Learning to Give
Five Thousand Dollars!
How does consumerism affect global poverty? Upper graders find out about cost benefit, wants and needs, and making good consumer choices as they explore this global topic. They role-play an impulse spending experience and work through...
Curated OER
Marriage and Financial Goals, Budgeting Strategies
There is no more useful life skill to learn than budgeting and setting financial goals. It's math that is used by every person, everyday. Learners examine the responsibilities and costs involved in family economics. Through a series of...
Omaha Zoo
Monitoring Amphibians
What sort of shoes do frogs wear? Open toad sandals. If your scholars want experience collecting field samples, this is the lesson for you. After learning the proper way to collect field samples, pupils catch amphibians to test for...
Curated OER
Needs and Wants
Students examine the difference between psychological needs and wants to control spending.
Curated OER
First Grade Economics Unit
First graders begin by studying the differences between a "good" and a "service". They compare items to each other to help comprehend the differences. They also look into the differences between buyers and sellers and how the choices...
Curated OER
Agriculture Pays
Second graders role play one of the jobs related to agriculture and explain their role in getting one of the five "f's" of agriculture to the consumer. In this agriculture lesson plan, 2nd graders are assigned a role and a commodity. ...
Curated OER
A Day Without Agriculture
Second graders define and create a list of agricultural products. In this producers and consumers lesson, 2nd graders participate in a contest to find as many types of agriculture as they can. The student who comes up with the best...
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.
Science Matters
Energy Flow
Budding scientists work collaboratively to reenact energy flow in a food chain. Scholars take on roles such as producer and consumer and perform tasks that symbolize energy flow in order to provide evidence of how much energy passes...
SaveandInvest.org
The True Cost of Owning a Car
Almost every teen wants a car, but can they really afford one? The lesson plan walks pupils through how to identify a budget, find all of the costs associated with car ownership, and determine if they should buy the car or keep looking.
Curated OER
Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression
Students barter for goods within the class. In this economics lesson based on the Great Depression, the teacher introduces the lesson with a picture book, then students are allowed to barter with teacher supplied goods as they examine...
Curated OER
Satisfying Wants
Middle schoolers describe the difference between a want and a need. In groups, they brainstorm a list of all of their wants and the method of exchange that is going to allow them to be satisfied. They discover how having money makes...
Consumer Action
Talking to Teens About Money
Your teenagers are probably very good at spending money, but how good are they at managing it? Teach class members about banking, checking accounts, interest rates, car insurance, and many other relevant concepts with a series of...
Curated OER
All The Bell & Whistles
Young adults are so eager to get that first cell phone. And, cell phones have so many cool extras! Learners conduct real-life research to determine which cell phone carrier offers the best deals on things like wall paper, ringtones, and...
Curated OER
Debt: Who Does it Affect?
Debt is a topic that affects everybody: the community, the nation, and the entire globe. Kids take charge of debt by designing a project that informs those in their community about good financial choices, keeps personal debt low, and...
Curated OER
Cell Phone Interview
Are there benefits to comparison shopping? Yes, even with cell phones. It's important to know which carrier is best and why. Learners interview a family member about his choice in cell phone carriers, and compare that person's choice to...
Curated OER
Dream Phone of Basic Phone?
Learning to be a savvy shopper can make or break the bank. Upper graders research five different cell phone carriers to see if they'll have enough money in their imaginary budget for a dream phone or a basic phone. They create either a...
Weebly
Cereal Box Book Report
What is is about cereal boxes that draws consumers in? Tap into the effective marketing of cereal boxes and apply those elements to a book report. Pupils cover cereal boxes with information about their chosen books. they must create a...
Media Education Lab
Defining Propaganda
21st century learners live in a media world. Help them develop the skills they need to be able to analyze the barrage of propaganda they face daily, with a resource that introduces them to the type of persuasive appeals found in news,...
Curated OER
Convey Ideas in Writing
Write an unsent letter about a consumer scam, paying attention to the writing conventions of punctuation and spelling. This lesson could be adapted to fit a variety of social issues in which letter writing is appropriate. 4
US Institute of Peace
Negotiation Role-Play
War-torn Kosovo is experiencing another crisis—thousands of broken-down cars clogging the damaged highways, making travel impossible. Which local auto shop owner will get the contract to clear the road for progress? After some research,...
Curated OER
Buying, Selling, Profits
Pupils follow the framework of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). In this FCCLA lesson, students research the clothing market from the perspectives of consumers and business owners. Pupils also analyze...
Curated OER
Hands On: Add and Subtract Money Amounts
In this consumer math worksheet, students use a table and play money to solve each of 8 money story problems. Students will use a price list provided.
Curated OER
Label Language
Fourth graders explore food labels. In this consumer education lesson, 4th graders describe and evaluate various components of familiar food labels. Students discuss which traits make a product appealing to consumers. Students complete a...