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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Peanuts, Pecans, and Peas, Please

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
George Washington Carver, a great scientist, changed the economy of the South with his agricultural knowledge. This instructional activity will investigate how the lowly peanut kept the cotton farmers from losing everything.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: What's My Interest?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the concept of interest by means of two activities. The first, a simple activity with jellybeans, introduces the concept of interest accruement, and the second, a practical, "real world" activity, reinforces the concept...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Hey Pop!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
One of the best sounds and smells is fresh popcorn! At the movies, at the fair, or at home, everyone likes to munch on popcorn. What is your favorite brand? Is the most expensive the best? You will conduct a taste test to find out. You...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Write Stuff

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Right now you are probably using a pencil to do your school work. But do you know where the pencil came from, or how it is made? Did you know that the Star Spangled Banner, written by Francis Scott Key was first written in pencil? And...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: President Obama's Allowance

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, students will identify different expenses in the US budget and will decide on the order of importance for different expenses.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: If I Ran the Zoo Economics and Literature

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Welcome to the Zoo! In this two-day lesson plan 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.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: How Much Is That Doggy?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars will investigate the concept of total cost of ownership. They will brainstorm the costs of owning a dog or a cat. Students will calculate the total cost of ownership to help determine which might be the best pet for them.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: When Gas Was a Quarter!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Why do things cost so much more now than they used to? Young scholars will find out about inflation in the United States.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Destination: Mars

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Look up! Can you ever imagine standing on another planet and looking down at earth? We've been to the moon - now lets launch an expedition to Mars. Imagine all the preparation you will have to go through in order to have a safe and...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Clean Land Thanks to Us! (Educator Page)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson about the EPA, learners will find out that their government pays for goods and services by taxing people and companies.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Jelly Belly Jam

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson plan students will make a decision making chart and use it to help them in deciding which flavor of Jelly beans to buy.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Making Sense of the Census

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The United States takes a Census every 10 years. How does the country use those statistics?
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Economic Spotter: Inventors and Entrepreneurs in the Industrial Age

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The Industrial Age has also been called the Age of Edison. Edison patented more than 1000 inventions and gave rise to three industries: electric utilities, phonograph and record companies, and the film industry. This lesson will help...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Music, Maestro, Please: Show Business and the Factors of Production

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania recently opened a $300 million dollar center for the performing arts, the Kimmel Center. This lesson was developed for a special teacher workshop to incorporate economics and the arts to teach kids...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Making Cents Out of Centimes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students will learn that most countries create their own currency for use as money. In most of Europe that money is now the Euro. Students will discover the use of Euros in this simulation and learn a little about exchanging dollars for...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: The Story of Jack and the Bank Stalk

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Fairy tales have always been used to give lessons about life. The story of Jack and the Bean Stalk is a good lesson plan about the importance of knowing about money and banks. The story of Jack asks the question, "What is money?"
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Pennies Make Cents

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars will review the history of trade before money and will investigate the history of money. Students will locate information about the first coin authorized by the United States and will learn about the penny.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Changes in Change

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This instructional activity begins with students visiting one web resource that gives them practice in counting money. The second resource goes one step further in that students are given opportunities to make change for make-believe...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Old Business, New Business

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson students are introduced to several businesses from the past. They see that, while the names for these businesses are different, many of the elements of that job are seen in occupations today. The web site, "Business Cards"...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Hey, Mom! What's for Breakfast?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson students working in cooperative groups will: 1.Discuss food items they consume for breakfast. 2.Investigate elements of foreign culture, particularly food. 3.Use map skills to locate selected foreign nations. 4.Increase...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Paraffin Alia

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
All resources are limited. It is this simple fact--scarcity--that forces us to make decisions. When we do make a choice, we pass up some other opportunity. Opportunity cost is defined as the next best alternative not chosen, or the...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: How Global Is Your Portfolio?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This engaging instructional activity challenges students to connect economics and geography as they investigate global companies in the stock market.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Did You Get the Message?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Advertising is the primary tool used by businesses to tell consumers about the goods and services they sell in the marketplace. Businesses also use advertising to try to convince consumers to buy what they are selling. Advertisements do...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Be an Ad Detective

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Every day, young scholars are bombarded by advertising. They cannot escape it. But marketers realize that many ypung people are becoming very good at tuning ads out. Businesses thus are becoming more creative in their communication with...