I missed posting a Snag Learning Film of the Week last week, but I’ve got a really good one this week. This afternoon my Civics class watched a portion of Independent American – Rising from Ruins. This film documents the economic recovery efforts in post-Katrina New Orleans. In particular the film examines the efforts of community organizers and small business owners to get the economy moving again. The film does a  nice job of comparing the roles of small businesses in the community with those of corporate conglomerates operating franchises in the community. Watch the whole film and find discussion questions here.
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Applications for Education
The students in my Civics class just finished creating and presenting their plans for reviving the economy of our community (Oxford Hills, Maine). You can see the outline of that project here.

My purpose in showing Independent America – Rising from Ruins was to provide my students with some more ideas about the important roles of small businesses in the local economy.

Here are some related items that may be of interest to you:
Snag Learning Film of the Week – Immersion
The Lifespan of the Dollar Bill
Comparing Taxes and Costs of Living