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

Grades 6-8, 9-12

Division of Labor/Specialization Video and Quiz

This video teaches the concepts of Division of Labor and Specialization. The division of labor refers to the practice that...

Key Concepts: Benefits of Trade, Credit, Demand…

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

Trade, Exchange and Interdependence Video and Quiz

This video teaches the concept of Trade, Exchange and Interdependence. People do not make everything that they and their family...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Benefits of Trade, Credit…

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Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Consumers Video and Quiz

This video teaches the concept of Consumers. Consumers are powerful in a market economy, and the economic choices of consumers...

Key Concepts: Consumers, Demand, Goods and Services…

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Grades 9-12

LeBron James, The Cavaliers, and Derived Demand

PBS video author Paul Solman reports that LeBron James has added $200 million in value to the city of Cleveland...

Key Concepts: Demand, Division of Labor/Specialization

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Amid Debt-Ceiling Drama, Interest Rates Have Hardly Followed the Script

On Wall Street, stocks initially rallied Monday on the news of a debt-ceiling deal, but a weak report on manufacturing...

Key Concepts: Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: How Would Raising Debt Ceiling Impact U.S. Bond Market?

As part of his series on Making Sen$e of financial news, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on how raising the...

Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Credit…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: For Automakers, Better Batteries Crucial to Success of New Electric Cars

Paul Solman looks at efforts to make electric cars more viable by building better batteries and making them more aerodynamic.

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Demand, Entrepreneurs…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: GM, Detroit Pinning Hopes for Future on Chevy Volt

Paul Solman travels to Detroit for an update car and examines how GM and the city are hoping for a...

Key Concepts: Complementary Goods and Services, Demand, Entrepreneurs

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Author Says Modern Life is Good Despite Recession

Author Matt Ridley says life is getting better and better despite the recession. Paul Solman reports on Ridley's optimism.

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

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Grades 9-12

Utility

Can happiness be measured? Students will learn how utility relates to economic decision making and the law of diminishing marginal...

Key Concepts: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Demand, Wants

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Extended Interview: 99ers and the Macroeconomy

Paul Solman talks to "99er"" Greg Rosen about how he believes long-term unemployment affects the macroeconomy."

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Demand, Employment and Unemployment…

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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…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Cleveland's Basketball Boon Brings Economic Vigor

Paul Solman explores the massive economic impact an upcoming decision by NBA superstar Lebron James will have on Cleveland.

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Consumers, Demand…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Some Eye Strategic Defaults as Home Values Tumble

Paul Solman tells the story of some homeowners who have stopped paying their mortgages even though they can still afford...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Home Price Experts Critique Atlanta, U.S. Markets

As part of his ongoing series, Making Sense of the economy, Paul Solman takes a real estate tour in Atlanta,...

Key Concepts: Business, Business Cycles, Credit…

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Grades 9-12

Traditional Economies and the Inuit

The Inuit people of northern Canada provide an example of a traditional economy. For thousands of years, Inuit parents have...

Key Concepts: Demand, Economic Systems, Goods and Services…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Keynes vs. Hayek: Late Economists' Rap Battle

As part of his Making Sense series, Paul Solman has a unique look at John Mayard Keynes' legacy, including his...

Key Concepts: Business, Business Cycles, Demand…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Hints of a Meltdown in Commercial Real Estate

Is the commercial real estate market the next shoe to drop in the U.S. economy? Paul Solman reports.

Key Concepts: Demand, Division of Labor/Specialization, Goods and Services…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Few Glimmers of Hope for Many Unemployed Americans

With long-term unemployment at a record high, the nation's jobless are taking little solace in recent data that suggests the...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Demand, Division of Labor/Specialization…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Elkhart Among Hardest Hit by Rising Unemployment

Paul Solman reports on the view of the economy from Elkhart, Ind., where unemployment has topped 15 percent.

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Consumption, Demand…

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