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9-12 Lessons

  1. UNO
  2. College of Business Administration
  3. Center for Economic Education
  4. Teacher Resources
  5. 9-12
  6. 9-12 Lessons

  • Related Resources

  • 9-12 Standards, Concepts, and Lessons
  • 9-12 Concepts
  • 9-12 Essays on Big Concepts
  • Nebraska Economics Standards
  • Additional Resources

  • K-5 Standards, Concepts, and Lessons
  • 6-8 Standards, Concepts, and Lessons
  • Glossary

Lessons

Grades Lesson Concept Lesson Description Content
Areas
NE Standard(s) US Econ Standard(s)
9-12 Budgeting: Unit 5, Making Personal Finance Decisions Budgeting These lessons look at how to allocate or budget one’s income with respect to these various options without exceeding the income one earns.

Economics, Personal Finance

12.2.7

2

Benchmarks: 0

9-12 The Circular Flow Model Circular Flow This is an excellent diagram of the circular flow model that can be used in class to teach the concepts.

Economics

12.2.1

9

Benchmarks: 0

9-12 In the Chips: A Market in Computer Chips Competition Understanding how markets work and the role of prices within markets is an important key to being able to explain and predict economic behavior. In true markets, prices are determined by the interaction of buyers and sellers. In-class simulation and video explanation.

Economics

12.2.2

7

Benchmarks: 0

9-12 Nebraska Entrepreneurs, Lesson 3: What's in it for Me? Decision-making, Incentives In this lesson students will examine both the benefits and costs that are associated with owning and operating a business. By completing a decision-making grid, students will realize that being your own boss involves trade-offs. In addition to this students will examine the incentives for starting a business as well as the opportunity costs involved.

Economics

12.2.6

1

Benchmarks: 0

6-12 Episode 7 – Gross Domestic Product – The Economic Lowdown Video Series Economic Growth, Gross Domestic Product A Federal Reserve economic education specialist explains what GDP measures, how it is calculated, how it is useful in determining whether and how quickly the economy is growing, and how GDP can be used as indicator of standard of living.

Economics

0

15

18

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Real GDP Growth, Q1 2013 (First Estimate), Focus on Economic Data, USA

Economic Indicators

This lesson focuses on the April 26, 2013, first (advance) estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (real GDP) growth for the first quarter (Q1) of 2013, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The current data and historical data are explained. The meaning of GDP and potential impacts of changes of GDP are explored.

Economics

12.2.3

12.2.5

18

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Institutions Matter: Experiments in Real Life

Economic Institutions

A real-life social science experiment in how institutions shape people's lives has been taking place for the past half-century in North and South Korea. This unique history is the foundation for a social science experiment about how institutions impact people's lives.

Economics,
Personal Finance

12.2.3

12.2.4

10

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Economic Institutions Video

Economic Institutions

This video teaches the concept of Economic Institutions. Economic institutions refer to the established laws, customs, organizations or systems that have a strong impact on economic decisions.

Economics

12.2.3

12.2.4

10

Benchmarks: 0

6-12

Where Does the Money Come From?

Taxes

With very few exceptions, the U.S. federal government does not have an "income" to spend providing goods and services. The money used for federal spending programs must be collected as federal taxes, or it must be borrowed. This lesson provides information about the costs of government programs.

Economics

8.2.11

12.2.10

16

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

How Can Entrepreneurs Control Costs?

Factors of Production

Students will learn that at certain times all entrepreneurs have some fixed costs that must be paid no matter how many products are offered for sale. Variable costs change with the number of products offered for sale.

Economics

12.2.1

1

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

In Plain English: Making Sense of the Federal Reserve

Federal Reserve

An overview of the Federal Reserve to help make sense of the complex, yet effective, System. Learn the three main responsibilities -- conducting monetary policy, supervising banks, and providing financial services. This is a download for Apple iOS.

Economics

12.2.3

20

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

M&M Interesting (Lesson 4)

Interest

During this lesson students use the economic concepts of trade-offs and opportunity cost to decide between savings accounts with simple interest and those with compound interest.

Economics

12.2.8

12

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

iPhone Launch

Markets

Investigates the notion that when consumers buy stock in businesses or purchase the products that those businesses produce, they are casting a vote for that business or product, and against the business or products of competitors.

Economics

12.2.1

7

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Lesson 9: Production and Costs

Productivity

Selected lesson from a curriculum guide focusing on Nebraska entrepreneurs. (PDF format) This hands-on lesson help students understand how entrepreneurs control costs, and includes the "diminishing returns" concept., Authors: Derry Trampe, Chuck Parker, Tammie Fischer, and Mary Lynn Reiser. ©Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

Economics

12.2.1

13

15

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Will I Make a Profit?

Profit

Bessie Moore Center, Arkansas: Students analyze the financial information from two business plans to learn how revenues can be increased or costs decreased in order to make the businesses profitable. This is a process that is necessary to the business plan.

Economics

12.2.1

14

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Protecting: Unit 10, Making Personal Finance Decisions

Risk Management

Risks such as car accidents, medical issues, house fires, lawsuits, and theft (including identity theft) all represent potential obstacles that can be managed by reducing one's potential exposure or by buying insurance. These lessons look at these options through games that involve the random occurrence of events and how students choose to manage the risks presented.

Economics, Personal Finance

12.2.9

N/A

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Cards, Cars, and Currency:

Lesson 2-Credit Cards

Lesson 4-Interest

Lesson 5-Savings

Savings, Credit, Interest

St Louis Fed: Students participate in a discussion of the general features of a $1 bill. They learn that although currency is valued, people often “throw currency away” as a result of poor financial decisions and the lack of financial knowledge. Following the discussion, the students play a game in which they attempt to “keep the currency,” working in pairs to answer 20 true-or-false questions about credit cards, debit cards and purchasing a car. From this game, which serves as a pretest for subsequent lessons, the students learn that financial literacy is important in keeping currency.

Economics

12.2.7

12.2.8

12.2.9

12

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Savings and Investing Blitz

Savings, Interest

In this game, students will be asked a series of multiple choice questions. The longer it takes to answer, the less the question is worth. If they take too long, it won't be worth anything.

Economics

12.2.9

12

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Focus on Economic Data, April, 2013

Unemployment

This lesson examines the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, announcement of employment data and the unemployment rate for the month of April, 2013, reported May 3, 2013. This lesson introduces the basic concepts of the BLS employment and unemployment data.

Economics

12.2.11

18

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

What Is Unemployment, How Is It Measured, and Why Does the Fed Care?

Unemployment

In this lesson, students read and interpret choropleth maps, which contain unemployment data. They compare verbal descriptions of the labor market from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book with the mapped data. In addition, students compare unemployment data for different years. Students access or observe how to access this data online.

Economics

12.2.11

18

Benchmarks: 0

6-12

Nebraska and the World

Role of Government, International Trade, Opportunity Cost, Benefits of Trade, Specialization

A resource guide and ten lessons for teachers focusing on the role of international trade in state development in Nebraska. by Tammie Fischer and Mary Lynn Reiser.
©UNL Center for Economic Education.

Economics, Geography, Government

12.2.10

12.2.12

5

6

16

Benchmarks:

9-12

What Does the Fed Do?

Monetary Policy

Students will learn more about the purposes and functions of the Federal Reserve System, including describing a fractional reserve banking system, explaining what bank panics and bank runs are and why they are less likely today than at the beginning of the 20th century, and listing the three major functions of the Federal Reserve System.

Economics

12.2.3

20

Benchmarks: 0

6-12

What is a Stock, or Who Owns McDonald's

Profit, Choice

Students will explore the fundamentals of stock ownership. They discuss how stock owners share the risks and rewards of purchasing stocks. Lesson 3 from Learning for the Market: Integrating the Stock Market Game Across the Curriculum, ©Council for Economic Education.

Business, Social studies, Language Arts

N/A

2

4

14

Benchmarks: 1

9-12

Property Rights Video

Property Rights

This video teaches the concept of Property Rights, which refers to the legal ownership of resources, including the right to own, use and sell them. Property rights are essential to the transactions in a market economy, and one of the essential roles of government in a market-oriented economy is to protect property rights.

Economics

12.2.4

10

16

Benchmarks: 0

6-12

What are the Economic Functions of Government?

Role of Government

Class discussion and small group task identifying six economics functions of government and examples of these functions using current events. Unit II, Lesson 4 from Focus on Economics: Civics and Government, ©Council for Economic Education.

Economics, Government

N/A

16

Benchmarks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

9-12

How can Business Make Money from Tariffs?

Barriers to Trade

Students investigate the impact of tariffs on businesses and consumers during the 1880s by looking at a political cartoon, solving a short math problem, and comparing protectionism between time periods. Lesson 7 from Focus on Economics: United States History, ©Council for Economic Education.

Economics, American History

12.2.12

4

17

Benchmarks: 1

9-12

Business Economics Course

Allocation of Resources, Economic Systems, Economic Institutions, Incentives, Markets, Prices, Market Structures, Productivity, Role of Government, Global Economic Concepts, Economic Indicator

Business Economics is a course designed to help students understand economic principles as applied to current events and issues. Emphasis includes allocation of resources, economic systems, economic institutions and incentives, markets and prices, market structures, productivity, role of government, global economic concepts, and economic indicators.

Economics, Business Economics

12.2.1

12.2.3

12.2.5

12.2.10

N/A

6-12

Prohibition Then, MADD Today

Choice, Incentives

Students read short histories of Prohibition and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and work in small groups to evaluate the consequences of these policies on consumers' behavior. Lesson 9 from Focus on Economics: United States History, ©Council for Economic Education.

Economics, American History

N/A

1

2

4

Benchmarks: 2, 4

9-12

Consumer Credit: Buy Now, Pay Later, and More

Choice, Opportunity Cost, Credit

Lesson 10, Personal Decision Making: Focus on Economics. Copyright ©1996, (PDF Format) Council for Economic Education, New York, NY 10036. Used with permission.

Personal Finance

N/A

1

2

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Is the Tassle Worth the Hassle

Choice, Opportunity Cost, Incentives

Analysis of the costs and benefits of educational choices. Learn about economic choice, opportunity cost, and incentives. ©Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

Economics, Consumer Economics

N/A

1

2

4

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Marketplace: School Competition

Competition

In this lesson, students listen to an audio file about school vouchers creating market competition for public schools in June 2002. Students will identify the story's major concepts and their supporting details using an interactive note-taker.

Economics

12.2.2

7

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Give and Take

Cost-Benefirt Analysis

Often decisions result in trading off some of one thing to get some of another. This lesson introduces the idea of trade-offs and provides practice in analyzing options before making decisions.

Economics

12.2.6

2

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Demand and Supply Online

Demand, Supply, Equilibrium Price

Basic discussion of demand and supply and the determinants of demand and supply. Includes self-quiz for students on understanding shifts in demand and supply. ©Kim Sosin

Economics

N/A

7

8

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Nebraska Entrepreneurs: Creating Your Own Careers

Entrepreneurs, Productivity, Profit

Ten lessons focusing on the characteristics of entrepreneurs in the economy. Several lessons deal with Nebraska entrepreneurs. ©Nebraska Council on Economic Education.

Economics

12.2.1

14

15

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

The 411 on College Education

Human Capital, Resources-Human/Natural/Capital

One of the most important financial decisions people make is whether to go to college. The price tag of a college education is rising, but so are the benefits. In this lesson, students will begin by learning the relationship between level of education and the average unemployment rate; and level of education and median weekly income. Students then learn about wage premiums and investigate the various college options available to them; financing options available to them; the importance of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and finally, college as an investment in human capital, examine the costs and benefits, and decide whether it is a good choice.

Economics

12.2.6

1

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Where Did All the Money Go? The Mystery of the Great Depression

Interdependence, Income, Money, Supply

The students read a brief passage that poses the mystery, "How did the Great Depression happen?" As detectives, they gather clues using the Internet to investigate the mystery through a series of clue sheets. In the first step they complete a retrieval chart to summarize information about the consumer price index, unemployment rate, federal spending, and US and world events that have economic and political implications.

Economics

0

11

5

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Market Failures and Government Regulations: Is the Cure Worse than the Disease?

Market Failures, Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economic efficiency is something much more than producing goods at the lowest possible cost. In involves providing individuals with the goods and services they desire, in the quantities, qualities, places, and times they desire them, with the least use of society's scarce resources.

Economics, Business

0

16

3

7

9

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Schools for Sale

Public Goods, Incentives, Economic Goals

Examination of the case for privatizing a public school. Learn about public goods, private goods, costs, incentives, and economic efficiency. ©Nebraska Council on Economic Education

Economics, Government

N/A

16

Benchmarks: 0

9-12

Economics of Internet Access

Shortages/Surpluses

An understanding of shortages, supply, demand and the rationing function of prices is important as we encounter greater numbers of people logging on to the Internet.

Economics

0

7

Benchmarks: 0

Contact Us

  • Jamie Wagner, Ph.D.
  • Director, UNO Center for Economic Education

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
  • 332B Mammel Hall
  • jfwagner@unomaha.edu
  • 402.554.2357

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Related Resources

  • 9-12 Standards, Concepts, and Lessons
  • 9-12 Concepts
  • 9-12 Essays on Big Concepts
  • Nebraska Economics Standards

Additional Resources

  • K-5 Standards, Concepts, and Lessons
  • 6-8 Standards, Concepts, and Lessons
  • Glossary

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