Browse lesson plans, videos, activities, and more by grade level

Grades 6-8

What Is Money? Why Does It Have Value?

In this economics lesson, students will learn about the history of money and its 5 characteristics.

Key Concepts: Money, Trade, Exchange and Interdependence

90 mins

Lesson

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Grades 3-5, 6-8

Do I Look Like I'm Made of Money?

In this economics lesson, students will learn the importance of money as a medium of exchange.

Key Concepts: Human Capital, Income, Money

45 mins

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

President Jackson and the Veto of the Second National Bank

ESSENTIAL DILEMMA Could the conflict over the Second National Bank have been resolved in a way that supported the values...

Key Concepts: Economic Institutions, Fraud Risk, Market Structures…

Lesson

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Grades 6-8, 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Exploring the Economics of the First Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Mass., probably didn't resemble the modern holiday we celebrate today. Economics correspondent Paul Solman steps...

Key Concepts: Choice, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Money…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Bitcoin gains mainstream interest after initial 'outlier' appeal

Bitcoin, a digital currency, has appealed to high-tech skeptics of government-issued money, as well as global criminals who are eager...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Economic Development, Money

Video

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Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Money Video and Quiz

This video teaches the concept of Money. Money is anything that is used to buy and sell goods and services....

Key Concepts: Economic Institutions, Money, Trade, Exchange and Interdependence

Video

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Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve Video and Quiz

This video teaches the concepts of Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve. Monetary policy involves regulating the money supply, banks...

Key Concepts: Aggregate Demand, Aggregate Supply, Economic Institutions…

Video

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Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Foreign Currency Markets/Exchange Rates Video and Quiz

This video teaches the concepts of Foreign Currency Markets and Exchange Rates. The foreign currency market is where one currency...

Key Concepts: Foreign Exchange, Money

Video

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Grades K-2

A New Coat for Anna - Barter and Trade

By reading the book "A New Coat for Anna" students will learn about resources and trade/bartering through a young girl,...

Key Concepts: Barter, Money, Resources

45 mins

Lesson

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Grades 3-5

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference

The picture book One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, written by Kate Smith Milway, takes place...

Key Concepts: Borrow, Budgeting, Entrepreneurs…

Lesson

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Extended Interview: Unemployment and Foreclosure

99er Faith Phillips says she'll be paying off condo fees on her foreclosed house for years.

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Credit, Employment and Unemployment…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Did Greek Cuisine Foreshadow Economic Problems?

A food writer sees parallels between Greece's crushing economic problems and its departure from its simple, humble culinary roots. Paul...

Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budgeting, Consumers…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Will Greek Austerity Plans Buckle Under Pressure?

Paul Solman examines how Greece's debt woes began and what's being done to contain the problems from spreading throughout Europe...

Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budgeting, Credit…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Web Extra: Taleb and Roubini

Nassim Taleb and Nouriel Roubini discuss the great economic debate of the moment: more economic stimulus or less?

Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budgeting, Choice…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Small Business Succeeds In Era of Too Big to Fail

Paul Solman revisits a Missouri manufacturer that has proven small enough to succeed in a time of "too big to...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Goods and Services, Incentive…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Examining the Motivations of the Modern Workforce

Business and Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on what drives people's behavior in the modern workforce.

Key Concepts: Credit, Decision, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Unmasking Interest Rates, Honky-Tonk Style

Paul Solman explains how interest rates are set, with a little help from economic country musician Merle Hazard.

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Economic Institutions, Fiscal Policy…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Dollar's Weakness Inspires Modern-day Gold Rush

As part of his series on Making Sense of the financial crisis, Paul Solman looks at how the dollar's weakness...

Key Concepts: Foreign Exchange, Investing, Markets and Prices…

Video

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: The Man Behind the Lehman Brothers Collapse

Paul Solman reports on Lehman Bros.' fall from storied Wall Street investment bank to a catalyst for the worst economic...

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Economic Institutions, Money…

Video

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Grades 6-8, 9-12

The Family Vacation

Students will take a surprise trip around the world. As they travel, they will use clues to discover where they...

Key Concepts: Foreign Exchange, Money, Trade, Exchange and Interdependence

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