Monday's Lesson Plan
The 1980's is often referred to as the greed decade. New college graduates in their late twenties and early thirties began working in professional careers making large salaries. This gave them new purchasing power motivating them to collect the latest in expensive designer items. Material possesions became status symbols and young professionals work diligently to acquire as many of possible.

Tuesday's Lesson Plan
With the 1980's came another change in the world's economy. Less developed countries like China, Japan, and Korea were saw investments by large corporations because of these countries wealth of inexpensive labor. Like China has already done, Japan in the 1980's saw the benefits of these investments as a rise in world power. Japan was no longer a source of inexpensive labor, but rather a viable component of the world's economy. This rise in Japan's power created a renewed interest in all things Japanese.

Wednesday's Lesson Plan
In the 1980's Americans in particular became interested in living healthier lifestyles. People became more health conscious as fad diets became prevalent and exercise gurus like Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons promoted aerobic exercise. The health of our planet became of more interest also as a hole in the ozone layer was discovered over Antarctica. The eighties saw an increase in world health issues at home and abroad.

Thursday's Lesson Plan
The eighties saw a shift in the nature of the media and news programs. Before the this time the purpose of TV news, newspapers, and magazines was to inform the public about world events. During the eighties a shift from providing information to providing entertainment occurred. News shows, newspapers, and magazines changed their formats and purpose in order to entertain the masses with information.

Friday's Lesson Plan
As the eighties ended so did Communism. After over twenty years, the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. This served as a symbolic end to Communism and the Cold War. The citizens of East Germany were now able to enjoy many of the liberties that others had taken for granted as they gained the abiltiy to make choices more freely.