In this international economics learning exercise, students use their problem solving skills to respond to 25 questions about supply and demand.

Students explore trading and bartering. They participate in a Barter Day in which they bring in hand crafted or homemade wares to school to barter with classmates.

Silver pennies and copper nickels are made possible by applying some chemistry. Learners use electrolysis to coat a penny with zinc sulfate and a nickel with copper sulfate. Their investigation builds an understanding of electroplating...

Students examine historical works of art and analyze how these paintings could be used for personal, cultural, and/or political purposes. This exploratory instructional activity on art ideology includes two handouts/worksheets for...

Eighth graders play a game to solve problems. In this exponents and scientific notations lesson, 8th graders play a game in small groups to move colored disks from location A to location C. Students identify recursive patterns to solve...

Learners define what a patriotic symbol means, as well as sing a patriotic song. In this social science lesson students work in groups to write about a patriotic symbol.  Groups draw pictures of their symbols. 

students research blood's components, and use their math skills to recreate a model of whole blood using commonly found food items.

Students use Valentine's Day to use figurative language in English. This is a great lesson for ESL students (who may not have much experience with this holiday), to engage in social conversation with their peers.

Young scholars are be able to analyze primary sources (photographs) for evidence of Ancient Egyptian culture and design meaningful objects. They are grouped in pairs and instructed to choose someone that they admire, either living or...

Sixth graders debate their reactions to two different historical documents about managing a society.  In this U.S. history lesson, 6th graders read two articles on codes and laws from different time periods and debate their...

Learners use court records to learn that tobacco was used a source of currency in early Delaware history. Students choose something in their culture to use as currency instead of money.

Eleventh graders examine why pioneer society needed a uniform medium of exchange -- not so much among themselves, but for use with non-Mormon suppliers and California immigrants.

Students observe and identify examples of personal adornment in African art and recall how African jewelry relates to beauty, status, and wealth. They create their own clay pendants or other personal adornments.

Summarizes specific and recent proposals set forth to return the U.S. to the gold standard. Includes detailed information on the gold "price rule," "classical" gold standard, and other important terms.

Read this speech given by Senator David Bennet Hill of New York at the Democratic Convention in 1896. A key issue in that convention was whether the United States should go back on the gold standard. This speech clearly shows that Hill...

This site provides a great article that explains the gold standard and why it didn't work for the United States and many other nations.

A basic description of the struggles with the gold standard of the late 19th century in the United States, and William Jennings Bryan's attempts to abandon this.

Take a look at the cost involved in having a gold standard. If you need more information after reading this article, a list of references is provided.

Discusses the gold standard and the history of monetary systems.

This site is provided for by the Vassar College. "The bitter controversy surrounding the issues of `Free silver' and `sound money,' so central to the 1896 campaign, has proved difficult for historians to explain." However, this 1896, a...

This page provides access to the article, "The Gold Bug Variations: The gold standard-and the men who love it." In it, Paul Krugman discusses the relationship between the gold standard and monetary policy. (Nov. 22, 1996)

Read the famous Cross of Gold speech given by William Jennings Bryan, Democratic party presidential candidate in 1896. The party platform was against the establishment of the gold standard.

This is a very informative look at the politics involved in the campaign of 1896 where one of the main issues was the conflict between the gold standard and free silver. Read about the results of the election and the defeat of Populist...