Curated OER
Can We Be Both Conservationists and Consumers?
High schoolers explore their role as consumers and conservationists and what roles they play in today's economic climate. They explore resource allocation issues. Students analyze data and draw comparisons between historical and...
Global Oneness Project
Living with Less Water
Did you know that California produces two thirds of the fruits and nuts consumed in the United States? That it produces almost one third of the vegetables? Did you know that scientists warn that California is facing the onset of a...
Curated OER
Producing and Consuming
Second graders make a booklet. In this economics lesson plan, 2nd graders define producers and consumers. They make an assembly line accordion booklet to demonstrate how producers and consumers work together to make and use goods.
Curated OER
Producers and Consumers
Third graders identify the relationship between producers and consumers and supply and demand. They listen to a lecture and complete a variety of graphic organizers to show their understanding.
National First Ladies' Library
Learning to Be Consumers: The Emergence of Catalogs and Advertising
Learners study the historical context of marketing and how it came to be so important in the 19th century. They analyze advertising in the 19th century, 20th century, and today to understand how much or how little has changed.
Gobal Oneness Project
Passionate Pursuits
Not all technology is digital. Teach learners about the low-tech maker movement with a photo essay about six artisans from California and two articles about the local creator movement. After tackling the photo essay in small groups,...
Curated OER
The Great Cookie Company
Fourth graders implement real life application of money, problem solving, economics, and consumer awareness. In this three week economics unit, 4th graders operate a business, write checks, balance accounts, and market their product.
Teaching Tolerance
Consuming and Creating Political Art
A picture is worth a thousand words, but political art may be worth even more! After examining examples of political cartoons, murals, and other forms of public art, class members create their own pieces to reflect their ideals and...
Curated OER
Hunger in the World
Consider various aspects of world hunger in this writing lesson plan. After taking a pre-test, middle and high schoolers play a map game, analyze and discuss world statistics, and write a report on an assigned country. The lesson plan...
One Hen
Making Choices
When choosing what foods to eat, there are a lot of factors to consider. To help make the decision a little easier, young learners work in small groups developing short plays, stories, or advertisements that address the different issues...
Global Oneness Project
Deconstructing Consumerism
A short, engaging video provides a critique of the hyper-consumerist mentality that many think have taken over the Western world. After watching the video, pupils reflect on their own habits and use evidence to respond to discussion and...
Oxfam
Sweatshops - Exploitation Is Never in Fashion
Here's a resource that brings home the idea that we are all part of a global community, that our actions have far reaching consequences. Class members examine the labels in their clothes, create a list of the manufacturers, the countries...
Global Oneness Project
Rethinking the Fabrics We Wear
What are fibersheds and what what do they have to do with environmental protections? A photo essay and audio recordings about Mimi Luebbermann, and her sheep, cause consumers to reflect on how their clothing choices can support local...
Curated OER
The Tropical Supermarket
Third graders explore the sources of the various foods they eat. They examine how everyone is intricately connected to the ecosystems in which natural resources are produced. Students observe how the lives of people living in those...
Curated OER
Determinants of Supply and Demand Worksheet
In this economics worksheet, students respond to writing prompt questions about supply and demand issues in the world economy today.
Curated OER
Lemonade Stand
Students plan a lemonade stand to compete with another stand and examine their decisions from the consumer and producer's point of view. They discuss the law of supply and demand, plan for their lemonade stand, and write an essay...
Curated OER
Economics: People as Producers and Consumers
Students examine the dual roles of producers and consumers in people by creating fictional stories that include examples of both. Their stories include descriptions of the tools and skills needed for the jobs of their characters and...
Curated OER
Equadorian Rainforest: The Tropical Supermarket
Students study the concept of sustainable agricultural practices through cocoa farming and the lives of the people who are the producers. Students watch a slide show and read a story which helps them understand the origins of chocolate,...
Facing History and Ourselves
How Journalists Minimize Bias
Class members are challenged to write a neutral news story about the events they observe in a short video. After sharing their stories in groups and discussing the different perceptions, the class concludes with a video of journalists...
Curated OER
Fourth Grade Earning and Learning Podcast
While this lesson is connected to social studies curriculum that is not identified, the activity could be used as a template for a review of any material. The lesson focuses on a review of vocabulary relating to the economy. Pupils...
Curated OER
Gross Domestic Pizza
Students explore major components of gross domestic product (GDP) and how it is determined; students create and compare GDP pie charts for the countries of Pepperonia and Anchovia.
Curated OER
How Much Does it Cost to Light Your School?
Learners compute the cost of electricity used to light their classroom and their school for various lengths of time. They compute the amount of coal needed to produce the electricity used for one hour of light in their classroom. An...
Curated OER
The Times and Life During the California Gold Rush
Fourth graders read about the era in their history books, write in their journals revolving around the Gold Rush, making crafts such as newspapers, and also play the part of the Forty-niners.
Curated OER
The 1950s:
Teens will get a kick out of this presentation, which provides a glimpse of the consumerism and rising pop culture of 1950's America. They will especially appreciate the discussion of "Teen culture" including the music of Elvis, the...