Another approach to maximizing utility uses indifference curves (sometimes called utility curves) and budget constraints to identify the utility optimizing combination of consumption. Read about this method in this article.

This lesson teaches students about opportunity cost through some steps of buying a house. It also shows students how advertising affects consumer decision-making.

An article that describes the price paid by African Americans for school desegregation. The story of six-year-old Tracy Price Thompson is described and link to her memoir is provided.

Learners explore an alternative to starting a business from scratch- investing in a franchise. They begin by considering the pros and cons of a franchise and whether this form of business is an option that would fit their personality and...

In Part II of this lesson, students will have the opportunity to complete an interactive exercise that will take them on a historical tour of the stock market from 1920 until just after WWII. Students will learn the difference between a...

This page poses a situation which is followed by four problems to solve. They are based on information in Chapter 2: Choice in a World of Scarcity from the TEA AP Macroeconomics online text.

If you don't know what the economy is or how it works, this site is for you. It is broken into subsections that make it easy to understand the economy.

This lesson focuses on understanding fractions, decimals and percentages as the math skills, and saving money and compounding interest as the economic skills. [PDF]

This lesson ask students to calculate the percentage change in military strength over the last two decades, hypothesize economic (and non-economic) explanations for these changes, test hypothetical explanations by reading an economic...

This site is a lesson that teaches students about scarcity and choice. Students participate in a simulation where they are asked to make choices about what they want to take with them in order to survive.

Students learn to make choices and look at alternative choices in this activity from the American Forum for Global Education. Communication tools and technological change are the topic of study. This is a great opportunity for teachers...

Even the savviest consumer has a problem with a good or service on occasion. It is a consumer's right to complain when there is a genuine problem. In some situations, it is also a consumer's responsibility. A problem can't be fixed if no...

This activity will help middle schoolers identify how to make good decisions which will help them financially in the future. Students will identify how to take their own wants and work them into a form of a personal budget. Middle...

A instructional activity exploring whether or not mobile phones matter when it comes to financial management and financial decision-making.

Think about a difficult decision you have had to make. After you decided did it work out? Why or why not? Why do you think decisions and choices are hard to make? We make personal decisions and we make decisions as groups. There is a...

Students will be introduced to the PACED Model and learn to use the parts of the model-- Problem, Alternatives, Criteria, and Evaluation- in solving problems and making decisions. They will practice using the model in decisions about...

Students examine tradeoffs and profit- maximization decisions in the case study of Kaiser Aluminum, which decided to shut down aluminum production in favor of reselling electricity.

An introduction to basic concepts in beginning economics.

This site describes how comparative advantage and specialization cause international trade.

Through illustrated notes and a related video, students will gain an understanding of comparative advantage and why trade is beneficial. [4:10]

This lesson plan ask students to calculate the percentage change in military strength over the last two decades, hypothesize economic (and non-economic) explanations for these changes, test hypothetical explanations by reading an...

Look up! Can you ever imagine standing on another planet and looking down at earth? We've been to the moon - now lets launch an expedition to Mars. Imagine all the preparation you will have to go through in order to have a safe and...

In this lesson young scholars will make a decision making chart and use it to help them in deciding which flavor of Jelly beans to buy.

Fairy tales have always been used to give lessons about life. The story of Jack and the Bean Stalk is a good lesson about the importance of knowing about money and banks. The story of Jack asks the question, "What is money?"