Rewards and Sacrifices of the Gaming Industry in Nevada

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AUTHOR: Dolores Quihuiz

 

HISTORICAL TOPIC/ERA: Gaming and Tourism

 

GRADE LEVEL (S): 11th Grade

 

TIME REQUIRED: One 85- minute block period.

 

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:

 

Gaming became legalized in the state of Nevada in 1931.  Today, it is considered as the “gambling Mecca” of the world.  From its controversial connections to organized crime to the multi-billion dollar business of today, casinos are an integral part of Nevadans’ lives whether or not they are directly involved.

There are rewards and sacrifices to the environment, economic, and social welfare in many industries.  In this lesson, students will research available resources and make the argument that gaming is/is not beneficial to the state of Nevada today.  They must have examples of both the positive and the negative aspects of the gaming industry and explain in both the written and oral products why one aspect bears a greater significance.

 

NEVADA STANDARDS:

 

Nevada History Standard 8.12.8 Analyze the effects of WWII on the home front in the United States including:

v  Technologies

v  Economic developments

v  Propaganda

v  Women/minority contributions

v  GI Bill

Nevada History Standard 9.8.13 Describe the effects of tourism and gaming on Nevada.

 

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS/OBJECTIVES:

 

1.      Students will be able to access the Online Nevada Encyclopedia website to research Nevada history.

 

2.      Students will write an essay to describe the effects of gaming in Nevada and defend their position.

 

3.      Students will create a PowerPoint presentation that reflects their views found in the essay.

 

 

MATERIALS/SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS:

 

Articles: http://www.onlinenevada.org/gaming_and_tourism

 

Media Gallery:

http://www.onlinenevada.org/cms/apps/media_editor_plus/media_gallery_index.php?catid=7

 

Rubric for persuasive essay:

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=1467344&

 

 

ACTIVITIES/STRATEGIES:

 

1.          Students will work in groups of two.

2.          One student will give the oral presentation and the other will be responsible for the written portion.  Both students are responsible for website research.

3.          Students will read through the eight sections of articles to provide evidence of their thesis statement, including entrepreneurs, gaming history in both Las Vegas and Reno, and organized crime.

4.          Students will then choose at least five photos from the media gallery that further defends their arguments.

5.          A one page maximum persuasive essay will be written that will explain whether or not the gaming industry is beneficial to the state of Nevada.

6.          Students will provide a short PowerPoint presentation to present their argument.

 

EVALUATION OF STUDENT LEARNING:

Students will present their findings and make the argument whether or not gaming is beneficial to Nevada.  Students must provide a written summary (1 page maximum) of their argument and present their findings to the class in the form of an oral presentation.