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

Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Older Workers in Downturn Ask: 'Retire from What?'

Paul Solman looks at the challenges older workers face trying to secure a job, let alone retire, amid the downturn.

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Freelancers Lack Safety Net When Jobs Are Scarce

Sara Horowitz, founder of the Freelancers Union, explains why freelancers still lack many of the protections afforded to other workers.

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Freelancers Struggle As Unemployment Worsens

As part of his series Makiing Sense of the financial crisis, Paul Solman looks at how freelancers are faring in...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: AFL-CIO's 'Bulldog' Trumka Faces Dwindling Ranks

As AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka works to shield organized labor from the excesses of big businesses, he faces many challenges,...

Key Concepts: Business Costs and Revenues, Distribution of Income, Division of Labor/Specialization…

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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: Realities of the Recession and Changing Workforce

Paul Solman looks at the faces and places that illustrate the realities of the recession and Jeffrey Brown talks to...

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

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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: For Some, Finding Work Proves Extra Difficult

Paul Solman reports on how certain types of jobless people, such as executives and ex-convicts, are struggling to find employment.

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: UAW Chief Gettelfinger Answers Questions

Retired United Auto Workers members ask union chief Ron Gettelfinger about the future of the union and General Motors.

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Gettelfinger Gives UAW's Take on GM Deal, Industry

United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger gives the union's perspective on the recent plans to boost the struggling auto industry.

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Colorism' in the Labor Market

Paul Solman investigates why darker skinned black men face greater discrimination and lower wages in the labor market than lighter...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Distribution of Income, Division of Labor/Specialization…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: In East St. Louis, a Racial Divide in Unemployment

Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on the racial disparity in unemployment in East St. Louis, where memories of the Great...

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Distribution of Income, Division of Labor/Specialization…

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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: Key Infrastructure Repairs May Boost Economy

Paul Solman reports on how infrastructure spending may be a crucial way to resuscitate the economy.

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

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Grades 3-5

How Labor Got Its Day

If you asked students what comes to mind first when they think of Labor Day, what do you think they...

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

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Grades 6-8

The Civil War: A War of Resources

The North won the Civil War in large part due to its superior resources. In this lesson students will learn...

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

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