discuss their thoughts with a partner.
    3. Share: Selected pairs share their insights with the class.
  • Guiding Questions:
    • What does this statement suggest about economic decision-making?
    • Why might a leader acknowledge economic pain before gain?
    • Have you heard similar statements from other political figures?

2. Main Activities

A. Comparing Political Promises vs. Economic Realities

  1. Present Trump’s earlier campaign promise:
    “The president also repeatedly vowed to quickly reduce the price of groceries, utility bills, and more, insisting that he would ‘immediately bring prices down, starting on Day 1.’”
  2. Contrast it with his later admission:
    “Now he’s admitting that ‘pain’ will come first, adding that ‘people understand that.’”
  3. Discussion Questions:
    • Why do politicians sometimes adjust their messaging?
    • What economic factors might have influenced this shift?
    • How do public expectations shape political rhetoric?
    • Can similar shifts be found in history? (Encourage students to provide examples.)

B. Analyzing Public Reaction: The Role of Perception

  1. Present social media reactions to Trump’s statement:
    • “That’s seriously a ‘let them eat cake’ kind of quote.”
    • “It’s giving, ‘some of you will die, but that is a risk I’m willing to take’ vibes.”
  2. Small Group Discussion:
    • What emotions do these reactions convey?
    • How do historical references (e.g., “Let them eat cake”) shape the interpretation of modern political rhetoric?
    • Why do people respond emotionally to economic policies?

C. Media Literacy: How News Headlines Shape Interpretation

  1. Display the following news headline:
    “Let them eat cake moment: Trump’s big pain confession leaves critics horrified”
  2. Class Discussion:
    • Does this headline present the statement neutrally, or is it biased?
    • How might different media outlets present the same information differently?
    • How do headlines shape public perception before they read the full article?
  3. Extension: Compare headlines from multiple sources reporting on the same statement. Have students discuss how wording influences interpretation.

D. Global Economic Interconnectedness

  1. Present the following real-world examples of economic challenges in other countries:
    • Canada Faces Major Economic Shock from US Tariffs:
      • The U.S. has imposed a 25% tariff on most Canadian imports, leading to the largest trade shock in Canada in nearly 100 years. This could stunt economic growth for three years and increase unemployment by 2-3 percentage points, particularly affecting the manufacturing and automotive industries. (Reference 1)
    • Mexico Braces for Impact of US Tariffs:
      • Mexico is also facing 25% tariffs on its exports to the U.S., with significant economic consequences due to close trade ties. (Reference 2)
    • EU Prepares for Potential Trade War with the U.S.:
      • EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Valdis Dombrovskis, has warned that trade wars could reduce global GDP by up to 7%. (Reference 3)
    • UK Faces Inflation and Interest Rate Challenges:
      • Trump appeared to take a softer line on the UK, citing a good relationship with the prime minister, Keir Starmer, while saying tariffs still “might happen”. “The UK is out of line but I’m sure that one, I think that one can be worked out,” he said (The Guardian)
    • Canada Prepares “Forceful and Immediate” Response:
      • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans for a strong response to U.S. tariffs, amid internal political changes in the Liberal Party. (Reference 5)
  2. Guided Discussion:
    • How do economic policies in one country affect others?
    • What are the potential global consequences of U.S. economic policies?
    • How do global trade relationships influence national decision-making?

3. Group Activity: Political Messaging & Economic Impact

  • Instructions: Divide the class into small groups representing different countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Mexico, UK, EU). Each group must:
    1. Create a Mock Political Campaign Promise
      • Propose an economic policy (e.g., lower inflation, reduce taxes, increase exports).
    2. Develop a Follow-Up Statement
      • Address potential difficulties or trade-offs.
    3. Consider Global Impact
      • Predict how their policy might affect other countries.
    4. Presentation:
      • Each group presents their promise and follow-up statement, explaining how global economic interdependence might shape their choices.

4. Conclusion & Reflection

  • Individual Reflection Writing Prompt:
    • What have you learned about political rhetoric and economic realities?
    • How do public perceptions and media influence the interpretation of political statements?
    • Why is it important to critically evaluate political promises?
    • How does economic interdependence challenge national decision-making?
  • Optional Class Discussion:
    • What responsibility do citizens have in critically engaging with political messaging?
    • How can we apply these lessons to evaluating future political and economic claims?

5. Homework Assignment: Political Rhetoric & Economic Realities

  • Task:
    • Find an example of another political leader adjusting their economic promises due to changing economic realities.
    • Summarize the promise and how it changed.
    • Analyze the factors behind this shift, including media reactions and global economic impact.
    • Compare and contrast this example with Trump’s statement.

 

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