Lesson 1: The Concept of Property in Our Society

Objective:

Students will understand various concepts of property in our society.

Aims:

1. Students will identify the different types of property.
2. Students will identify what distinguishes ownership from other relationships with property.
3. Students will define vocabulary words.

Materials:

Chalkboard, paper, pens

 

Lesson Procedure:

Have the students discuss or list everything they own. We can assume that all the items listed will be tangible items of personal property for the students. Perhaps some may include real property such as a home. (If students come from families that include artists, musicians, composers, dancers, authors, programmers, or inventors, immediately call for help! Or recognize that you may get to the point of the lesson plan much more easily than you anticipated.) Students may need to be told that the law recognizes several forms of property: personal, real, and intellectual (to be discussed below).

Have the students discuss/list what characterizes or distinguishes ownership. What does it mean to own something? (Possession, dominion, control, and an ability to transfer this relationship to another are possible topics for discussion here.) Remind students that possession may be actual possession — the item is on or about my person, such as my pen in my hand or my wallet in my pocket. Or, possession may be constructive possession — I have some level of authority over something not on my person, such as my car in the parking lot or my stereo in my home. Make it clear that ownership involves more than just possession — one may borrow, rent, or lease something, and thereby possess it, but still have fewer rights over it than through ownership.

Ask the students about the following situation:

• Can someone "own" an idea? If I have an idea that we should go to a movie tonight and we, in fact, go, do you owe me something for "using my idea"?
  
• Are the following situations different?
  
• What if you spend long hours working on a report for class and another student who does no work simply copies your work? Has "something" been taken from you?
  
• Suppose you write your own song and perform it at an "open mike" night at a coffeehouse. What if you next hear your song being performed on the radio by a major artist without your permission? Was "something" taken from you?
  
• Imagine that you develop a device that can be installed on your car and gives you 150 miles per gallon. Then, what if you see this item for sale at Wal-Mart without your permission? Has " something" been taken from you?
  
  Edge the discussion toward the proposition that some ideas are more like property than others, especially those ideas that are truly innovative or involve a new way to do something or a new artistic/musical creation.
  
  Encourage the students to learn the 15 vocabulary words that accompany this lesson plan. Have the students make up an index card for each word and write on the card five things about the word. The five things may relate to any aspect of the word and may include synonyms or ways in which the word is used. Once these cards are done, select two students to play password. See how many cards the two students can finish before getting a word wrong. Next, pick two more students. See who gets the most words correct.

  Lesson 1 - The Concept of Property in Our Society

  Lesson 2 - Property Rights and Intellectual Property

  Lesson 3 - How Inventions Change the Way We Live

  Lesson 4 - Current Issues in Intellectual Property Law

  Patent Timeline

  Patent Vocabulary