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
“Dewey Defeats Truman”: Be Aware of Data Revisions
Discover the impact and importance of data releases about current economic conditions in the United States. Your class members will learn about data revision and the GDP, and how these figures can alter people's views on the economy.
Curated OER
Money and Credit: Making Good Decisions
Students participate in activities that teach them how to manage money. In this managing money lesson plan, students set long and short term goals for economic success by having discussions, identifying benefits of saving, and...
Curated OER
Choice, Opportunity, Cost and Decisions
Pupils 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
Introduction to Economics
Students demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of unlimited wants and limited resources. They participate in an activity using money to purchase goods and services. Students evaluate benefits and costs resulting from personal...
Federal Reserve Bank
Investing in Yourself: An Economic Approach to Education Decisions
What is the difference between physical capital and human capital, and in which should you invest? While considering the concept of return on investment, take a look at the payoffs and consequences of investing in training and education.
Curated OER
Focused Learning Lesson: Economics
Young scholars review and discuss what skills and knowledge they need to make a decision about a career. They take a test to see which career they would most likely fit into.
Council for Economic Education
NOT Your Grandma's Lemonade Stand
Students participate in a WebQuest to apply economic concepts. In this economics lesson plan, students are guided to various websites and simulate being an entrepreneur.
Curated OER
Take It To the Bank
Examine how the economics of a school store relate to real world economics. Elementary students explore various websites, complete a Venn diagram, create a schedule of wages for the students, read the book "A Chair For My Mother" and...
Curated OER
Loan Amortization - Mortgage
Upper graders explore the connection between interest and principal. They use an amortization schedule to determine the amount of principal paid vs interest on a $100,000 home loan. Fourteen discussion questions and a research-based...
Southwest Miami Senior High School
US History Summer Instructional Packet
Can you boil the historical, cultural, and political events and movements from the last 150 years into a descriptive study guide? You don't have to—it's right here! A thorough resource includes informative text, discussion questions,...
Curated OER
Beyond the Checkbook: Choices of Payment Methods
Students explore different payment methods. In this math lesson plan, students discuss the difference between writing a check and paying online. They will compare and contrast and present their data to the class.
Curated OER
Do I Want or Need?
Students explore wants and needs. In this introductory economics lesson, students use a "pinch card" to display whether a familiar item is a "want" or a "need". Students listen to the book Alexander used to be Rich on Sunday by Judith...
Curated OER
The Great Paper Airplane Factory
Learners investigate the economics of starting a business in this series of lessons. They role play parts of a business organization that sells paper airplanes making decisions based on calculations to make the most profitable organization.
University of Texas
Scarcity
How can having too little of something impact your life? Scholars investigate the concept of scarcity in their own lives and in the overall picture of the economy. Brainstorming activities as well as student-parent work bring to light...
Federal Reserve Bank
Monster Musical Chairs and Scarcity
Why can't we have everything we want? Youngsters are introduced to the concept of scarcity through a game of musical chairs and by discussing what it takes to satisfy our wants.
Curated OER
"Planet" Vacation
Students research a location of their choice using the internet. They list the characteristics of the location and why they chose it as their ideal vacation spot. Using maps, they pinpoint their destination and trace their route. They...
Curated OER
What is a Stock? or, Who Owns McDonald's?
Students explore profit and risk. In this economics lesson plan, students read about McDonald's and Nabisco stock and discuss the risks and rewards of stock ownership. Printable worksheets ask questions about rights of stock owners and...
Visa
Using Credit Wisely
Receiving credit can be both a benefit and a curse. Prepare your learners to make wise credit choices by studying how credit influences credit scores, identifying the different components of credit cards, and exploring major consumer...
Curated OER
Popcorn Economics
Students examine the concept of scarcity. In this economics lesson, students define scarcity and take part in an activity that illustrates the concept as it relates to goods and services.
Curated OER
Introduction to Economics
Students discover the basic economic problem: scarcity; examine how "there is no such thing as a free lunch" (opportunity costs); and define economics. They act out a play demonstrating basic economic principles.
Curated OER
Reality Store: How to Plan a Budget, Pay Bills, and Manage Your Money
Students plan a budget and pay bills when they visit the "Reality Store," a series of classroom studying stations. The use of paying bills and running a class store is used to help students grasp the concept of business.
Curated OER
Taxi: A Book Of City Words
First graders engage in a literature study that helps them to focus on the concepts of goods and services. They describe the various skills people may need at home, school, and work. Students create a map of businesses found in the city.
Council for Economic Education
Morality in Markets: The Two Faces of Adam Smith
Economist Adam Smith supported free enterprise, he but critiqued mercantilism. These two ideas—seemingly contradictory—may be difficult for some young historians to grasp. A reading that explores these ideas guides scholars in unraveling...