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History of the Stock Market and How it Works
In this stock market instructional activity, students read a 2-page article about the history of the U.S. stock market and then respond to 12 short answer questions about the selection.
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Filling Empty Pockets: Borrowing, Loans, and Credit
Young scholars examine credit components and how each works within our economy today. In this financial literacy lesson, students explore credit terms and make decisions based on real credit card offers that they find in their on line...
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Money Makes the World Go 'Round
Students examine what a basic unit of currency means and how it affects world finances.
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What is Money? Learn the Role of Money in a Free Market System
Students view a seashell and listen as the teacher explains that these were sometimes used as money. They listen as the teacher lectures on medium of exchange, barter, and commodity. Students determine the number of chickens it would...
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What Is the Federal Reserve?
Students examine simple bank transactions. In this banking lesson, students analyze banking transactions such as deposits, loans, and how they hold reserves. They participate in simulations of the process of clearing a check and the...
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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.
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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...
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Less Than Zero
Young scholars keep track of money. In this money management lesson plan, students read Less Than Zero by Stuart J. Murphy and manipulate a number line to keep track of spending and borrowing in the story.
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Taxes
Fourth graders read Stone Fax and explore earning money, saving, credit and taxes. In this taxes lesson, 4th graders complete a worksheet to develop understanding of paying off debts, keeping a checkbook, calculating sales tax and...
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What Can I Afford?
Students explore the costs of various cell phone plans, and various types of banking accounts to determine which one would yield the highest returns if the money saved from the cell phones were placed in different accounts.
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Banking on the Future: Penny Drive
Students study why philanthropy is needed and learn to complete a penny drive. In this philanthropy lesson, students learn the need to invest money for future purposes and identify a cause in the community to hold a penny drive for.
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Susan's Choice
Young economists explore opportunity cost by counting how much money Susan has in her piggy bank. From here, they are challenged to help Susan make a choice about what she can buy with her money.
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What Really Caused the Great Depression?
Falling wages. Rising unemployment. Falling prices. Sound familiar? Young economists look at the role the US banking system had in causing the Great Depression.
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Cotton in My Sack
As part of a study of saving choices and opportunity costs, class members listen to a reading of Lois Lenski's Cotton in My Sack, and then evaluate the spending choices made by the Hutley family.
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Learning Economics through Comics
Students summarize the historical development of money. In this economics activity, students describe the process of bartering and explain how money facilitates trade and exchange. Students also define and describe inflation and a modern...
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"Breadline": The Great Depression Causes, Consequences and Recovery
Students compare prices of popular items of late 1920s to cost of those items presently, determine which companies are best in which to invest, analyze causes and consequences of stock market crash of 1929, and evaluate significance of...
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The Secret Life of Money Part 2
Students explore how people use money every day and how it is one of the defining resources in our life.
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Money, Banks, & Financial Institutions
Students engage in a study of financial institutions that includes the banking industry. They participate in a research study using different resources. They are introduced to the concept of bartering and how it is used as a replacement...
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North V. South And The Bank Creation
Eighth graders investigate the economic status of America during the 1800's and the role of the bank in the early times of our country. They concentrate on the different jobs that people had in the North and South while classifying them...
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International and Development Banking
Learners engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of banking in a local and international marketplace. They conduct research using a variety of resources with the end result being a demonstration of a flowchart of how...
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Could It Happen Again?
The final lesson plan in a series of six about the Great Depression focuses on the Federal Reserve's role in stabilizing the economy.
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Saving Strawberry Farm
Students explore U.S. History by analyzing the Great Depression. For this economic instability lesson, students read fictitious accounts of a farm dealing with the loss of a Strawberry Farm and discuss the reasons behind the loss....
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Thinking About Money
Students explore the concept of a personal budget. In this philanthropy lesson, students use a Venn diagram to compare 2 stories in which the main characters spend money in different ways.
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Risk-It
Students participate in a game in which they are introduced to the Federal Reserve system. After indentifying new vocabulary, they decide which categories to choose from and select a spokesperson for each team. They play the game...