October is National Economic Education Month! The observance is designed to help us understand how everyday economic decisions and policies affect our lives, our families, and our world. It also promotes the importance of teaching economics in our K-12 schools.
Those with a clear understanding of economic principles are better equipped to make good financial decisions. Learning new concepts and reinforcing good financial habits at home, together, is a powerful thing. That’s why we’re sharing a variety of resources you can review on your own or with your family – because our mission is to help you reach your financial goals, hopefully while having a little fun along the way.
Resources
Kiddynomics: An Economics Curriculum for Young Learners, Lessons for Grades Pre-K through K from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Grades K – 2 Financial Fun Pack
Grades 3 – 5 Financial Fun Pack
Unemployment Role Play Activity Grades 4 – 8
Grades 6 – 8 Financial Fun Pack
Grades 9 – 12 Financial Fun Pack
The Making Dollars from Sense Series from the South Carolina Department of Education includes five videos that give students in grades 6 - 12 the information they need to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions about earning, spending, and saving money.
The National Association of Economic Educators provides information on Six Concepts of Economic Education:
- Benefit Cost Analysis
- Human Capital
- Supply and Demand/Prices
- Role of Government
- Financial Literacy
- Global Economy
Learn about Family Fun Nights from the Council for Economic Education (CEE)
Economic Literacy Quiz
Personal Finance Quiz
PACED Pretzels - Students learn about the five-step PACED decision-making process and complete a decision-making grid through a taste test in this module created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Supply and demand are among the most fundamental concepts in economics. An understanding of these topics helps explain the economic world in which we live. This series of short modules from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank uses a fictitious chocolate market to help explain the essential concepts: demand, supply, and market equilibrium.
Teach Economics Podcast Series - from the St. Louis Federal Reserve
The Rise (and Fall) of Inflation in the early 2020s is a great article from PAGE ONE Economics that covers concepts like Inflation, Inflation Rate, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Market Basket, and Price Stability.
Social Media
Search for #EconEdMonth on any social media platform
The Federal Reserve is on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads and has the goal of increasing the accessibility and availability of Board news and educational content.
SC Economics on Facebook
The Council for Economic Education is on Facebook, X, and Instagram
Jump$tart Coalition is on Facebook, X, and Instagram
The Econ Lowdown is on Facebook and X
Books
The Armchair Economist: Economics and Everyday Life is an economics book written by Rochester professor of economics Steven Landsburg. The first edition appeared in 1993. A revised and updated edition appeared in May 2012.
The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford provides an introduction to the principles of economics, including demand-supply interactions, market failures, externalities, globalization, international trade, and comparative advantage.
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything is the debut non-fiction book by economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen J. Dubner. The book has been described as melding pop culture with economics and has grown into a multi-media franchise.
This is a fraction of the resources you can find on the internet to help with economic education. If you have any questions, let us know.
The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Citizens State Bank and its affiliates, and Citizens State Bank is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any information contained in this article or items hyperlinked within. This is for informational purposes and is no way intended to provide legal advice.
