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

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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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Treasury Secretary Lew on Long-Term Unemployment, Party Divide on Spending Cuts

In a conversation with economics correspondent Paul Solman, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew addresses jobs and economic growth -- issues paramount...

Key Concepts: Aggregate Demand, Budget Deficits and Public Debt, Business Cycles…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Brutal Job Search Reality for Older Americans Out of Work for Six Months or More

Despite a rosier jobs picture in April, for Americans ages 55 or older who have been unemployed long-term, the prospect...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: A Boom in Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment Among Late Bloomers

Are mature entrepreneurs on the rise? Economics correspondent Paul Solman talks to older workers who decided to pursue their own...

Key Concepts: Division of Labor/Specialization, Entrepreneurs, Financial Investments…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Is Globalization Wiping Out the American Surfboard Industry?

Economic correspondent Paul Solman reports on an American-born product hit hard by globalization: the surfboard. In Southern California, U.S.-based manufacturers...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Is China's Fast-Growing Economy Headed for a Crash?

Will the Chinese economy continue its torrid pace of growth and overtake the U.S.'s top status? Or is it a...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Manufacturer Vita Needle Finds Investment in Older Workers Turns a Big Profit

The average age of Vita Needle's workers is 74 years old, and that's no accident. The manufacturing company has intentionally...

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

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: 'Tis the Season, But Should We Save or Spend? A Holiday Money Conundrum

In this economics video, Paul Solman weighs in on saving money during the holidays.

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

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