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

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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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Global Trade Freezes Amid Economic Downturn

Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on how the global economic crisis has impacted trade.

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Demand, Division of Labor/Specialization…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Low Consumer Confidence Limits Holiday Spending

Paul Solman looks at the psychological causes and effects of lower consumer confidence through the holiday season.

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Consumers, Credit…

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Grades 9-12

What Happened to Railroads?

Between the Civil War and World War II, railroads were one of the nation's most important businesses and an integral...

Key Concepts: Business Costs and Revenues, Credit, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis…

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Grades 6-8

The Higher you Climb, The More You Pay

Students will take a "Virtual Tour" of the Eiffel Tower in Paris France and locate the price of a bottle...

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

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