Federal Reserve Bank
The Free Silver Movement and Inflation
Why are US dollars no longer backed by gold and silver? What is our medium of exchange, and what would it be like to live in a barter economy? Learners consider these questions, as well as learn about the major historical events in the...
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Let's Make A Deal
Students conduct a Swap Day to determine how bartering to exchange goods works. They trade something that they do not want for an item that they prefer.
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What is Money? Learn the Role of Money in a Free Market System
Pupils view a seashell and listen as the teacher explains that these were sometimes used as money. They listen as the teacher lectures on medium of exchange, barter, and commodity. Students determine the number of chickens it would take...
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Buying Without Money
Students describe life in the Virginia colony. They explain how money, barter, and credit were used. Students simulate trading items among classmates. Students compare/contrast credit and trade.
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Donut Dinero
Students set up a classroom currency exchange and explore the idea of bartering to get what they want. They create a monetary unit that is based on fractions and multiples of a standard unit, and compare this system to the U.S. monetary...
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Economics During Colonial Virginia
Students communicate their knowledge of life in the Virginia colony. They describe how money, barter, and credit were used. Students observe a United Streaming video on trade. Students complete a review guide and write an essay.
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Fur Trade Economics
Learners demonstrate understanding of what the fur trade was and how it was operated, including the bartering process, by participating in a mock trade activity and assessing the value of items based on their needs and wants.
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Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?
Fifth graders describe the changes in King George III's policy toward the American colonies by sequencing key events between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. They explain the colonial reactions to command decisions...
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Jamestown's Economy
Students identify items made in Jamestown and draw conclusions about their economy. In this Jamestown economy instructional activity, students use the internet to complete a worksheet which required them to look at photographs of goods...
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A New coat for Anna
Second graders participate in a bartering activity. They discuss the problems of bartering. Students read the book "A New Coat for Anna," by Harriet Ziefert. Students discuss the bartering Anna's mother did. They record the trades made...
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Saturday Sancocho
Second graders identify the economic principles and processes that are helpful to producers and consumers when making good decisions. Students will read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, and evaluate literary text as well as explain how...
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A Rooster and a Bean Seed
Young scholars study exchange and how it has different forms. In this money management lesson, students are able to learn how goods and services work by completing worksheets, activities, essay questions and assessments provided.
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Trading Post Simulation
Students explore the concept of trade. In this trade instructional activity, students simulate a trade store. Students are divided into two groups. Half the class runs the store, half the class are customers. Students try to trade goods...
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A Lesson to Accompany "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy"
Young scholars investigate the role of money in the colonial economy. In this colonial economy lesson, students participate in a trading activity, read the booklet "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy," participate...
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At Home on the French Frontier: 1700-1800
Students role play bartering for goods and services as the French settlers did in colonial Illinois. They start with eight household items to acquire through bartering. They have to calculate values for each object and determine the...
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Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression
Learners barter for goods within the class. For this economics lesson based on the Great Depression, the teacher introduces the lesson with a picture book, then students are allowed to barter with teacher supplied goods as they examine...
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We're Spending Too Much Money
Students discuss the reasons for having a budget. They create their own personal budget and explain how the bartering system can work for some items today.
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A Lesson to Accompany "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy"
Students examine the role of money in the colonial economy by participating in a trading activity. In this colonial economy instructional activity, students complete an activity to learn about colonial trade and what happens when there...
Federal Reserve Bank
Once Upon a Dime: Middle School Lesson Plan
Once Upon a Dime ... a group of middle schoolers wanted to learn about economics! Teach them complex economic concepts like supply and demand through a resource that effectively simplifies the explanations. Pupils work through various...
Federal Reserve Bank
Once Upon a Dime: High School Lesson Plan
Who knew that fairy tales and economics go hand-in-hand? Pupils complete a host of handouts, using everything from graphic organizers to short answer questions to reinforce concepts. They also complete a project that builds on everything...
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Trade Along the Silk Road
Students do a jigsaw activity that will enable them to understand the dynamics of the Silk Road trade.
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Pioneer Currency in Utah: Have you got change for a 5?
Students explore the need for money in a society and the artificial value of coin and paper currencies. They design their own coin and paper currency.
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TRADERS' GAME
Middle schoolers play a game aimed at demonstrating how relationships with other communities or countries affect the food and fiber system. The game simulates the unequal distribution of natural resources which creates the need for...
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Colonial Customs
Young scholars experience Colonial life and explore the customs of the 17th century. In this colonial America lesson plan, students play dress up, barter items, author pledges, and review 17th century etiquette.