Curated OER
Making Choices
Second graders explore financial decision making. For this introductory economics lesson, 2nd graders listen to the book Alexander, Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst, and discuss making financial choices based on wants...
Federal Reserve Bank
Glo Goes Shopping
Making decisions can be very difficult. Show your class one way to evaluate choices with this activity, which is inspired by the book Glo Goes Shopping. Learners practicing using a decision-making grid with the content of the story and a...
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Something from Nothing
Students identify opportunity costs. In this resources lesson plan students are read the story Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman. Students list the things Grandpa makes Joseph. Students state why people make choices.
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Smart Consumers, Smart Choices
Students see what it means to be a smart consumer by engaging in a level-headed analysis of budget, opportunity costs and self-regulation. They compare prices within a service field, and weigh the choices of spending money on that item.
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The Berenstain Bears' Mad, Mad, Mad Toy Craze
Students use the book, The Berenstain Bears' Mad, Mad, Mad Toy Craze, to explore spending, collecting, opportunity cost, saving, and speculating.
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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...
Literacy Design Collaborative
Catching a Grenade: How Word Choice Impacts Meaning and Tone
Beyonce's "Halo" and Bruno Mars' "Grenade" provide eighth graders with an opportunity to consider how a writer's choice of words can create a very different tone even when the subject is the same. After a close reading of both lyrics,...
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Uncle Jed's Barbershop
Fourth graders examine productive resources. In this economics lesson, 4th graders read a book about a man who saves money to buy his own barbershop. After reading, students get into groups to play a game to learn about savings.
Curated OER
Yard Sale
Young scholars complete activities to discover spending, goods, services, price, advertising, choice, alternatives, criteria and opportunity cost.
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The Leaves in October
Students determine whether or not to save or spend and defend a decision. In this personal finance lesson plan, students identify opportunity cost of various spending and saving decisions. Students read a story where two girls share...
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Why We Save
Students discover how to save money. For this financial planning lesson, students read the story Spend or Save? and discuss ways to save money. Students choose a character from the story and write about a financial decision they had to...
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Mr. Popper's Penguin's
Fourth graders locate Antarctica and recognize it as the setting of Mr. Popper's Penguins. In this Mr. Popper's Penguins lesson, 4th graders understand the financial decisions made by Mr. Popper. Students discuss wise spending. Students...
American Press Institute
Creating a Classroom Newspaper
Hot off the press: a mini-unit for class members to create their own newspaper. Complete with graphic organizers, extension activities, and helpful learning targets that teach parts of a newspaper, the resource contains everything needed...
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Philanthropy in Michigan? Civil War Lesson 3: Why Should I Do Philanthropy?
Students investigate the personal benefits a person can attain from performing philanthropic acts. They think about opposing viewpoints regarding choices, decision-making and consequences. They interview a person regarding their...
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Economics: People as Producers and Consumers
Students examine the dual roles of producers and consumers in people by creating fictional stories that include examples of both. Their stories include descriptions of the tools and skills needed for the jobs of their characters and...
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Love Letters to the World
Students compare three service projects and decide on one to carry out in their community. They determine the opportunity costs of completing one project over another and vote for the one they want to complete. Students realize how...
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Careers
Students discuss job choices, careers, and how they can affect lifestyles. They research a job they are interested in and write answers to questions about that job. They prepare a poster which includes information about the career they...
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Meet Molly An American Girl
Students examine concepts of personal finance. In this personal finance lesson, students use Valerie Tripp's, Meet Molly, An American Girl, to learn about saving and spending after World War II. They compare financial decisions after...
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Money Smart children
Students elementary financial vocabulary words: spend, save, invest and donate. In this finance instructional activity, students respond to the story "Sam and the Lucky Moon." Students describe the concepts of wants and needs, resources,...
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From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Students listen to From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil F. Frankweiler and discuss wants and needs. In this iincome and expenses lesson, students relate the adventures of the children in the book to a real life financial situation....
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Meet Molly, An American Girl
Students examine saving and spending decisions in 1944 through the eyes of Molly, a nine-year-old growing up during World War II. The lesson uses Meet Molly, An American Girl, by Valerie Tripp.
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Common Good in Aztec Culture What Is Sacrifice?
Students examine contemporary examples of sacrifice while listing the reasons and benefits of these acts. They discuss the idea of when a sacrifice is a violation of human rights. They write a personal goal to make a small sacrifice.
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Financial Contracts
Prepare your class for the real world and learn the basics about credit and the principles behind using it wisely. The activity includes handouts that explain the necessary vocabulary and concepts to understanding credit. After reviewing...
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A Sense of West Virginia
Students consider their perceptions of the world through their 5 senses while visiting the West Virginia State Museum. In this West Virginia history lesson, students discover how knowing about the past helps with their understanding of...