CTC Lessons
These links and lessons come from www.Econedlink.org, a source of more than 600 free economic and personal finance lessons and over 100 interactive tools. Sign up at no charge for MyEconEdLink, create a profile then save and create notes for each lesson. You will find the lessons under “Educator.” Select “Find a Lesson” and use the “Word Search” box. Links and lessons provided courtesy of the Council for Economic Education, the nation’s premiere source for economics curriculum and online resources. For more information, or to order curriculum, please go to www.councilforeconed.org.These lessons correlate to “Alabama Course of Study" standards. Please use and enjoy!
Elementary School Lessons & Links
Music, Maestro, Please: Show Business and the Factors of Production
This lesson was developed to incorporate economics and the arts to teach kids about Productive Resources. The lesson illustrates the many kinds of goods and services that must come together so that the show can go on! (Word Search: Show Business)
Vincent van Gogh's 'Flower Beds in Holland'
Students study a painting by van Gogh called, "Flower Beds in Holland." The students recognize that this farmer made a choice to grow flowers instead of another crop. Students are introduced to the concepts of scarcity, choice and opportunity cost. (Word Search: Vincent)
If I Ran the Zoo - Economics and Literature
Welcome to the Zoo! In this lesson, you will use Dr. Seuss' If I Ran the Zoo book to introduce the economic concepts to your students. You will also get the chance to use actual zoo criteria to help a zoo "choose" new animals. (Word Search: Zoo)
The Story of Jack and the Bank Stalk
Fairy tales have always given us lessons about life. The story of Jack and the Bean Stalk is a good lesson about the importance of knowing about money and banks. The story of Jack asks the question, "What is money?" (Word Search: Bank Stalk)
Students encounter the concept of scarcity in their daily tasks but have little comprehension as to its meaning, or how to deal with the concept of scarcity and wants. Scarcity is really about knowing that often life is 'This OR That' not 'This AND That'. This lesson plan for students in grades K-2 and 3-5 introduces the concept of scarcity and wants by illustrating how time is finite and how life involves a series of choices. (Word Search: Toys)
Middle School Lessons & Links
Incentives
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lid=378&type=educator
Students will learn that people respond predictably to positive incentives (rewards) and negative incentives (penalties). They will identify incentives in their daily lives at home and school. Students will discuss which incentives have worked to influence their decisions and why. (Word Search: Incentives Influence Us)
Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard
Ben & Jerry are producers of ice cream. Even if they produce ice cream for the entire nation, they still must make choices on which flavor to produce! Scarce resources force them to make a choice! (Word Search: Ben and Jerry’s)
Students will learn about supply, demand, price, competition, and entrepreneurial skills in this lesson. They will put what they learned into action by creating an ice cream stand, to complete with other stands in the classroom. (Word Search: Ice Cream Stand)
Spend, Save, Invest and Borrow
One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference
The picture book One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, written by Kate Smith Milway, takes place in Africa. Here in a Ghanan village, young Kojo cannot afford to go to school after the death of his father. His resourceful mother takes out a small loan and with a few leftover coins he buys a chicken. Soon he is selling eggs and with the profit, slowly acquires a large flock. Kojo is able to complete his education and establishes a business that becomes the foundation of his entire community. Upon adulthood, Kojo loans money to aspiring entrepreneurs and the cycle of economic growth continues. Based on a real-life story, this upbeat microfinance story helps students grasp economic and personal finance concepts and admire creative problem solving. (Word Search: One Hen)
