Woodrow Wilson International Center For Scholars
The Fiscal Ship
Can young economists right the fiscal ship of the United States before it sinks? Learners use an interactive simulation to navigate the waters of the federal deficit in an effort to curb the federal deficit. They make active decisions of...
Council for Economic Education
The Economic System of Medieval Europe
How are economics and politics intertwined? Societies in the Medieval period used feudalism for both economic and military reasons. The arrangement provided safety and met other needs. Using the included simulation, individuals...
Council for Economic Education
Business in the Middle Ages: Working in a Guild
Long before modern labor unions, guilds worked to ensure that workers had a fair wage. But, in medieval Europe, they also cooperated with the government. Using a simulation and primary source analysis, young scholars become hatters in...
Curated OER
"Globalization"
An interesting activity that will spark a great class discussion on globalization and wealth distribution around the world. Each group is asked to accomplish the same task, but are not given equal access to materials. It is up to them to...
Curated OER
Mill-Worker Simulation
Students participate in a simulation in which they transition between a farm economy to a factory economy They discover labor relations during the 19th and 20th century. They discuss the impact mass produced goods on the economy.
Curated OER
Japan's Economic Miracle
Students explore the concepts of price and demand. In groups, pupils simulate the purchase and selling of land in Japan. They create a loan, and make decisions to buy or sell as the economic market fluctuates. Classmates discuss their...
Curated OER
World Fair? A Global Classroom Unit On Economic Rights
Pupils explore economic rights of people. After listening to statements and songs by people such as John Lennon and Mahatma Ghandi, students examine the truths and values depicted by each person. Pupils participate in a simulation to...
Curated OER
Curiosity Shop
First graders simulate shopping for needs and wants. For this money lesson, 1st graders examine Norman Rockwell's painting "Curiosity Shop." Students role-play shopping in a store and making purchases.
Curated OER
Africa: A Cultural Safari
Students examine the kingdoms of West Africa during the Middle Ages. They label maps and identify Africa's physical features, simulate the trading of gold, buy and sell goods using cowrie shells, and participate in a cultural safari day.
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
The Single Market and Free Trade
What are the benefits of a single EU market? Class members conclude their examination of the European Union by focusing on the single market concept designed to bring down barriers, create more jobs, and increase prosperity.
Amnesty International
Respect My Rights, Respect My Dignity Module Three – Sexual and Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights
Give learners the support they need to take action in their communities when it comes to sexual and reproductive rights. A resource teaches the class about global issues surrounding gender inequality, including both readings and...
Curated OER
Globalization: Trade Agreements
High schoolers explore international trade agreements. In this trade lesson, students investigate trade liberalization, examine trade agreements, and participate in a NAFTA negotiation simulation. Several articles and documents are...
Council for Economic Education
Satisfaction Please! (Part 3)
Understanding the US government's role proves very important in the American economy, especially for consumers. Scholars learn about how varying government agencies help them when facing an issue. The third and final resource in the...
Council for Economic Education
New Sense, Inc. vs. Fish 'Till U Drop or Coase Vs. Pigou
Who is responsible for protecting the environment, and who should pay when it is damaged? The role of government and private industry is complicated. A role-play simulation prompts individuals to decide how to protect a fictitious town...
Curated OER
Put Your Truss in Building Bridges
Students apply abstract concepts, such as stress, fulcrums, the law of gravity, and the strength of different geometric shapes. Groups of student contractors operate simulated architectural firms to create strong, economical bridges.
Curated OER
A Command Economic System
Students discover the Command Economic System, which is found in countries like the Former Soviet Union, North Korea, and China. Students identify five characteristics unique to the Command Economy.
Curated OER
Hey, I Don't Have Enough Stuff!
Third graders discover through this simulated activity that resources are unequally distributed throughout the world and that regions use resources differently. They, in groups, are assigned to research a different hemisphere.
Curated OER
String Trade
Ninth graders discuss the concept of imports and exports in trade. They participate in a simulation that explores the interchange and relationships between natural resources, scarcity, politics and tariffs.
Curated OER
Payment Parliament
Students investigate how the economy works by role playing in their class. In this money management lesson, students read parts from a script for use in a role playing lesson simulating the Federal Reserve and their payment processing....
Curated OER
Life in Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Learners study the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They brainstorm what they know about ancient African kingdoms before investigating the trade and barter situations, and researching one of the kingdoms for an oral...
Council for Economic Education
Entrepreneurs in Mesopotamia
While ancient Mesopotamia didn't have the TV show "Shark Tank," it was a time of entrepreneurship as workers began to specialize. Both individual workers and the societal structure encouraged individuals to consider how they could...
Curated OER
It's About Supply and Demand
Watch an Instructional Television (ITV) video and participate in a simulation to explore supply and demand and how those two forces affect price.
Curated OER
The Theory of Comparative Advantage
Students take a closer look at comparative advantage. In this economics lesson, students discover details about opportunity cost, comparative advantage, and absolute advantage. Students participate in a simulation that requires them to...
Curated OER
European Union Role Play
Students compare and contrast the ways in which people and goods move between European countries prior to and post European Union creation. Students simulate product movement through four different countries prior to the creation of the...