History of Money

The Philadelphia Fed has a really nice series of publications on US history and the importance of money. They are available as free pdf files or as full-color printed booklets. Each publication is illustrated with photos, drawings, and paintings of historic objects and places There are lesson plan booklets to accompany most of the student books.

Titles include:
Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy
The First Bank of the United States
The Second bank of the United States


http://www.philadelphiafed.org/publications/economic-education/

Unchanging Laws of Money

"Flipping Burgers to Flipping Millions" lists these seven Unchanging Laws of Money

1. Save... and begin saving early.
2. Control your expenses.
3. Make your money multiply....Invest.
4. Guard your money against loss.
5. Make your home an investment.
6. Ensure a future income for yourself and your family....by developing a career, improving yourself, and investing.
7. Work and study to increase your ability to earn.

This short personal finance book by Bernard Kelly stresses the importance of saving. The author's goal is to inspire people, particularly young people, to save enough money early so they can gain financial freedom.


Flipping Burgers to Flipping Millions
by Bernard Kelly
2011

European Union lesson plans

The European Union has free downloadable lesson plans on a wide variety of topics, including a substantial number of economic lessons.

The high school lesson plans include PowerPoints and pdf lessons on topics such as the euro, immigration, the environment, and the single market.
http://www.eurunion.org/eu/European-Union-Lesson-Plans-Secondary-Level.html


The K-12 lesson plans include geography, language, and social studies (including economic topics like currency, environment, and prices.)
http://euce.org/education/k12plans.php


The Teachers Corner organizes lessons by age group:
http://europa.eu/teachers-corner/index_en.htm

Monetary Policy Game

"So you want to be in charge of monetary policy? Think you have what is takes to steer our country's central bank? See how it works by taking charge of a simulated economy."

The San Francisco Fed has an online game to explore monetary policy. The player sets interest rates to try to keep unemployment and inflation at their target levels. Assorted shocks, like a tax cut or an oil crisis, create turmoil and the Fed can respond by raising or lowering interest rates. A round takes about 2 minutes to complete and the game can be replayed (different shocks will appear in different rounds.)

The game also has a "learn more" section that discusses the Fed's policy tools, has a series of short videos on past policy, and includes a glossary of economic terms.


http://www.frbsf.org/education/activities/chairman/index.html

Thanks to Philip Mulder for sharing this resource.

Economics and Art Webpage

Purdue University's Michael Watts is developing a website on using art to teach economics.

https://intra.krannert.purdue.edu/sites/econandart/Pages/Home.aspx

Several slideshows are already online, including: "Natural Resources and Agriculture," "Capital Resources and Technology," and "Money, Banking, and Financial Crhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifises." Each slideshow uses paintings and drawings to illustrate the economic concepts. The last slide of each show presents a list of discussion questions relating the pictures and concepts.

More slideshows are planned in coming months, as well as more information on the concepts, artists, and individual artworks.

Music for the recession

Marketplace reports on music for the current economy.

"Musician Ry Cooder explores a number of genres on his new album, which was inspired by the current economy and the protest songs of the past. This is an interesting take on our current economic situation."

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/29/pm-ry-cooder-on-the-protest-songs-of-today/


Thanks to Katy Gustafson for sharing this.

Economics Video Contest

Investing In Michigan HS Student Video Competition

The Michigan Council on Economic Education has a new competition for Michigan high school students. The contest is to create a short video (less than 3 minutes) on an economic topic. Videos may be made by students working in teams or as individuals. The contest is free to enter and the top prize is $300. The deadline is April 15, 2012


The general announcement is at:
http://www.mceeonline.org/programs/programs-list/investing-in-michigan-video-competition/

There’s a pdf with detailed rules and entry forms at:
http://www.mceeonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MCEE-Video-Contest-Rules.pdf


Economic Topics for the contest:

1.1.1 Scarcity, Choice, or Opportunity Cost
1.2.2 Analyze how prices are signals provide signals to buyers and sellers in a competitive market
1.3.1 Law of Supply
1.3.2 Law of Demand
1.3.3 Price, Equilibrium, or Elasticity
1.4.4 Explain functions of government in a market economy including providing public goods, services, creation of currency, establish property rights, the enforcement of contracts, correcting externalities, or market failures.
2.1.2 Circular flow and national economy
2.1.3 Money supply, Inflation, or Recession
2.1.7 Economic Indicators
2.2.1 Federal Government and Macroeconomic goals-Stable prices, low unemployment, economic growth.
2.2.3 Fiscal policy
2.2.4 Federal Reserve or Monetary Policy
3.1.1 Major Economic Systems, Command, Market, Traditional, Mixed
3.2.1 Absolute or Comparative Advantage
3.2.2 Trade Organizations or Trade Agreements
3.2.3 Exchange Rates
4.1.2 Marginal Benefit and Cost

The contest uses TeacherTube (also free) to avoid problems that some schools have with YouTube. Entries should be tagged with the code MCEE2012.

Entry forms should be sent to:
Michigan Council on Economic Education
Dr. David Dieterle
41500 Gardenbrook, Walsh College
Novi, Michigan 48375

Prizes

First place: $300
Second place: $200
Third place: $100
PLUS 8 “VIDEO of MERIT” winners

Please feel free to forward this information to teachers or students who may be interested