Council for Economic Education
Teaching Economics Using Children's Literature
Introduce young learners to the subject of economics using their favorite stories and books. Including 24 separate lessons, this guide covers economic principles such as trade, scarcity, consumer goods and services, renewable and...
Federal Reserve Bank
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza
Make a study of producers and consumers with an updated version of the classic story The Little Red Hen (this one is called The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza). After reading and discussing the story and terms, learners practice being...
Curated OER
Consumer Confusion: Wants versus Needs and Gandhi's Wisdom
Fourth graders create graphs to illustrate consumer consumption throughout the world. In this consumer lesson plan, 4th graders also discuss wants and needs around the world, and consider Gandhi's opinion on material possessions as they...
Council for Economic Education
How Neolithic Farmers Increased Their Standard of Living
How do people improve their economic situations? While many learners may not consider questions about how many crops to grow in ancient times were economic decisions, a hands-on activity encourages individuals to make these connections....
Curated OER
The Great Cookie Company
Fourth graders implement real life application of money, problem solving, economics, and consumer awareness. In this three week economics unit, 4th graders operate a business, write checks, balance accounts, and market their...
Curated OER
Fit to Be Tied (In)
How do the films we watch affect our purchasing behavior? Considering the profiles of given consumer demographics, the class analyzes real advertisements and the effectiveness of their power on consumerism. THey create posters that...
Curated OER
World Consumer Rights Day
In this World Consumer Rights Day worksheet, students complete activities such as reading a passage, matching phrases, fill in the blanks, choose the correct word, multiple choice, unscramble the words, sequencing, unscramble the...
Curated OER
Economics: What Are Some Other Uses for Rice?
Sixth graders investigate ways rice is sold by creating a chart of the different rice foods. In this economics instructional activity, 6th graders examine their local food store and list at least 10 rice by-products in a class chart....
Curated OER
Economics: Products of South Louisiana
Students explore the economy of Louisiana. In this economics lesson, students examine the roles of farmers, processors, and distributors in food production and consumption. Students use flip cameras to record how selected products are made.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Time, Talent, Treasure and Economics
Students work cooperatively to create a quilt. They choose a pattern and determine the specific skills and steps needed to produce that quilt. Labor is divided equally between group members and a quilt is created assembly line style....
Curated OER
Lemonade For Sale
2-3rd graders listen to the story, Lemonade for Sale, by Stuart J. Murphy. In the story, children produce and sell lemonade to raise money for their clubhouse, create a product, classify the resources used in production as natural...
Federal Reserve Bank
Once Upon a Dime
The story of "Once Upon a Dime" starts like any other fairy tale, but it quickly becomes a story about the value of money and the economic system commonly used before it. Presented as a cartoon, the resource consists of dialogue between...
Curated OER
Producer to Consumer Fun
Students explore the world of economics. In this economics lesson, students examine literature and participate in discussions to learn about production and consumption. Students are encouraged to visit a farm or tour a factory to...
Council for Economic Education
Mansa Musa: Inflation Then and Now
Mansa Musa was so rich that his gifts of gold made the value of the metal drop throughout Africa. As he traveled from Mali to the Middle East to make hajj, his gifts were so extravagant, they devalued the gold already in circulation....
Council for Economic Education
Paper Money of the Sung, Yuan, and Ming Dynasties
Why did the Chinese develop paper money? They were the first society to use paper currency. Learners consider why paper money was more convenient than other mechanisms of trade using a helpful lesson plan, which includes a graphic...
Curated OER
Do I Want or Need?
Students explore wants and needs. In this introductory economics lesson, students use a "pinch card" to display whether a familiar item is a "want" or a "need". Students listen to the book Alexander used to be Rich on Sunday by Judith...
Curated OER
Intermediate Activity: Energy Guide Labels
High schoolers explore energy efficient appliances. In this economics and ecology instructional activity, students compare and analyze EnergyGuide labels of various appliances. High schoolers discuss federal government...
Curated OER
Setting Up Shop
Seventh graders investigate what goes in to starting a retail store. In this business economics lesson plan, 7th graders brainstorm products they would like to sell and use magazines, newspapers and real estate listings to bring their...
Curated OER
The Economics of Information
Create an expert guide to local businesses in this lesson. Through research, young readers consider their local businesses and the services they provide, paying attention to any conflicting information they might find. Working in groups,...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Economics and Literature
Students discuss capital resources and the types of machines their families use at home. They discuss how these machines increase productivity, and how these concepts connect to the law of demand and capital invention.
Curated OER
The Persuaders
Have your upper graders watch the documentary, "The Persuaders" as they explore how advertisers try to gain potential customers. The video is followed by a discussion and close examination of new marketing trends and strategies.
One Hen
Making Choices
When choosing what foods to eat, there are a lot of factors to consider. To help make the decision a little easier, young learners work in small groups developing short plays, stories, or advertisements that address the different issues...