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Article
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Legendary Coins and Currency

For Students 9th - 10th
Archived images of coins from a beautiful online exhibition on the history of money.
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Activity
Edutopia

Edutopia: Goods and Services [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A unit that teaches the difference between goods and services, the difference between producers and consumers, the difference between human, natural, and capital resources, and the difference between bartering/trading and buying/selling....
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Lesson Plan
University of Nebraska Omaha

Ec Ed Web: Virtual Economics Web Companion

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The Virtual Economics Web Companion for K-12 economics and social studies teachers was created by the National Council on Economic Education. A wide variety of educational materials and lesson plans can be accessed through this site....
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Unit Plan
Federal Reserve Bank

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta: Classroom Economist: What Is Money?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this edition, the Classroom Economist offers a close look at money-its definition, the problem it solves, what fiat money accomplishes, and how the Yapese used giant wheels of stone for money.
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Activity
Other

Federal Bank of Richmond: My Money

For Students 3rd - 5th
For elementary students, this booklet of activities teaches basic money skills and concepts. Includes lesson plans.
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Lesson Plan
Federal Reserve Bank

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia: What Is Money? [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This lesson plan is designed to help children understand the problems which arise from the bartering system so they appreciate the role money has in society.
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Handout
Social Studies Help Center

Social Studies Help Center: What Is Money?

For Students 9th - 10th
Introduction explains what money is. This is followed by a brief history of commodity money and fiat money. Finally, this site explains the essential functions and characteristics of money.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: Revolutionary Money

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A two-lesson plan unit using the Smithsonian collection of currency to teach students about the first American money. Other resources are given and all materials are downloadable.
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: What Is a Gift Economy?

For Students 9th - 10th
What if, this holiday season, instead of saying "thank you" to your aunt for her gift of a knitted sweater, the polite response expected from you was to show up at her house in a week with a better gift? Or to vote for her in the town...
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Handout
Other

Roy Davies: Money

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the past, present, and future of money. Learn about exchange rates, money forms, banking, and more.
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Activity
PBS

Nova Online: History of Money

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A timeline of money from 9000 B.C. to the present day that explains the types of money being used at various times in history.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Lewis and Clark Barter With Native Americans

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson you will define the term barter and give examples of bartering in several different areas. Find out how this system took shape and was useful to Lewis and Clark. This site is extremely informative and contains extension...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Pennies Make Cents

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students 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: Bill, Are You Bogus?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In a barter system, people have to trade goods and services for other goods and services. In an economy that produces millions of goods and services, barter is very difficult. Think of all the stuff (goods and services) you have.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Agent Pincher: P Is for Penny or Where Did Money Come From?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
What if we woke up tomorrow and found that there were no more pennies? Or what if we found that money had disappeared altogether -- not only from our pockets but from banks, stores and all the other places where we would expect to find...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Lewis and Clark Barter With the Native Americans

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Using the study of the Lewis and Clark expedition students will define the term barter and give examples of bartering.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: No Funny Money, Honey I Want the Real Thing!

For Teachers K - 1st
Do you know what funny money is? It's NOT the real thing! Find out how our government tries to make our money hard to copy in this lesson about real and fake money.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Trade to the Tailor: Student Version

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students can use this site online in conjuction with the teacher's lesson plan, "Trade to the Tailor."
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: I Have No Money, Would You Take Wampum?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Through the use of folk tales, history, and the students' own experiences, students will recognize the inter-relatedness of goods, services, money. They will locate information about barter as a means of trade, use folk tales as an...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Hawaiian Economics: Barter for Fish & Poi

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In ancient Hawaii, chiefs managed the economy by creating a land division system, the Ahupua'a, which divided the islands into pie slice shapes. Each Ahupua'a covered the three main regions of the islands: the mountains, the valleys, and...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Hawaiian Economics: Barter for Fish & Poi

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Use this lesson to learn more about the Hawaiian economics system. Learn how they developed and used this specialized type of money system. "In this lesson, you will learn how specialization and division of labor increased productivity...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Why Do We Need Money? Think About Ebay!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The students investigate money--its purpose and functions. They complete an exercise, using the online auction site eBay, to learn why money is critical to an economy.
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Lesson Plan
Federal Reserve Bank

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia: Why Money? [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars learn about barter, and the benefits of using money, as they participate in this trading simulation.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: What Is Currency? Lessons From Historic Africa

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
From the Smithsonian, this site offers lessons and resources on currency, its use (in the form of gold dust, salt, or metal objects) as an instrument of trade in historic Africa, and its requirements as an instrument of trade in the...