Browse lesson plans, videos, activities, and more by grade level

Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Why obsessing over economic indicators may hinder economic improvement

The monthly jobs report is big news on the first Friday of every month, swaying the financial markets and prompting...

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Coincident Indicators, Division of Labor/Specialization…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: In 'second machine age' of robots, it's time for humans to get creative

Robotic technology is increasingly infiltrating our everyday world, and as robots become more capable of human labor, people will likely...

Key Concepts: Division of Labor/Specialization, Economic Development, Entrepreneurs…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Economist warns against overacting to January's lower-than-expected jobs numbers

Just 113,000 new jobs were added in January, according to the Labor Department's monthly employment report. The numbers failed to...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Employment and Unemployment

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Is academia suffering from adjunctivitis? Low-paid adjunct professors struggle to make ends meet

Juggling multiple part-time jobs, earning little-to-no benefits, depending on public assistance: This is the financial reality for many adjunct professors...

Key Concepts: Division of Labor/Specialization, Economic Development, Goods and Services

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Sounding an alarm on economic dysfunction by practicing sustainable living

Economics correspondent Paul Solman profiles Chris Martenson, a former science professional who gave up his large home and high-status job...

Key Concepts: Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Economic Development, Goods and Services…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Weak job growth, unemployment drop signal 'unwinding' of labor participation

The December jobs report showed a gain of just 74,000 jobs, while the drop in unemployment was due largely to...

Key Concepts: Division of Labor/Specialization, Employment and Unemployment

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Tricking the brain with transformative virtual reality

Want to have a just-like-real-life fantasy experience without leaving your living room? Virtual reality technology is already employed by certain...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Entrepreneurs

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: To taper stimulus efforts? Examining the Fed's role in the economic recovery

Since the financial crisis of 2008, the Federal Reserve has created trillions of dollars to buy Treasury and mortgage-backed bonds....

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Economic Institutions

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Nobel economist Robert Shiller on how the stock market reflects psychology

Yale University professor Robert Shiller was one of three Americans honored with the Nobel Prize for Economics for research on...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Financial Markets, Investing

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Rosier-than-expected jobs report doesn't improve outlook for long-term jobless

The November jobs report boasted positive momentum, including gains in manufacturing and construction sectors. But economics correspondent Paul Solman reports...

Key Concepts: Business Cycles, Division of Labor/Specialization, Employment and Unemployment…

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Grades 6-8, 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Exploring the Economics of the First Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Mass., probably didn't resemble the modern holiday we celebrate today. Economics correspondent Paul Solman steps...

Key Concepts: Choice, Decision Making/Cost-Benefit Analysis, Money…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Bubble in the making? How the stock market might not reflect the current economy

At the New York Stock Exchange, the Dow ended above 16,000, another record high. Meanwhile, companies continue to report healthy...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Division of Labor/Specialization, Economic Institutions…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Airport workers in suburban Seattle take on living wage debate at the ballot box

SeaTac, Wash., is aptly named after the airport located there. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the city's largest employer and...

Key Concepts: Budgeting, Credit, Division of Labor/Specialization…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: N.Y. survivors of Sandy ditch the city to 'bug out' in preparation for doomsday

Some Hurricane Sandy survivors have begun to study up on "doomsday prepping" in case another environmental disaster hits. City slickers...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Business Cycles, Communities and Cities…

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Economists expect 'messier' jobs report for October after unimpressive September

Employment data for the month of September was finally released after being delayed for weeks by the shutdown. The numbers...

Key Concepts: Division of Labor/Specialization, Employment and Unemployment

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Grades 9-12

Making Sen$e with Paul Solman: Bitcoin gains mainstream interest after initial 'outlier' appeal

Bitcoin, a digital currency, has appealed to high-tech skeptics of government-issued money, as well as global criminals who are eager...

Key Concepts: Balance of Trade and Balance of Payments, Economic Development, Money

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