Council for Economic Education
Opportunity Cost
The price of those new shoes involves more than just money! Individuals explore the concept of opportunity cost using a video clip and gratification discussions. They prepare a budget based off of their set of values in regards to...
Curated OER
Opportunity Cost
Students review the concept of opportunity cost. Using a clip from a money, they identify the people who made a choice and the value of the choice given up. They read various scenarios about opportunity costs and trade-offs and make...
Curated OER
Opportunity Cost
Students study what opportunity cost is and why it is important to their lives.
Curated OER
Location of Resources in Early Civilizations
Sixth graders define scarcity and opportunity costs.
Council for Economic Education
Production Possibilities Curve
Demonstrate the important economic principles of the production possibilities curve, including how to calculate opportunity cost and graph curves by using a table or calculation. Learners use a variety of methods, including videos,...
Curated OER
Globalization: Threat or Opportunity for the U.S. Economy?
Young scholars study the pros and cons of globalization. They highlight the economic concepts of comparative advantage, specialization, and opportunity cost. They read and discuss the "FRBSF Economic Letter: Globalization: Threat or...
Curated OER
The Rising Cost of Health Care: Is there an explanation?
Twelfth graders explore rising health care costs and the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility. They participate in an activity that demonstrates the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility. Students read the may 27, 2005 Economic Letter and...
Curated OER
Tarantula Shoes
Students read a book about Ryan O'Keefe, a young man who wants a pair of basketball shoes promoted by a basketball star. They explore about spending, saving, opportunity cost, and trade-offs as they study Ryan's decisions throughout the...
Curated OER
Why Nations Trade
Young scholars discuss international trade. In this trade lesson, students read about comparative advantage and the benefits of international trade. Young scholars perform a skills test to determine their individual specialization areas...
Curated OER
Consumer Borrowing and Spending
Credit can be confusing for teens, some of whom are already using credit cards. Clear up misconceptions with this group research activity which has a solid outline with a lot of room to adjust to your needs and resources. Groups are...
Federal Reserve Bank
Unintended Consequences
What would your class members say to the opportunity to take two years off of school between grades 10 and 11? Examine the economic concepts of costs, benefits, and unintended consequences with this unique and engaging approach.
Council for Economic Education
Specialization and the Decathlon
Michael Phelps, the economist? Scholars research the economic advantages of specializing in one kind of service, and how it relates to athletes doing the same in their respective sports. They evaluate absolute advantage, production, and...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Opportunity Knocks, But It Costs, Too!
Sixth graders practice six steps to effective problem solving. Working with the school counselor, class members are presented with a scenario that requires them to make a decision. Individuals then write a reflection in which they...
Visa
Savvy Spending: Sharpening Money Decisions
Do you really need that new laptop/phone/dress/jacket/etc.? Financial decisions require us to distinguish between our wants and our needs. Through discussion and the evaluation of scenarios on provided worksheets, this resource will...
Visa
Making Decisions
What economic factors can influence personal and financial decisions? In an effort to understand opportunity costs and the time value of money, pupils engage in role-playing activities and discussion, as well as view a PowerPoint...
Curated OER
Scarcity, Choice and Decisions
Students study the basic economic trilogy (scarcity, choice, and costs). For this money management lesson, students use a scenario of a High School Prom to calculate how scarcity, choice and cost apply by completing provided worksheets...
Curated OER
The True Cost of Coffee
Learners examine the economic, health and environmental risks of being a one-crop country. They explain the risks of relying on one crop. They also identify the factors that resist change.
Curated OER
What's In It For Me?
Students analyze the costs and benefits that are involved with owning a business. They create their own decision making grid and identify their trade-offs. They also identify the opportunity costs involved in owning their own business.
Curated OER
Introduction To Economics
High schoolers examine the fundamental nature of economics - unlimited wants and scarce resources and the need to make choices, the three questions related to the economic problem and its implications for an economy. This lesson plan...
Curated OER
Costs & Benefits
Students reinforce the concept of the true costs being what is given up by doing something -- normally referred to as opportunity costs.
Federal Reserve Bank
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.
Curated OER
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...
Carolina K-12
Factors of Production and Economic Decision-Making
Class members begin this engaging economics activity by listing all the resources used in producing a car and using that example to draw parallels to the four primary factors of production: capital goods, labor, natural resources, and...
Curated OER
Time Value of Money
Students evaluate the time value of money. In this economics lesson, students define inflation, interest, and the future value of money.