Teaching+Economics

Presenter: Doug Enders School District: West Shore Email: denders@wssd.k12.pa.us

This presentation was recently given at the 2007 NCSS National Convention in San Diego. The session will provide a variety of practical projects, engaging assignments, online activities, and other resources that can be **immediately** implemented to increase student achievement.

Participants will be given descriptions of **engaging** assignments that illustrate entrepreneurship, scarcity, government regulation, productivity, utility, and other related topics.

A resource list will be provided with websites that increase student understanding of supply and demand, the stock market, and the Federal Reserve.








 * BLOG:

__First day hooks__:** Scarcity intro - Place an iPod in the middle of the class and ask the class to decide who deserves to own it. Go to sharperimage.com and ask students to rank pre-selected items. Students report their rankings and are then given the opportunity to trade. Rankings are then again reported to see the change in value. 20 question quiz: Economics 101. Student responses at the beginning and end of the semester are compared. Show a clip of Alan Greenspan on the first day and ask students to write down what he said in their own words.

Paperclip activity - United States vs. Vietnam. Students divide themselves into two groups. Constrictions are put on the United States (rubber gloves, safety masks, etc.) to show comparative advantages. Lifeboat – A ship is sinking and 6 people from 12 must be chosen based on short bios. This activity teaches opportunity costs and trade-offs. Students create political cartoons. If students are not great artists, selected images are made available. Business portfolios – Floor plans are provided. Students must consider local resources, etc. to create business proposals. Local bankers come into the classroom to rate the presentations.
 * __Engaging Activities__:**

Virtual Stock Exchange Lemonade Stand Izzit.org – daily current events involving economics Desert Island Trading Game The Chairman Game www.startheregoplaces.com
 * __Internet games and simulations__:**

www.youtube.com
 * __Internet Resources__**