Curated OER
First Grade Economics Unit
First graders begin by studying the differences between a "good" and a "service". They compare items to each other to help comprehend the differences. They also look into the differences between buyers and sellers and how the choices...
Curated OER
Opportunity Cost
High schoolers explore the concept of opportunity cost. Classmates discuss, orally and in writing, a time when they had to make a choice when all choices seemed worthwhile. They explore the impact of making decisions when resources are...
Council for Economic Education
Production Possibilities Curve
Demonstrate the important economic principles of the production possibilities curve, including how to calculate opportunity cost and graph curves by using a table or calculation. Learners use a variety of methods, including videos,...
Curated OER
The Soviet Choice For Growth
High schoolers examine five major events in Soviet History to introduce the concept of opportunity cost. They identify considered alternatives at the time of decision and examine benefits and cost. They apply these ideas to a typical...
Curated OER
Love Letters to the World
Students practice personal decision making. In this philanthropy lesson, students compare three different projects, identify the opportunity cost of each, and make a personal decision about which project they feel the class would pursue.
Curated OER
TECH: The Trading Game
Property ownership, restricted trade, and free trade are the topics of this game. Kids play a trade game to better understand the interrelationship between technology, economics, and personal choices. Rules to the game and a series of...
Curated OER
Choice, Opportunity, Cost and Decisions
Students discuss the definition of scarcity and tradeoffs, and the differences between choice and cost. They create budgets and must provide tradeoffs for some of their choices.
Curated OER
Is the Tassle Worth the Hassle?
Students analyze the costs of college education. In this economics instructional activity, students discuss the concept of opportunity cost as it relates to obtaining a college degree to secure a job.
Curated OER
Economics Unit I - The Basics
Twelfth graders access how scarcity requires individuals and institutions to make choices about how to use available resources. They explore the characteristics of different economic systems and institutions. Student are able to describe...
Curated OER
What's In It For Me?
Students analyze the costs and benefits that are involved with owning a business. They create their own decision making grid and identify their trade-offs. They also identify the opportunity costs involved in owning their own business.
Curated OER
Scarcity and Choice
Students participate in a role play as producers of two goods, allowing students to experience scarcity. They make choices about using their scarce resource to produce both or one of two goods. Then they construct...
Curated OER
Decisions! Decisions! What Will I Do?
Students demonstrate formats of opportunity cost. Students illustrate this concept by choosing two pictures and analyzing them for color and cost. They write a short paper explaining their findings.
Curated OER
Life in a Soviet Household
Students simulate the transaction costs experienced by the average householder in the former Soviet Union. They consider time spent searching and waiting in line, scarcity of goods and the lure of the black market.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Renaissance and Reformation Test Preparation
This multiple-choice assessment on the Renaissance and Reformation reviews topics from humanism and the protests of Martin Luther to Italian city-states. While this is a traditional assessment designed by a textbook publisher, you can...
Curated OER
Opportunity Knocks, But It Costs, Too!
Sixth graders write a reflection piece, outlining each of the decision-making steps they have used and what decision they have decided upon, which includes possible solutions, as well as possible outcomes for each solution. They also...
Federal Reserve Bank
Piggy Bank Primer: Saving and Budgeting
Introduce young economists to basic concepts like unlimited wants, opportunity costs, saving, and budgeting with this workbook designed by the Federal Reserve Bank.
Curated OER
Credit: Buy Now & Pay Later
Students examine credit and how it works. For this financial literacy lesson, students review the pros and cons of credit in order to purchase goods and services by answering provided questions and working within a group to come up with...
Curated OER
Rebuild Your Community
Students explore the Gulf Coast disaster and what it took to rebuild the community surrounding it. In this economic development lesson, students watch a video from the Nightly Business Report and explore what all it takes to make up a...
Curated OER
Time Value of Money
Students evaluate the time value of money. In this economics lesson, students define inflation, interest, and the future value of money.
Curated OER
Making Choices With Scarce Resources
Students examine the role of scarcity and how to allocate resources. They describe examples of opportunity costs and tradeoffs. They choose a service project based on a cost and benefits analysis. They finally evaluate the impact of the...
Council for Economic Education
Sand Art Brownies
Which is better, Coke or Pepsi? Pupils analyze the concept of substitute goods as they investigate the choice to purchase alternate products for better prices. Fun and practical, the engaging shopping exercise helps savvy scholars get...
Federal Reserve Bank
Lesson 1: Katrina Strikes
Most families have an emergency kit in their home with flashlights, water, and extra food. But what happens to your money when disaster strikes? An economics lesson focused on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 demonstrates the...
Curated OER
Debt: Who Does it Affect?
Debt is a topic that affects everybody: the community, the nation, and the entire globe. Kids take charge of debt by designing a project that informs those in their community about good financial choices, keeps personal debt low, and...
Curated OER
Consumer Choices
Students define the economic term opportunity cost. They complete a cost-benefit analysis related to the purchase of goods. They complete a philanthropic project and reflect on its benefit to the community.