This RSS feed displays the newest lessons published by EconEdLink http://www.econedlink.org/ Credit Cards are a risky business these days, especially for students and those holding multiple cards. Interest rates on credit card balances have always been high relative to other rates, for several reasons. Despite this, there is still a demand for the “plastic money” that many people see as convenient and ideal with the increasingly technological world economy. This lesson explores many issues surrounding credit cards- from what to look for when selecting a card to what the government is doing to aid consumers. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=847&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=847&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST The students sharpen their graphing skills by interpreting the relationship between changes in the unemployment rate (%) and real GDP. From this graph, students will determine the natural rate of GDP growth for the U. S. Economy since 1960. They draw the linear relationship between the change in unemployment and GDP and interpret their graphs. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=848&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=848&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST The students learn how a recession affects our economy, and how it might affect them personally.They examine the role the federal government has played in dealing with the current recession. They analyze their thoughts about what role the federal government should play in dealing with a recession. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=859&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=859&page=teacher Grades: 6-8 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 CST Since the 1960's, many Americans eligible to vote have not bothered to do so- not even in presidential elections. Low rates of participation in voting have been worrisome to people interested in preserving our democratic traditions. Economists have tried to explain why people didn't vote. They have suggested that people who chose not to vote were acting rationally in that the costs associated with voting (such as time spent on registration, rearranging work schedules, getting to the polls, and gathering information on the candidates) appeared to outweigh the benefits (influencing the outcome of an election or gaining the satisfaction of being a good citizen). More recently, however, voter-participation rates have gone up again. What has caused the trend to change? Why are more people voting? This lesson will examine factors that affect voter turnout. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=139&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=139&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:00:00 CST Competition provides benefits for consumers. First, more competition means consumers have more choices of goods and services. Second, when more firms are offering goods and services, competition often leads to lower prices. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=841&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=841&page=teacher Grades: 3-5, 6-8 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:00:00 CST Students will take a surprise trip around the world. As they travel, they will use clues to discover where they are going. They will then figure out how much money they have spent in U.S. dollars, using exchange rates. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=798&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=798&page=teacher Grades: 6-8, 9-12 Mon, 3 Aug 2009 12:00:00 CST The students will explore the costs and the benefits of going to college. They participate in a three-part game designed to help them understand the decisions associated with attending college and the benefits available to college graduates. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=789&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=789&page=teacher Grades: 6-8 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson will help students identify how to make good decisions which will help them financially in the future. Students will identify how to take their own wants and work them into a form of a personal budget. Students will also discuss various financial scenarios and decide what course of action would be the best to follow. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=792&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=792&page=teacher Grades: 6-8 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson will help students to understand how markets are created by the interaction of buyers and sellers, what demand and supply are, what equilibrium price is, and how demand and supply interact with price changes. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=747&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=747&page=teacher Grades: 6-8 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson introduces students to the Chairman of the Federal Reserve System, Ben Bernanke. It describes briefly his involvement within the Federal Reserve. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=700&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=700&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson examines the November 6, 2009, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, announcement of employment data and the unemployment rate for the month of October, 2009. This lesson introduces the basic concepts of the BLS employment and unemployment data. The meaning and importance of the data are discussed. Assessment exercises are included for reinforcing knowledge of the concepts. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=879&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=879&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson focuses on the October 29, 2009, advance estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (Real GDP) for the third quarter of 2009, 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. This lesson will also raise questions about the impact of the current level of growth on the U.S. economy and individuals. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=877&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=877&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson focuses on the November 4, 2009, press release by the Federal Open Market Committee on the current Federal Reserve monetary policy actions and goals. This lesson is intended to guide students and teachers through an analysis of the actions the Federal Reserve is taking and can take in influencing prices, employment, and economic growth. Through this lesson, students will better understand the dynamics of the U.S. economy, current economic conditions and monetary policies. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=878&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=878&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson focuses on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and rate of inflation reported October 15, 2009, by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the month of September, 2009. Students read the BLS report, analyze the meaning of the CPI data, determine the change in consumer prices, and explore the impact of the change in the price level on themselves, their families, consumers, and producers. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=873&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=873&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST This lesson focuses on the September 30, 2009, third estimate of U.S. real gross domestic product (Real GDP) for the second quarter of 2009, 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. This lesson will also raise questions about the impact of the current level of growth on the U.S. economy and individuals. http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=869&page=teacher http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=869&page=teacher Grades: 9-12 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 CST