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...
Council for Economic Education
One is Silver and the Other's Gold
Learners investigate the money supply and how it can affect the value of money. They examine how the changing money supply can affect prices.
Curated OER
The Consumer Price Index: A Measure of Inflation
Learners examine inflation over the years and learn to calculate how it changes over time. In this money management lesson, students learn how price changes affect their purchasing power, how to come up with strategies for dealing with...
Federal Reserve Bank
The Story of the Federal Reserve System
Prevent the Federal Reserve System from becoming a dry topic for your middle and high schoolers by using an informative, engaging resource! The cartoon takes your class on a journey with aliens from the planet of Novus to observe the...
Federal Reserve Bank
The Story of the Federal Reserve: Middle School Lesson Plan
After reading the charming cartoon about the United States Federal Reserve, pupils often need to complete activities to retain their learning. The resource does a wonderful job of using class discussion and various written exercises to...
Federal Reserve Bank
Measuring the Great Depression
Young historians examine the cost of goods and services through the Consumer Price Index (CPI), output measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and unemployment measured by the unemployment rate to gain an understanding of the economic...
Federal Reserve Bank
Could It Happen Again?
The final lesson in a series of six about the Great Depression focuses on the Federal Reserve's role in stabilizing the economy.
Curated OER
Loose and Tight Monetary Policy
Students discuss goals of tight or loose monetary policy, act as advisers to heads of various nations' central banks to determine whether countries should pursue tight or loose monetary policy, and present realistic solutions orally to...
Curated OER
A Parable on Populism
Fourth graders study the sombolism between Populism of the 1890's and the story of The Wizard of Oz.
Social Science Education Consortium
Ssec: Inflation: Are Higher Prices the Only Problem? [Pdf]
This investigation begins with a discussion of spare change. Students are asked to compare and analyze peoples' attitudes toward coins today to those of the past. Students then complete an activity that teaches them how to compare...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Doug Levinson: What Gives a Dollar Bill Its Value?
The value of money is determined by how much (or how little) of it is in circulation. But who makes that decision, and how does their choice affect the economy at large? Doug Levinson takes a trip into the United States Federal Reserve,...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Multipliers and the Mystery of the Magic Money
Learners learn about the purpose of the reserve requirement, how money is "created" in the economy through fractional reserves, and how the Federal Reserve uses the reserve requirement and loans to correct economic instability.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: One Is Silver and the Other's Gold
Students learn about the money supply and that it can affect the value of money. Students investigate this in the 1896 presidential election (Bryan vs. McKinley, Free Silver vs. Gold Standard) and examine a political cartoon that depicts...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: The Road to Emerald City Is Paved With Good Intentions
'The Wizard of Oz' is perhaps the most popular film ever made. Generations of families have enjoyed this classic tale of Dorothy's struggle to return home from a faraway land. What is not well known, however, is that 'The Wonderful...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: "Should You Learn to Fly?"
Young scholars will define opportunity cost as they list various career choices and salaries, and calculate future value of money.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Climbing the Savings Mountain
Students discover how saving money can be compared to a mountain climb. The climb can be fast or slow, safe or hazardous, scenic or thrilling. You will find out that there is more than one way to get to the top!