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

Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Tricking the brain with transformative virtual reality

Want to have a just-like-real-life fantasy experience without leaving your living room? Virtual reality technology is already employed by certain...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: To taper stimulus efforts? Examining the Fed's role in the economic recovery

Since the financial crisis of 2008, the Federal Reserve has created trillions of dollars to buy Treasury and mortgage-backed bonds....

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Economic Institutions

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Nobel economist Robert Shiller on how the stock market reflects psychology

Yale University professor Robert Shiller was one of three Americans honored with the Nobel Prize for Economics for research on...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Financial Markets, Investing

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Rosier-than-expected jobs report doesn't improve outlook for long-term jobless

The November jobs report boasted positive momentum, including gains in manufacturing and construction sectors. But economics correspondent Paul Solman reports...

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Division of Labor/Specialization, Employment and Unemployment…

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Grades 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…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Bubble in the making? How the stock market might not reflect the current economy

At the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow ended above 16,000, another record high. Meanwhile, companies continue to report healthy...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Airport workers in suburban Seattle take on living wage debate at the ballot box

SeaTac, Wash., is aptly named after the airport located there. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the city's largest employer and...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: N.Y. survivors of Sandy ditch the city to 'bug out' in preparation for doomsday

Some Hurricane Sandy survivors have begun to study up on "doomsday prepping" in case another environmental disaster hits. City slickers...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Business Cycles, Communities and Cities…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Economists expect 'messier' jobs report for October after unimpressive September

Employment data for the month of September was finally released after being delayed for weeks by the shutdown. The numbers...

Key Concepts: Division of Labor/Specialization, Employment and Unemployment

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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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Mass. exchange model shows vast coverage for citizens, high care costs for state

October 1 was the opening day nationwide for new health care exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. But Massachusetts has...

Key Concepts: Consumers, Division of Labor/Specialization, Insurance

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Former Interns Debate Worth and Legality of Unpaid Gigs

Legally, unpaid interns can't displace regular paid workers, doing real work for no pay. So why have unpaid internships have...

Key Concepts: Business Costs and Revenues, Division of Labor/Specialization, Producers

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: How Virtual Reality Games Can Impact Society, Encourage Prosperity

Video games give players super powers and transport them to new worlds. How might this technology be used to transform...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Character, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Artists Learn Art of Business to Brave Tough Economic Times

In the classical performing arts, more and more artists -- ever more highly skilled -- compete for fewer and fewer...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Left Behind by the Recovery, Inner City Teens Struggle to Find Jobs

The jobs report for June 2013 found that among teens alone, the jobless rate was almost 25 percent -- more...

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Division of Labor/Specialization, Employment and Unemployment

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Performing Artists Compete, Move, Adapt in Tough Economy

A new report shows 45 percent of young adults who recently got a college degree are underemployed, and the next...

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: Exploring the Psychology of Wealth, 'Pernicious' Effects of Economic Inequality

It's been said that money is the root of all evil. Does money make people more likely to lie, cheat...

Key Concepts: Character, Distribution of Income, Economic Development…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Finding the Connection Between Prosperity, Compassion and Happiness

Usually, as a country's GDP goes up, that nation's well-being tends to rise as well. But for the last 35...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Character, Economic Development…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: 'Economics Is Not a Morality Play': Paul Krugman on Managing Financial Crisis

Should we have let foundering financial firms fail in 2008? Economics correspondent Paul Solman sits down with economist Paul Krugman...

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Economic Institutions, Employment and Unemployment…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Former Reagan Budget Director Argues Against Bailouts, for Financial Discipline

In "The Great Deformation," David Stockman, former budget director under President Reagan, makes an argument against government economic intervention. Economics...

Key Concepts: Budget Deficit, Business Cycles, Economic Institutions…

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