Engaging Students With Economics: Lessons that
Target Common Core Skills
Presenters: Dr. Jana Kirchner, WKU FacultyMs. Jody Glass, WKU Teacher Candidate
STE Summer Conference June 13, 2014
Session Overview• Economics content/skills and teaching challenges
• Lessons that integrate economics
o When They Want Blueberrieso Can You Spot The Economics?o Immigration: Most Everyone Came From Somewhere Elseo Connections: Common Core & PGES
• Resources for teaching economics
Integrating Economics
• Examining the Standards - What economics content is required in social studies standards?
• What are the challenges of teaching economics?
Spotting Economics from Africa to Ice Cream
by Martha Hopkins & Suzanne
Gallagher
• 15 lessons
• Elementary level
• Integrate economics concepts with literature
• Spotting Economics Master Question List
Lesson 6 – Spotting Economics: When They Want
Blueberries • I want…
• Decisions…o I really need it!o I want it!
• Concepts – needs, wants, choices, opportunity costs, saving
• Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
I Want This!
Lesson 15 – Spotting Economics: All Around Us
In Stories Can you spot the economics?
• Read your group’s story. Look for economics examples. Record them on the magnifying glass. Use the Master Question List as a guide.
Books: Nobody Owns the Sky by Reeve LindberghIf You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura J. NumeroffA Bargain for Frances by Russell HobanFireboat by Maira KalmanRoad Builders by B. G. Hennessy
My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tololwa Mollel Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
Peppe the Lamplighter by Elisa BartoneHow to Make an Apple Pie & See the World by Marjorie Priceman
Adventures in Economics and U.S
History
by Suzanne Gallagher and Martha
Hopkins
Volume 1 – Colonial America
Volume 2 – A Young Nation
Volume 3 – The Twentieth Century
Immigration: Most Everyone Came from Somewhere Else
Objectives/Learning Targets:
I can• identify incentives which motivate immigrants to
come to the U.S.• explain costs, benefits, and opportunity costs and
how they are reflected in the story of immigration.
Immigration Lesson – Economics Concepts
• Incentive - Definition? Examples? • Immigrant• Benefit • Cost
Peppe the Lamplighter: • Write down 5 wishes for you or your family. Listen for…• What jobs did Peppe try to get in his neighborhood?• What are Peppe’s wishes for his family?• Why was his father not happy? • What economics concepts do you see in the story?• Teaching ideas?
The Pilgrims: Surviving in the New
World Objectives/Learning Targets:
I can• explain that people need food, shelter, and
clothing to survive.• give examples of the three types of resources:
human, capital, and natural.• define scarcity and explain some strategies for
dealing with scarcity.• Winter is Coming!
Using a T Chart
Our Simulation What Happened in Plymouth
Economics Concepts
• Scarcity• Wants• Resources:oNaturaloCapitaloHuman
• Opportunity costs• Specialization
Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
Objectives/Learning Targets:• I can describe examples of the Ox-Cart Man
producing and consuming.• I can explain examples of choices and opportunity
costs in the story.
• Concepts: Tools, Producer, Consumer, Choices, Opportunity Costs, Investing
Common Core & PGES Connections
• What Common Core standards did you see in these lessons?
• Econfun.org - Common Core connections• Econ Fun Sample Lessons
• How do these lessons reflect PGES domains and indicators?
Framework for Teaching-
Professional Growth and Evaluation System
(PGES)
Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities
• Reflecting on Teaching• Maintaining Accurate Records• Communicating with Families
• Participating in a Professional Community
•Growing and Developing Professionally• Showing Professionalism
Domain 3: Instruction• Communicating with Students
• Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
• Engaging Students in Learning• Using Assessment in Instruction• Demonstrating Flexibility and
Responsiveness
Domain 1: Planning and Preparation• Demonstrating Knowledge of Content
and Pedagogy• Demonstrating Knowledge of Students
• Setting Instructional Outcomes•Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources
• Designing Coherent Instruction• Designing Student Assessments
Domain 2: The Classroom Environment
• Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
• Establishing a Culture for Learning• Managing Classroom Procedures
• Managing Student Behavior• Organizing Physical Space
PLAN
TEACH
REFLECT
APPLY
Resources for Teaching Economics
• Council for Economic Education
• Kentucky Council for Economic Education
• Econ Ed Link
• Econ Fun
• Federal Reserve Education
WKU Center for Economics Education
Contact Information:Dr. Jana Kirchner
1088 Gary Ransdell Hall270.745.4103
Upcoming Workshop: 9/29 – Economics Through Children’s Literature