These lesson plans are provided by the National Council on Economic Education.
-
To Market To Market
This lesson will help students become good consumers and producers by taking turns buying and selling things in a classroom-created market.
-
Buy A Bond, James! A Lesson on US Savings Bonds
Why do people save? How do you save? How do you save and make money at the same time? We will find answers to these questions and more in this lesson on saving and U.S. Savings Bonds.
-
The Little Red Hen
In this lesson you will examine through the use of a story how the Little Red Hen uses the productive resources of natural resources, human resources, capital and entrepreneurs to produce bread. You will then match specific items identified in the story with their category of productive resource and then predict what incentives might influence the characters in the future because of the experiences in the story.
-
What are Incentives?
In this lesson, you will identify incentives at home and school, identify positive and negative incentives, and discuss which incentives influence your own behavior.
-
That's Not Fair! How do we Share?
This lesson has students explore a variety of ways to share, particularly when an obvious solution is not apparent.
-
How much is that Doggy?
Your task is to investigate the total cost of owning a dog or a cat. You will decide what type of pet might be best for you. You will discuss what it means to be a responsible owner of a pet.
-
Economic Incentives in our Community
Students will identify positive and negative economic incentives used in their communities to encourage people to make CHOICES beneficial to the community.
-
Banks, Bankers, Banking
Students will demonstrate understanding of the processes associated with banking by role- playing as customers, tellers, and guards.
-
Jelly Belly Jam: a Lesson on Decision Making
In this lesson students will make a decision making chart and use it to help them in deciding which flavor of Jelly beans to buy.
-
Old Toy - New Market
Students explore the LEGOLAND theme parks and demonstrate an understanding of how new markets can be created and that cultural and social differences can affect these markets.
-
Clickety Clack, Let's Keep Track!
This lesson will show students the importance of keeping track of their savings.
-
Tic Tac Taxes!
This lesson will assist students in identifying various taxes and the services they help governments provide.
-
Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard
Ben & Jerry are producers of ice cream. Even if they produce ice cream for the entire nation, they still must make choices on which flavor to produce! Scarce resources force them to make a choice!
-
Making Cents out of Centimes
Students will learn that most countries create their own currency for use as money.
-
Who Pays for City Hall?
The students take a virtual field trip to City Hall in this kid-friendly site. This beginning civics/economic lesson will introduce your students to city government and teach economics on the way!
-
Free Ride
Free Ride helps students identify goods and services provided by the government and evaluate the cost of government provided goods and services.
-
Country Mouse Makes a Decision!
Very young students will be able to make a cost/benefit chart for the Country Mouse after hearing the classic story.
-
Rumble, Grumble, Gurgle, Roar
This lesson is about wants. Little Penguin is hungry and she wants to eat. This story is about how Little Penguin tries to get what she wants.
-
What Do Other People Want To Be?
In this lesson, students will graph people's job choses and identify which jobs would have the most competition based on the data.
-
Scarcity, Choice and decision
The interrelated concepts of scarcity, choice, and costs form a basic economic trilogy.
-
Budgeting Your Financial Resources
Financial planning helps you use your money to get the most out of life. A financial plan, or budget, is a decision-making tool based on the basic.
-
Let's Go Euro
In this lesson you will explore questions to determine what you would do if you were a member of the European Union.
-
You're Going to College
The students will explore the funding costs and the benefits of college.
-
Centuries of Economic Growth: From Feathers to Robotics
Students read scenarios about the production of Bibles over five historical time periods. Working in small groups, students create skits and develop a retrieval chart that is used to analyze factors that impact economic growth.
-
Comparative Economic Systems
Students research the economic systems of a communist country and a third-world country and compare them to the US, guided by questions and using information from the CIA World Factbook website.
-
All In Business
This is a lessons on entrepreneurship. It can be used to help students understand what innovations are, and what it takes to get an idea off the ground.
-
Supply and Demand
In this lesson you will be able to provide an explanation as to why per gallon prices seem to jump just before a holiday or weekend, review historical data on gas prices, and create a graph to represent the data. You will also be able to identify the factors that influence the price of a gallon of gasoline.
-
One is Silver and the Other's Gold
Students learn about the money supply and that it can affect the value of money.
-
What, How and For Whom to Produce?
Students produce badges as rewards for the best economists in the class. Through this production activity, they learn how command and market economies answer the basic economic questions: What to produce? How to produce? For whom to produce?
-
Gross Domestic Pizza
This lesson explores how gross domestic product (GDP) is determined. The major components of GDP are described.
-
Learning About Credit Card Use
This lesson illustrates how quickly credit card purchases can create a dangerous situation for buyers.
-
Constitution Costs
This lesson helps students understand the basic services provided for Americans in the United States Constitution and the necessity of a system of taxation to fund those services.
-
Improving on the Original
What makes something worth marketing? This lesson focuses on the distinction between marketing a new product or licensing it to someone else to market.
-
Lemon Squeeze
Create a supply and demand schedule either by yourself or with your class.
-
The Penny Problem
Students will research the cost of making the penny an the use of the penny and come up with reasons why the penny should or should not be continued to be made and used.
-
Inventors & Entrepreneurs
Students will learn the difference between inventors and entrepreneurs.
-
Scarcity, Choice and Decisions
The interrelated concepts of scarcity, choice, and costs form a basic economic trilogy.
-
Car Loan Project
Each student will buy (hypothetically) a car that will need to be financed. The student will need to look at different options and decide which will be the best choice for his situation.
-
How is the Economy doing?
Students learn the meaning and measurement of six important economic indicators and use the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank National Economic Trends website to assess the current state of the economy.
-
Blowing in the Wind
Wind energy is becoming a viable alternative to more traditional forms of energy generation. In this lesson, students will determine the feasibility of wind generation in different areas of the United States.
-
Fiscal and Monetary Policy Process
Students follow each step of fiscal and monetary policy processes, to see the logic of how these tools are used to correct economic instability.
-
Lowell Workers and Producers Respond to Incentives
In this lesson, you will learn about how an embargo affects supply, demand, price and quantity goods. You'll also be able to explain how an embargo will affect consumers.
-
Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 1
In this lesson you learn how efficient markets affect investor's efforts to time the stock market; they also learn why people who invest in stocks should have long-term investment goals.
-
Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 2
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.
-
Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 3
In Part III 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 Post WWII through the year 2001.
-
National Budget Simulation
Students serve as an Economic Advisor to the President, who must increase military spending out of political necessity, but needs to reduce spending in other programs to limit the deficit.
-
Constitution Costs
This lesson helps students understand the basic services provided for Americans in the United States Constitution and the necessity of a system of taxation to fund those services.
-
CPI- The Crystal Ball
Governments and other financial organizations are constantly measuring trends in the economy to try to predict what will happen next.
-
It's a Matter of Power
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.
-
New York Stock Exchange Made Easy
This lesson will help students to understand the terms that are associated with the New York Stock Exchange. It will also help students to read a stock market report found in any major newspaper or online.
-
Comparative Economic Systems
Students research the economic systems of a communist country and a third-world country and compare them to the US, guided by questions and using information from the CIA World Factbook website.
-
Stock Market Price History
Each of us seek to make wise investment decisions that will make our money grow. Unfortunately, we cannot predict the future, but the past can give us a window to understanding the risks and rewards of the stock market.
-
Economics in the Headlines
In this lesson, you will first examine the factors that change supply and demand for products. You will see how changes in supply and demand affect prices and quantities sold. Then you will analyze actual news stories to determine how changes in supply and demand affect prices and output in our economy.
-
To Market To Market
This lesson will help students become good consumers and producers by taking turns buying and selling things in a classroom-created market.
-
Buy A Bond, James! A Lesson on US Savings Bonds
Why do people save? How do you save? How do you save and make money at the same time? We will find answers to these questions and more in this lesson on saving and U.S. Savings Bonds.
-
The Little Red Hen
In this lesson you will examine through the use of a story how the Little Red Hen uses the productive resources of natural resources, human resources, capital and entrepreneurs to produce bread. You will then match specific items identified in the story with their category of productive resource and then predict what incentives might influence the characters in the future because of the experiences in the story.
-
What are Incentives?
In this lesson, you will identify incentives at home and school, identify positive and negative incentives, and discuss which incentives influence your own behavior.
-
That's Not Fair! How do we Share?
This lesson has students explore a variety of ways to share, particularly when an obvious solution is not apparent.
-
How much is that Doggy?
Your task is to investigate the total cost of owning a dog or a cat. You will decide what type of pet might be best for you. You will discuss what it means to be a responsible owner of a pet.
-
Economic Incentives in our Community
Students will identify positive and negative economic incentives used in their communities to encourage people to make CHOICES beneficial to the community.
-
Banks, Bankers, Banking
Students will demonstrate understanding of the processes associated with banking by role- playing as customers, tellers, and guards.
-
Jelly Belly Jam: a Lesson on Decision Making
In this lesson students will make a decision making chart and use it to help them in deciding which flavor of Jelly beans to buy.
-
Old Toy - New Market
Students explore the LEGOLAND theme parks and demonstrate an understanding of how new markets can be created and that cultural and social differences can affect these markets.
-
Clickety Clack, Let's Keep Track!
This lesson will show students the importance of keeping track of their savings.
-
Tic Tac Taxes!
This lesson will assist students in identifying various taxes and the services they help governments provide.
-
Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard
Ben & Jerry are producers of ice cream. Even if they produce ice cream for the entire nation, they still must make choices on which flavor to produce! Scarce resources force them to make a choice!
-
Making Cents out of Centimes
Students will learn that most countries create their own currency for use as money.
-
Who Pays for City Hall?
The students take a virtual field trip to City Hall in this kid-friendly site. This beginning civics/economic lesson will introduce your students to city government and teach economics on the way!
-
Free Ride
Free Ride helps students identify goods and services provided by the government and evaluate the cost of government provided goods and services.
-
Country Mouse Makes a Decision!
Very young students will be able to make a cost/benefit chart for the Country Mouse after hearing the classic story.
-
Rumble, Grumble, Gurgle, Roar
This lesson is about wants. Little Penguin is hungry and she wants to eat. This story is about how Little Penguin tries to get what she wants.
-
What Do Other People Want To Be?
In this lesson, students will graph people's job choses and identify which jobs would have the most competition based on the data.
-
Let's Go Euro
In this lesson you will explore questions to determine what you would do if you were a member of the European Union.
-
You're Going to College
The students will explore the funding costs and the benefits of college.
-
Centuries of Economic Growth: From Feathers to Robotics
Students read scenarios about the production of Bibles over five historical time periods. Working in small groups, students create skits and develop a retrieval chart that is used to analyze factors that impact economic growth.
-
Comparative Economic Systems
Students research the economic systems of a communist country and a third-world country and compare them to the US, guided by questions and using information from the CIA World Factbook website.
-
All In Business
This is a lessons on entrepreneurship. It can be used to help students understand what innovations are, and what it takes to get an idea off the ground.
-
Supply and Demand
In this lesson you will be able to provide an explanation as to why per gallon prices seem to jump just before a holiday or weekend, review historical data on gas prices, and create a graph to represent the data. You will also be able to identify the factors that influence the price of a gallon of gasoline.
-
One is Silver and the Other's Gold
Students learn about the money supply and that it can affect the value of money.
-
What, How and For Whom to Produce?
Students produce badges as rewards for the best economists in the class. Through this production activity, they learn how command and market economies answer the basic economic questions: What to produce? How to produce? For whom to produce?
-
Gross Domestic Pizza
This lesson explores how gross domestic product (GDP) is determined. The major components of GDP are described.
-
Learning About Credit Card Use
This lesson illustrates how quickly credit card purchases can create a dangerous situation for buyers.
-
Constitution Costs
This lesson helps students understand the basic services provided for Americans in the United States Constitution and the necessity of a system of taxation to fund those services.
-
Improving on the Original
What makes something worth marketing? This lesson focuses on the distinction between marketing a new product or licensing it to someone else to market.
-
Lemon Squeeze
Create a supply and demand schedule either by yourself or with your class.
-
The Penny Problem
Students will research the cost of making the penny an the use of the penny and come up with reasons why the penny should or should not be continued to be made and used.
-
Inventors & Entrepreneurs
Students will learn the difference between inventors and entrepreneurs.
-
Car Loan Project
Each student will buy (hypothetically) a car that will need to be financed. The student will need to look at different options and decide which will be the best choice for his situation.
-
How is the Economy doing?
Students learn the meaning and measurement of six important economic indicators and use the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank National Economic Trends website to assess the current state of the economy.
-
Blowing in the Wind
Wind energy is becoming a viable alternative to more traditional forms of energy generation. In this lesson, students will determine the feasibility of wind generation in different areas of the United States.
-
Fiscal and Monetary Policy Process
Students follow each step of fiscal and monetary policy processes, to see the logic of how these tools are used to correct economic instability.
-
Lowell Workers and Producers Respond to Incentives
In this lesson, you will learn about how an embargo affects supply, demand, price and quantity goods. You'll also be able to explain how an embargo will affect consumers.
-
Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 1
In this lesson you learn how efficient markets affect investor's efforts to time the stock market; they also learn why people who invest in stocks should have long-term investment goals.
-
Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 2
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.
-
Here's Your Chance to Make Millions in the Stock Market - Part 3
In Part III 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 Post WWII through the year 2001.
-
National Budget Simulation
Students serve as an Economic Advisor to the President, who must increase military spending out of political necessity, but needs to reduce spending in other programs to limit the deficit.
-
Constitution Costs
This lesson helps students understand the basic services provided for Americans in the United States Constitution and the necessity of a system of taxation to fund those services.
-
CPI- The Crystal Ball
Governments and other financial organizations are constantly measuring trends in the economy to try to predict what will happen next.
-
It's a Matter of Power
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.
-
New York Stock Exchange Made Easy
This lesson will help students to understand the terms that are associated with the New York Stock Exchange. It will also help students to read a stock market report found in any major newspaper or online.
-
Comparative Economic Systems
Students research the economic systems of a communist country and a third-world country and compare them to the US, guided by questions and using information from the CIA World Factbook website.
-
Stock Market Price History
Each of us seek to make wise investment decisions that will make our money grow. Unfortunately, we cannot predict the future, but the past can give us a window to understanding the risks and rewards of the stock market.
-
Economics in the Headlines
In this lesson, you will first examine the factors that change supply and demand for products. You will see how changes in supply and demand affect prices and quantities sold. Then you will analyze actual news stories to determine how changes in supply and demand affect prices and output in our economy.