Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Changes in Change

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This activity begins with students visiting one web resource that gives them practice in counting money. The second resource goes one step further in that students are given opportunities to make change for make-believe purchases.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Old Business, New Business

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson students are introduced to several businesses from the past. They see that, while the names for these businesses are different, many of the elements of that job are seen in occupations today. The web site, "Business Cards"...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Hey, Mom! What's for Breakfast?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this instructional activity students working in cooperative groups will: 1.Discuss food items they consume for breakfast. 2.Investigate elements of foreign culture, particularly food. 3.Use map skills to locate selected foreign...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Paraffin Alia

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
All resources are limited. It is this simple fact--scarcity--that forces us to make decisions. When we do make a choice, we pass up some other opportunity. Opportunity cost is defined as the next best alternative not chosen, or the...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: How Global Is Your Portfolio?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This engaging instructional activity challenges students to connect economics and geography as they investigate global companies in the stock market.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Did You Get the Message?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Advertising is the primary tool used by businesses to tell consumers about the goods and services they sell in the marketplace. Businesses also use advertising to try to convince consumers to buy what they are selling. Advertisements do...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Be an Ad Detective

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Every day, students are bombarded by advertising. They cannot escape it. But marketers realize that many ypung people are becoming very good at tuning ads out. Businesses thus are becoming more creative in their communication with...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Believe It or Not?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
This lesson reveals to students how advertisers use words and images to make goods and services look their best. To protect consumers and make sure that competition among sellers is fair in the marketplace, the federal government...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Why Work Now?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Why do people work so hard? Why aren't you just assigned a job that you are interested in and get paid as much as the next guy? This lesson will show you why employers want the best workers that their money can buy!
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: From Butterflies to Buffaloes

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Nature tourism, also known as ecotourism, is a fast growing segment of the tourism industry. In this lesson, students learn what ecotourism is and explore how conservation of our natural resources can be profitable.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Us History: Inventors & Entrepreneurs

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students will learn the difference between inventors and entrepreneurs. From talking with adults they will learn some of the benefits inventors and entrepreneurs have provided for society in the last 40 years.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Bill, Are You Bogus?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In a barter system, people have to trade goods and services for other goods and services. In an economy that produces millions of goods and services, barter is very difficult. Think of all the stuff (goods and services) you have.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Effects of the Recession

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The students learn how a recession affects our economy, and how it might affect them personally.They examine the role the federal government has played in dealing with the current recession. They analyze their thoughts about what role...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: You're Going to College

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The young scholars will explore the costs and the benefits of going to college. They participate in a three-part game designed to help them understand the decisions associated with attending college and the benefits available to college...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Prices Are Changing

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This instructional activity will help students to understand how markets are created by the interaction of buyers and sellers, what demand and supply are, what equilibrium price is, and how demand and supply interact with price changes.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Dumptown, Usa: Making a Ton of Difference

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The amount of trash produced in the United States is mounting with each passing year. Communities are finding it increasingly difficult and costly to handle trash disposal. Recycling is considered a key solution to the garbage problem....
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: What Is Money? Why Does It Have Value?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this instructional activity, learners consider the fact that the value of money differs depending on where the money is being spent. In order to understand this idea, students will first develop a deeper understanding of what it means...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Lemonade for Sale!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students will become online entrepreneurs, taking risks and changing their production method to increase their profit while running a lemonade stand. This lesson might best be taught after students have learned about the basic concepts...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Civil War: A War of Resources

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The North won the Civil War in large part due to its superior resources. For this lesson students will learn the difference between capital resources, human capital, and natural resources. They will investigate and compare the resources...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Work, Earnings and Economics: Using Lyddie by Katherine Paterson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In reading and discussing Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson, students examine basic economic concepts and explore the growth of labor unions and the role of government in a market economy.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Choice Is Us: Monopolies

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This instructional activity introduces the concept of monopoly. It calls upon students to consider how monopoly power might affect the quality and price of goods and services offered to consumers. In light of what they learn about the...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Higher You Climb, the More You Pay

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners will take a "Virtual Tour" of the Eiffel Tower in Paris France and locate the price of a bottle of water at each viewing platform. They will need to problem solve how to pay for admission, buy the water and be able to pay for...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Price of Gasoline: What's Behind It?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students investigate the variables that contribute to the cost of gasoline. They learn that while OPEC nations do influence the price of oil and thus the price of gasoline, other factors also influence the price.
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: No Fireworks on the 4th of July

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This lesson explores the differences between public and private goods.