High School Resources

North Dakota's oil surplus has led to a low unemployment rate and a state budget surplus. Research North Dakota's boom and write an essay about whether or not you would be interested in moving to the state under current circumstances.

Share pictures of different careers, and challenge students to analyze the costs and benefits of working in each career. Have them research information on salaries, education levels, work environment and job outlook by going to: www.bls.gov/oco/ooh_index.htm. Ask them to make a table listing this information for five careers, and then decide which career provides the most benefits and the least costs.

The Fed is the lender of last resort to financial institutions. Watch Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke explain this role in lecture one of The Federal Reserve and the Financial Crisis. Draw a political cartoon illustrating how the Fed might assist banks during a financialpanic. http://1.usa.gov/12Txk0q

Entertainment purchases can be a budget downfall. Brainstorm a list of 10 budget-friendly ideas for family entertainment that cost $5 or less.

Develop a role play about an entrepreneur whose ideas for a new product or business are not well accepted and how he/she meets these challenges and eventually becomes successful. Perform the role play for your class.

The following statements are common descriptions of credit. Discuss each example and use one as a topic for a creative story.Credit is your reputation for financial responsibility.Credit is the time allowed for payment for something sold on trust.Credit is a source of revenue for financial institutions.Credit is NOT more money; it is "tomorrow's" money.

Create an invention or innovation that would make life easier. Name and describe your invention. What price would you sell it for? What would your income be if you sold 100? 250? 500?

Working in groups, use restaurant menus to pick something to order and then calculate the sales tax on the order. Report the cost with tax and figure the tip using the tax rate as a guide.

Track expenses for a week and then create a spending plan to make sure your expenses don't exceed your income.

Brainstorms items of value that people invest in, such as real estate, gold, art, coins and jewelry. Ask students to write an essay discussing whether they think these options are better investment areas than the stock market and give their reasons for their opinions.

In preparation for homecoming, identify what is needed for the event. Then divide the list of items into goods and services. Rank the list in order of importance to you. What goods and services could you give up if you were on a limited budget?

Pick a local publicly traded company. Research the goods and services that the company produces and sells, and create a four-slide minimum PowerPoint illustrating the company and what it does.

Without international trade, you may not have the items on your back. Ask students to look at the labels on their clothing and accessories, and list the countries that manufactured the items. Create a class graph showing all of the countries represented and compare label totals. Discuss whether clothing and goods made in the U.S. are a prevalent as they once were.

Are you wise about credit? Learn about developing good credit by reading the Kansas City Fed's Common Cents article "Laying the foundation for responsible credit use." Take theGet a Credit Clue quiz to see if you are credit card worthy. http://bit.ly/11Dsm65

Brainstorm a list of careers or jobs that are associated with taxes (such as accountant). Research one of these careers to learn about the education qualifications, income level and demand for the job.

Research the household savings rates of several different countries. Make a chart comparing the rates. Which country's rate is the highest? What are some possible reasons for this?

Research Mattel, Hasbro or other toy companies to see how they determine what toys to produce and supply to retail stores. Use the information you find to predict what toys might be popular in 2020.

Use lesson 2, "W is for Wages, W4 and W2," from It's Your Paycheck personal finance curriculum to learn what deductions are taken from weekly/monthly income. Discuss why these deductions are necessary for the government and the individual. www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/assets/lesson_plans/paycheck/IYP_lesson2.pdf

Choose a publicly-traded company, such as Amazon (AMZN), and follow the price of that company's stock each week for a month. Report whether the price has increased or decreased during that time, and provide a recommendation on buying the stock.

Introduce certificates of deposit and savings bonds as two ways to invest money. Look at the financial website: http://financialplan.about.com/od/savingmoney/a/wheretokeepsave.htm. Compare and contrast these two methods of saving to look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Invite someone in sales to speak about the skills necessary to be a successful salesperson.

Compose a song or a rap about being a "savvy shopper." Include verses about comparison shopping, purchasing quality vs. quantity, and avoiding buyer's remorse.

Starting your own business as an entrepreneur has opportunity for profit and possibility of loss. Brainstorm a list of potential businesses to start and then list possible profits and losses for one of those businesses. Debate whether the business risks are worth the rewards.

Learn what happens when the price of an asset becomes artificially high in Recession Lesson: Asset Bubbles, available at: www.kansascityfed.org/publicat/education/teachingresources/RecessionLesson-AssetBubbles.pdf.

Resource Trivia: What two fabric resources are used to make paper currency? (linen - 25%; cotton - 75%)

Brainstorm the qualities that create credit worthiness. Assume the role of loan officers and review the credit histories of several fictitious individual who are requesting a loan. Decide to approve or reject the requests and provide rationale.

Invite a small business owner to speak to the class. Ask students to prepare interview questions about the assets and liabilities most business owners have and ways to increase thenet worth of a business.

What three federal agencies regulate banks? (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency-OCC; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-FDIC; and the Federal Reserve)

What is the value of the largest note ever printed? ($100,000) Which president was on the bill? (Woodrow Wilson)

The threat of war pushed the Federal Reserve Banks to open early because of bank panic fears. How else can war affect the economic health of a country?

Discuss the importance of the following quote to those who run their own business: "In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield." - Warren Buffett

Opportunity cost is the next best choice given up when making a decision. Write and perform a skit where the main character makes a decision on whether to take a part-time job. Make sure to include the opportunity cost.

How can pocket money make someone a millionaire? Use anonline compound interest calculator to see how a small monthlyinvestment can grow over time by compounding. Write a plan toreach a financial goal using compound interest.

The mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is to make markets for consumer financial products and services, such as banking and credit, work for Americans. Research the CFPB at: www.consumerfinance.gov/regulations. Choose a regulation and share whether or not you think it is beneficial for businesses as well as consumers.

Another name for the Bank Panic of 1907 was the Knickerbocker Crisis.

Read The Panic of 1907 by the Boston Fed. Write a skit titled "We Survived the Bank Panic," describing the thoughts and emotions that people may feel as they wait in line to withdraw money before their bank closes for business. http://bit.ly/1840vMy

Visit the Federal Reserve Board of Governor's website to find tips for improving your credit score. Make a poster to share this information with your classmates. http://1.usa.gov/140Qjnb

Download the spreadsheet showing GDP percent change from the preceding period from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Identify years of large GDP growth, such as 1942.Discuss events, government policies or production factors that may have caused this growth. http://1.usa.gov/165pfU5

Trivia: U.S. household and nonprofit organizations' liabilities, which include mortgages, consumer credit, loans and securities, totaled almost $14 billion in 2010.

Why is there a lag time between the beginning of a recessionary period and when it is officially declared a recession? Answer this discussion question and more with the Kansas City Fed's Teaching Tips: Recessions 101. http://bit.ly/11ML6M3

What key historical events led to the establishment of the Federal Reserve System?

Explain a market economy as an economy that operates by voluntary exchange between buyers and sellers in a free market not planned or controlled by government. Ask students to research this and other types, such as traditional and command economies: http://www.councilforeconed.org/resources/lessons/whateconisabout-sample.pdf. Discuss the differences in the three economies and why a market economy works best in our country.

Create a three-column KWL (What I know, want to know, and what I've learned) about credit cards. Brainstorm to complete the first two columns, then discuss information from the Federal Reserve's website on credit cards: www.federalreserve.gov/creditcard. Summarize what students have learned by asking them to create true/false statements about credit to complete the third column.

Discuss this quote: "I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?" - Robert Redford

Think you have what it takes to steer our country's central bank? Play the Chair the Fed game from the San Francisco Fed to try your hand at monetary policy. http://sffed-education.org/chairthefed/default.html

Use the FDIC's EDIE the Estimator tool to explore how FDIC insurance protects depositors. Try the simulator using varying deposit balances to determine the FDIC coverage limit for a single account. Check your answer by reviewing the page's Deposit Insurance FAQs. http://1.usa.gov/YVeeTe

As entrepreneurs invent new products, they often make former products obsolete, or out of date and no longer used. An example of this would be the typewriter, which is now rare because of computer word processing. This concept is called "creative destruction." Ask students to brainstorm and discuss other examples of creative destruction due to new inventions.

Discuss this quote: "Information is the currency of democracy." - Thomas Jefferson

Explain this quote: "Competition is not only the basis of protection to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress." - Herbert Hoover

Use the Kansas City Fed's Exploring Economic Sectors lesson to learn how the Federal Reserve assesses economic conditions in the United States. http://bit.ly/13mAbfu

In a classroom mini-economy where everyone has a designated income, have the government (the teacher) set tax rates during different periods to illustrate progressive, proportional and regressive taxes.

Use GeoFRED from the St. Louis Fed to examine economic data for your state. How does your state's unemployment rate today compare with what it was in May 2009? http://bit.ly/13R3yWW

Discuss the meaning of this quote: "An opportunity cost is an opportunity lost."

Discuss what everyday life would be like if there was no money in circulation and we had to barter to get what we needed and wanted. Write a creative story with the title "Moneyless" to show the problems that might result.

Money doesn't grow on trees, but it can grow. Watch No Frills Money Skills episode 1 from the St. Louis Fed. Develop a table showing how saving $1,000 at 3% annual interest can compound your savings over a 6-year period. http://bit.ly/11OJ5Pt

Explore bank supervision and regulation by watching Chapter 6 of the Philadelphia Fed's video The Federal Reserve and You. Write three key facts about each of the video segments: Supervision and Regulation History, the Role of Congress, and Bank Examinations.http://bit.ly/11dWBdQ

Use handout 3 from lesson 4 of Building Wealth in the Classroom from the Dallas Fed to compare the interest rate, fees and additional information on five account types from a local bank. Share your findings. Once everyone shares, discuss the account and bank you would select. http://bit.ly/18kHBE4

View the American Currency Exhibit on the San Francisco Fed's website to explore currency from throughout our nation's history. Choose two bills from different eras and create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast bill symbols and features. http://bit.ly/1922F3l

The Philadelphia Fed's video The Federal Reserve and You features 70 short segments about the Fed, money and banking. Watch the first chapter for an overview of the Federal ReserveSystem. http://bit.ly/11dWbdQ

Research the World Trade Organization (WTO) at: www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/whatis_e.htm. What is the goal of the WTO? List three benefits of the WTO trading system.

Before Harry Truman became the 33rd president, he was a Kansas City entrepreneur in which business? A) Finance B) Newspaper C) Clothing. Answer: C) He ran a business that tailored men's clothing.

Research the characteristics of a savings account, certificate ofdeposit, money market account and savings bond. Using the scenarioof a short-term savings goal, decide which one would be the bestplace for your money and explain your reasoning.

A bear market is one where stocks steadily decline and investors are motivated to sell; a bull market is one where stocks are steadily increasing with investors' optimism. Ask students to design two new symbols (animal or other) to replace the bear and bull images and share why their symbols are good representations of these markets.

Play "The Price is Right" by showing student teams a variety of store items, having them take turns estimating the price of each. The team closest to the price without overestimating wins a point. Keep track of points to determine the winning estimators.

Discuss this quote: "When written in Chinese, the word �crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity." - John Kennedy

Which is greater: $1 million, or a penny that doubles in value for 30 days? Use a calculator to figure out the compound interest of the doubling penny by taking each new total and multiplying by 2 to double. (The final total for the doubling penny is $5,368,709.12)

Discuss the fact that $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills have all been redesigned by the Treasury and will be updated again in the future. What is the incentive for our government to do this redesigning?

Use magazine pictures to create a collage of future wants. Develop a budget that includes long term savings goals to purchase these items within the next five to 10 years.

Choose a job and research its income in two different countries. (Example: a starting teacher in Mexico is paid $10,465 a year, while a starting teacher in Canada is paid $35,400 a year.) Discuss why the same job can have different salary levels in different countries.

Learn about market equilibrium, or the point at which there is no shortage or surplus of a good or service, by watching the third episode of the Economic Lowdown Video Companion Series at: www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/video_podcasts.cfm.

Discuss this quote: "Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States." Ronald Reagan

Discuss this quote: "The strongest bank in the United States will last only as long as people have sufficient confidence in it to keep their money there." - Carter G. Woodson

Learn about federal income taxes, FICA, W-4 and W-2 forms in Know your dough Lesson Two: "W" is for Wages, W-4 and W-2: www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/assets/lesson_plans/paycheck/IYP_lesson2.pdf.

Hold a discussion on this topic: "When choosing a career, income is more important than passion for the job." Ask students to give reasons for their views.

Write and perform a skit that tells the story of how banking may have begun. Read the Boston Fed's Banking Basics for one description of the world's first lenders as a reference.http://bit.ly/11ksT7e

Learn about the sectors of the Federal Reserve's Beige Book in the lesson Exploring Economic Sectors, available at: www.kansascityfed.org/publicat/education/teachingresources/Exploring-Economic-Sectors.pdf. Use the discussion questions provided for each sector to explore the concepts of supply and demand.

Learn more about the importance of credit score by watching "The Drawing Board: your Credit Score" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWa34pB3pQA&feature=player_embedded.

Visit the National Archives website to learn about the Homestead Act of 1862, which offered free land in the west to anyone over 21 if they agreed to farm it. Create a skit about the act and its effects on economic growth during that time. http://1.usa.gov/13v9G5v

There was no uniform currency during the Free Banking Era, so state-regulated banks issued their own banknotes. Brainstorm problems that could develop with many different currencies in circulation throughout the United States.

Introduce the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection as our nation's consumer protection agency. Its job is to prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices. Have students research the seven divisions of this agency by going to: www.ftc.gov/bcp/about.shtm. Discuss the importance of each division to consumers.

List all the concepts from this planner on the board and number them. Number the sections of a beach ball similarly. Toss the ball to the class. Whoever catches it should explain the concept with the number closest to their right thumb. Repeat.

Make a collage of magazine ads that would appeal to consumers urging them to save money, possibly by living greener.

How will paying for goods and services change in the future? Invent and illustrate a new method of payment for the year 2025. Label invention parts and write a brief explanation telling how to use your payment method.

Discuss homecoming expense choices and opportunity costs. For example, with a limited amount of money, would you choose a fancy limo for transportation? Would you spend more money for a high-dollar outfit instead? Or would you spend your dollars on an expensive restaurant meal before the dance? Discuss the reasoning behind your decisions.

Think of a time when you paid for an expense you planned to buy (food, school supplies, etc.) and one you didn't plan to buy (spur-of-the-moment purchase.) Write a song that explains which was the better decision and why.

Discuss the topic of behavioral incentives and teens. Ask students which types of incentives work best to keep teens in line: extending curfew; car privileges; more computer/video game time; increasing allowance/funds. Tell students to give reasons for their choices.

Just who was Salmon Chase and why was he on a $10,000 banknote? Explore the American Currency Exhibit: www.frbsf.org/education/teacher-resources/american-currency-exhibit/showcase-of-bills to learn how our country's history is reflected on our currency.

Debate this topic: "The benefits of making financial mistakes outweigh the costs."

Change the lyrics of a popular song so that they now convince someone to keep their liabilities low for better financial health.

Use a graphic organizer to show how the price of gas varies from your state to several neighboring states. How can the same gallon of gas from the same distributor, such as Shell or Phillips, differ in price from one state to the next?

Discuss the difference between fact and opinion statements used to market a product. Hand out advertisements from magazines that contain both types of statements and ask students to identify the facts and opinions given. How can an awareness of these statements help consumers make wise choices?

Learn why the regional structure of the Federal Reserve System is important to understanding the economic conditions in all regions of the country in the Atlanta Fed's video The Fed Explains Regional Banks. http://bit.ly/14A3ASh

How do students buy their goods and services? How many shop online versus going to brick-and-mortar stores? Discuss the use of shopping apps and how they help in comparing prices. Do students ever use apps to comparison shop?

Write about a situation where a scarcity of food, money or time caused a problem, and how that problem was solved.

Why do bank panics often lead to recessions or larger financial upheavals?

Create a skit in small groups about possible financial situations at age 65 (i.e., no savings vs. wealthy investor). Discuss possible actions that can lead to financial security in retirement.

In professional sports, a trade is a sports league transaction involving and exchange of players' contracts and/or draft picks. Have students research a sports trade in the NBA. Ask them to write a summary of the trade deal, including the advantages and disadvantages for the teams and/or players involved.

Make a chart comparing the costs of a new sports car and a used compact car. Figure the expenses for each car, including loan payment, fuel and insurance. If transportation to your job is a need, which car is the better choice?

Give students a sample budget of expenses for a family. Have them identify the fixed expenses (the same amount monthly) and the variable expenses (a changing amount monthly). Ask students to draw sentences out of a hat representing events that might change a monthly budget, such as buying holiday gifts or fixing a flat tire. Have the students identify whether the expense is fixed or variable and then modify the budget to incorporate the added expense.

Watch the Economic Lowdown video on demand at: www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/podcasts/economic_lowdown_video_2.cfm. Take notes on the six ways demand can change, giving an example for each. Create and present a skit showing the effects of supply and demand on the purchase of the newest cell phone, tablet or electronic device.

Discuss the quote: "In our rich consumers' civilization, we spin cocoons around ourselves and get possessed by our possessions." - Max Lerner

Write and perform a rap highlighting one or two of the principles you've discussed from the Guide to Economic Reasoning. Give examples explaining the principles in your lyrics.

Discuss this quote: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". - Franklin D. Roosevelt. How could these words relate to bank panics?

Explain the meaning of the following quote: "Our necessities never equal our wants." - Benjamin Franklin

Why is money deducted from your paycheck and where does it go? Learn how to read a paystub, discuss different methods for receiving wages, and discover ways to get more from your paycheck with the Kansas City Fed's Putting Your Paycheck to Work resources. http://bit.ly/17nFIa0

Look at a map of the Federal Reserve System. Discuss reasons why there are more Federal Reserve Banks on the East Coast than the West Coast. Find a map at http://1.usa.gov/11CECzE

Review your monthly family budget to determine how much your family spends on wants vs. needs. Discuss how your family might reduce the dollar amount of wants over the next few months. Report your budget-saving measures to the class.

Go to the following website to learn about McDonald's: http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_history.html. Look through the timeline and share three risks the company took as it became an established business.

Use the Core Concepts Cards net worth calculator, available at www.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/coreconcepts/worksheets/whatsyournet, to figure your net worth. How can you increase assets or decrease liabilities to add value to your net worth?

Discuss the meaning of this quote: "A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart." - Jonathan Swift

Watch the Economic Lowdown video on supply at: http://www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/economic-lowdown-video-companion-series/episode-1-supply/. Draw and explain the basic supply curve shown in the video. Howcan this curve change based on market conditions?

Read Free Enterprise: The Economics of Cooperation, available at www.dallasfed.org/educate/classroom.cfm, to learn about the role of businesses in a free-enterprise system.

What financial institution lending practices led to the establishment of the Community Reinvestment Act? Why is the CRA important to bankers and consumers today?

What does money mean to you? Purchasing power? Security? Freedom? Brainstorm ideas and then create a collage showing what money can represent.

The American economic system has tax laws that influence people's behavior. For example, a sales tax increase at restaurants might influence people to stop eating out. Write an essay on how a response to tax increases could have future consequences for businesses.

Trivia: The Federal Reserve Act was signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. The average annual income that year was $800.

Discuss the word "panic" and brainstorm situations in which people may panic (severe weather, accidents, fire, etc.) How do you feel when you panic? Why could these feelings cause you to take actions you normally wouldn't? Relate these feelings to bank panics.

Use the "Professor Finance and Fed Boy Meet the Catastrophe Clan" lesson: www.kansascityfed.org/education to introduce the Credit CARD Act and consumers' credit rights and responsibilities.

Uncover how and why the Federal Reserve expanded its balance sheet during the recent recession and financial crisis in the Philadelphia Fed's resource It's Not Your Mother and Father's Monetary Policy Anymore: The Federal Reserve and FinancialCrisis Relief. http://bit.ly/19gvxBB

Play "Another Action Hero" in Show Business: The Economic$ of Entertainment at www.bos.frb.org/entertainment/index.htm to learn what the film industry can teach about international trade and globalization.

Create a rap or song titled, "Invest in Yourself." Include all the ways to invest in your human capital, such as more education, training and practicing to gain experience, and taking care of your health. Perform your verses for the class.

Research the United States' top 15 trading partners by going to: www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/topcurmon.html. Create a bar chart that shows three things: U.S. total trade with its top 15 trading partners, U.S. exports with its top 15 trading partners; and U.S. imports with its top 15 trading partners. Discuss the graph and what it shows about U.S. trade.

Most states have created 529 plans to assist parents in saving for their children's future education. Have students research plans for the states in their region, including regulators, fees and internet options. Make a chart comparing neighboring states' 529 plans to your home state.

Calculate this profit/loss stock statement: 100 shares of XYZ Electronics bought at $29 each + $1.50 broker fee ($2901.50); 100 shares sold at $35 each - $1.50 broker fee ($3498.50); ($3498.50-$2901.50 = $597 profit).

Discuss the meaning of this quote: "Henry Ford was right. A prosperous economy requires that workers be able to buy the products they produce. This is as true in a global economy as a national one." - John J. Sweeney

Discuss counterfeit currency and how it has become more prevalent in the U.S. over the years due to technological advancements. Explain how security measures have been added to U.S. bills to thwart counterfeiters, and look at some of these features at: www.newmoney.gov/currency/default.htm. Ask a speaker from a bank to speak to the class on detecting counterfeit currency.

Explain the wisdom of this quote: "If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it."

Create a consumer profile, such as a 20-year-old college athlete, and make a collage of products or services using newspaper, magazine ads and/or computer-generated images that would appeal to that type of consumer.

Look up the current national budget deficit at www.brillig.com/debt_clock. Consider methods to reduce the deficit, and write a letter to Congress with recommendations.

Introduce the following formula: Assets-Liabilities = Net Worth, or your economic wealth. Use Money Circle Theme 3, Lesson 1 found at: www.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/MoneyCircle. Discuss the assets, liabilities and net worth of the student in the Activity 1 story. Ask students to write a similar story about themselves, listing current assets, liabilities and assessing their net worth.

Discuss this quote: "No one has a greater asset for his business than a man's pride in his work." - Hosea Ballou

Tell students to imagine they’ve just purchased their first used car. Have them name services their car will need to run efficiently, and goods they could buy to fix up their vehicle. Ask them to go online to find auto stores that provide these goods and services with item costs.

Research the new Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) at: www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/wyntk_creditcardrules.htm. What rule targets underage consumers? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this rule for college students.

Write a short essay explaining the reasoning for tariffs on imports to the United States.

Explore myths and realities about the Fed using primary source materials in the Atlanta Fed's lesson Myths, Tall Tales, and Urban Legends: A Lesson on the Facts Behind the Fed. http://bit.ly/YeYn1k

Create a PACED (Problem, Alternatives, Criteria, Evaluate, Decision) grid to determine the costs and benefits of a used car decision. Possible criteria include model; year; gas mileage; and insurance costs. Visit www.econedlink.org/lessons/docs_lessons/463_PACED1.pdf for a sample grid.

Become a board member of a Federal Reserve Bank and learn about the Fed's grassroots approach to gathering regional economic information in the Atlanta Fed's simulation Monetary Policy Starts in Your Own Backyard. http://bit.ly/ZNti2r

Use the lesson "M&M Interesting," found at http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/lessons/M&M6-8.pdf# to learn about the advantages of compound interest. Discuss why it is important to start a savings account while you are young.

Many entrepreneurs get their start through designing an invention or innovation that becomes successful. Research famous inventors by looking at: www.ideafinder.com/articles/thelists/entrepreneur.htm. As a group, vote on the top three inventors based on their creativity and success.

Focus on and discuss human capital: the skills, talents and education that people possess. Discuss how improving human capital through education and training correlates with increasing income. Ask students to research and share education levels and average income of chosen careers by going to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website to look at the Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco.

Nominate a president or famous person in U.S. history (no longer living) for a new $500 bill. Write an essay describing how your nominee contributed to American history and why he/she would be a worthy candidate.

Introduce the first three principles, discussing incentives as things that influence the behavior of people. Discuss the concepts of opportunity cost and monetary cost. Provide the following scenario: You are trying to decide whether to start college right after graduation or wait and work for a year before enrolling. Create a table listing the opportunity costs and monetary costs, as well as the benefits of both choices. Make your final decision and explain your reasoning.

Why have other countries adopted mobile payments faster than the United States? Find out in the Atlanta Fed's podcast The Future of Mobile Payments. Write a description of a mobile payment option you think would work best in United States. http://bit.ly/11YTIOu

Discover how the recession influenced the savings habits of consumers in the Recession Lesson: "The Silver Lining of the Economic Downturn" at www.kansascityfed.org/publicat/education/teachingresources/RecessionLesson-SavingsHabits.pdf.

Invite a bank manager to visit as a guest speaker. Create interview questions that ask about the education, skills and responsibilities that are needed for his/her position.

Discuss how businesses invest in capital resources, such as newer computers, machines and technology. How can spending money on these resources lead to profits in the long term?

Use the lesson plan and role play "Professor Finance and Fed Boy Meet the Catastrophe Clan" to discuss the uses and misuses of credit: http://kansascityfed.org/publicat/education/teachingresources/fed_boy_lesson_plan.pdf

What's your money personality? Are you a saver, avoider, spender, giver or worrier? Find out by taking the Money Make-up quiz at the end of the Kansas City Fed's Common Cents article "Watch and Learn". http://bit.ly/1923cSJ

Discuss fixed budget expenses (costs that remain the same) and variable expenses (costs that change). Write and perform a skit about college students living on campus who deal with these expenses.

What innovations and technological advancements have changed the U.S. payments system in the last 30 years?

How do students buy their goods and services? How many shop online versus going to brick-and-mortar stores? Discuss the use of shopping apps and how they help in comparing prices. Do students ever use apps to comparison shop?

Choose a country and list the natural, human and capital resources available in that geographic area. Create a business producing a good or service that uses those available resources.

If a company's losses are much greater than its profits, the owners might consider filing for bankruptcy. Research the concept of bankruptcy and write an essay describing the advantages and disadvantages.

Professionals like lawyers and accountants may trade services, such as an accountant preparing a lawyer's taxes and a lawyer handling a legal matter from the accountant. Write a short news article about the costs and benefits of trading services.

Develop a chart listing 10 tips that will help the environment through protecting natural resources. (Example: Pick up litter along trails and waterways.)

Ask students to choose a class business that might be successful in their school, such as a craft, food or entertainment business. Create a business plan, including the following: resources needed, production process, product display, advertising, pricing and labor schedule. Present the plan to your principal for approval.

Explore the evolvement of the payment system by watching Chapter 5 of the Philadelphia Fed's video The Federal Reserve and You. Create a public service announcement highlighting the Fed's role in providing cash and electronic payment services. http://bit.ly/11dWBdQ

Trivia: Eldercare services are predicted to be one of the most profitable business opportunities in 2012-2013 due to a boom in the elderly population and longer overall life spans.

Choose one principle from the Guide to Economic Reasoning and illustrate it using an everyday life situation. (Example: People gain when they trade voluntarily - a picture of a student trading a food item with another student at lunch.)

Hand out various grocery receipts to students with the sales tax blacked out. Discuss that some states tax only non-food items, while others tax both food and non-food. Have students calculate the sales tax for both situations.

Discuss this quote: "Competition is not only the basis of protection for the consumer, but is the incentive to progress." - Herbert Hoover

Draw a cartoon about a time when you experienced either a buyer's high or buyer's remorse after a purchase. In the panels, show the purchase, how the purchase made you feel and what you might do differently in the future.

After discussing entrepreneurship, ask students to interview an entrepreneur in their community. Interview questions could include: describing their business; explaining how they financed their venture; discussing any challenges in their business; and describing a typical work day. Share completed interviews with the class.

Would you want to bank at an unregulated bank? Give a two-minute oral presentation explaining your position.

If you had to choose a president for a new $200 bill, which choice would you select and which would be your opportunity cost? A) John Kennedy or B) Franklin Roosevelt. Have students discuss why they made their choice.

Learn about entrepreneurs and economic growth through the Kansas City Fed's lesson Do I Have What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur - and is my Community Ready? Calculate the breadth and depth of entrepreneurship in your county, and discuss if your area is ready to encourage more growth. http://bit.ly/12DHl1H

Introduce the concepts of asset and liability. Brainstorm a list of students' current assets and discuss items that they would like to own as future assets. Ask students to design a tri-fold showing their assets now, possible future assets and their savings plan to get these assets.

Use Lesson Two "Budget to Save: Developing a Budget" from Building Wealth in the Classroom: www.dallasfed.org/education/pubs/wealth_classroom/02_lesson.pdf to discuss budgets in relation to financial goals. Do the suggested activity of a budget analysis for a high school senior saving for the prom. Discuss areas where this budget could be streamlined to meet the student's financial goals.

How do the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank compare? Read A Look Inside Two Central Banks: The European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve from the St. Louis Fedand create a Venn diagram showing three similarities and three differences between the organizations. http://bit.ly/15JSIQF

The St. Louis Fed offers instant message simulations on a variety of personal finance topics. Try one and learn about how to open a bank account. http://bit.ly/14C0qf1

Discover what it takes to be a bank examiner at the Federal Reserve by reviewing an examiner job description from the Kansas City Fed. What are the three college degrees recommended for a bank examiner? http://bit.ly/18lWMKo

The launch of the Air Jordan retro basketball shoe sale caused long lines, fights and store closings across the United States. Discuss the concepts of supply and demand in this situation. Ask students to give reasons why these shoes sold out, even though their retail price was $180 a pair.

Use Lesson 2: "W Is for Wages, W4 and W2" at www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/assets/lesson_plans/paycheck/IYP_lesson2.pdf to learn about gross pay, net pay and the different deductions that are taken from paychecks.

Work in pairs to design a new and improved ATM for 2020. Make posters to highlight services and features that might be available in the future. As a class, vote on the best future design.

Discuss this quote: "Expenditures rise to meet income." - C. Northcote Parkinson

Imagine two people: one who has access to credit, and one who does not. Discuss the advantages of having access to credit and the barriers of non-access to credit and how it might shape each individual's future as his or her life unfolds.

Trivia: Did you know that the United States is the world's largest consumer of oil? No other country consumes even half as much of the 20 million barrels a day used by the United States.

Political cartoons show opinions. Look at the cartoons featured throughout the Kansas City Fed's Balance of Power, Under Pressure, or Integrity, Fairness and Resolve books. Create an original political cartoon related to the Federal Reserve and explain your message.http://bit.ly/11CEUqr

Food shortages occur throughout the world due to disasters, war and population increases. Research how the United States helps at: http://foodaid.org/resources/the-history-of-food-aid/. Create a visual illustrating how these food programs enable countries to become more self-sufficient.

Use the Kansas City Fed's Teaching Tips: Is Your Bank Account Safe? to learn what happens when a bank fails and how the FDIC steps in following a bank's closing. Make a brochure that explains why money is well-protected in U.S. banks. http://kansascityfed.org/education/foreducators/high-school/teaching-tips/is-your-bank-safe.cfm

Read the original Federal Reserve Act, signed Dec. 23, 1913. Write down four key facts about the founding of the Federal Reserve System from the primary source document, available from the Librarians' Society of Washington, D.C. http://bit.ly/18qbUEL.

Consumer trivia: What is phishing? (a scam where internet fraudsters send spam or pop-up messages to lure personal information from unsuspecting victims.) Why should consumers be aware of this scam?

Ask students to design the "Market of the Future" by drawing a blueprint of their dream store. Have them include basic food departments and cashier areas, and then add original areas to make their market unique.

Write an essay on the topic of rebates as incentives for consumers when they purchase goods and services, such as electronics, cars, etc. Do you think rebates motivate people to spend more? Why or why not?

Assume the identity of a superhero or a credit villain in the Kansas City Fed's role play Professor Finance and Fed Boy Meet the Catastrophe Clan to learn about the use and misuse of credit and how the CARD Act protects consumers. http://bit.ly/13jzWzX

Research your Federal Reserve Bank or Branch Board of Directors members, including the industries and states they represent. Write a short essay explaining why each board member's input is important to understanding the regional economy.

Discuss this quote: "A man with a surplus can control circumstances, but a man without a surplus is controlled by them, and often has no opportunity to exercise judgment." - Marshall Field

When a company wants to increase their profit, they can reduce their costs (expenses) or increase their sales (income). You are the owner of a new sushi restaurant. Describe two ways to increase your sales and two ways to reduce costs.

Carl Sandburg once said, "Money is power, freedom, a cushion, the root of all evil, the sum of all blessings." Discuss how money could be explained in each of these different ways.

Make up a rap about regretting a buying decision (buyer's remorse) and wishing you had purchased your opportunity cost instead. Perform it for the class.

Discuss this proverb: "It is a wise man who lives with money in the bank, it is a fool who dies that way."

Discuss the difference between fixed expenses (those costs that do not change) and variable expenses (those costs that can change). Ask students to interview a parent to discover what fixed and variable expenses they pay monthly. Report findings to the class.

Create a consumer profile, such as a 20-year-old college athlete, and make a collage of products or services using newspaper, magazine ads and/or computer-generated images that would appeal to that type of consumer.

Determine which economic principle relates best to the following quote, and then explain its meaning: "I'm talking about economics as forecasting the future. If you own auto stocks, you ought to be very interested in used car prices." - Peter Lynch

Introduce the topic of credit and discuss the responsibilities of credit use. Discuss the rule of thumb that credit should not be used for purchase of basic needs (such as groceries, utilities and rent). Make two lists of goods and services. Include items that are good purchases to make with credit on one list, and on the other list detail items you do NOT want to purchase using credit.

Ask students to inventory their personal assets and liabilities and develop a graphic organizer with their results. Have them rate their personal financial situation as great, okay or needing improvement. Tell them to write three goals for their financial health in the next year.

Debate the importance of producers using social media, such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, to get the attention of consumers in order to sell their products.

Make a list of your impulse purchases in the last month and share it with a partner. Describe what spending weak spots you have and discuss a plan to help avoid these areas in the future.

Discuss the meaning of this quote: "Let me remind you that credit is the lifeblood of business, the lifeblood of prices and jobs." - Herbert Hoover

Research President Obama's 2009 total income by going to: www.whitehouse.gov. ($5,505,409) What is his yearly presidential salary? ($400,000) From what sources did he earn most of his additional income? (sales of his books and winning the Nobel Peace Prize.)

Discuss "interest" as "payments made for the use of money." Ask students if they think earning interest when they deposit money in a savings account is a good incentive to save. Why or why not?

Before buying clothes or shoes, consumers should consider several features, such as price, quality, fit, style and comfort. Discuss and rank these features with students to see which ones are most important to them in making a purchasing decision.

Investment Math: Introduce the "Rule of 72" as a method to determine the number of years it will take for your savings to double in value. Give this example: if the interest rate is 2%, dividing 72 by 2=36 years to double your savings. Ask students to figure out the number of years for 4% (18); 6% (12); and 8% (9).

Research and list the components of GDP by expenditure. What is the largest component of U.S. GDP? (consumption)

Choose a product and research the price of that product during a 10-year period. Graph the changes over time and discuss possible reasons for those changes, such as the increasing priceof materials, a better quality product, inflation, etc.

Discuss what Thomas Jefferson meant when he said, "The merchant has no country."

Research the concept of balance of trade. Define this term and explain what it means to the U.S. economy.

Using your local newspaper, find three advertisements for products. List examples of marketing techniques that producers use to entice customers to buy their products, suchas bargain prices or use of brand names. Share your results.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produces currency daily to avoid a scarcity of money. How many bills are produced in a day? A) 3,500 B) 350,000 C) 3.5 million D) 35 million Answer: (D)

Using the Chicago Board of Trade (www.cmegroup.com), follow the prices of basic commodities used in producing food, such as corn, wheat and meat products. Report results at the end of the month and make a prediction on food prices for the next month.

Discuss this quote: "As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand." - Josh Billings

Is a home an asset or liability? Research this question and then draw an illustration to explain what you learned and whether you think a house is an asset or liability.

Why are federal laws necessary to protect the civil rights of consumers?

Discuss the costs and benefits, both monetary and nonmonetary, of having a public school system. Research what it costs taxpayers per year for a student to attend public school, using your state department of education website. What are the benefits of public education? Arethere any costs? What are the benefits to taxpayers that make themwilling to share the costs? Write a brief essay explaining your ideas.

Write and perform a skit showing the impact of incentives on changing poor cafeteria behavior.

Introduce the concept of market clearing price: where buyers and sellers agree on a price to reflect supply and demand; also called an equilibrium price. Discuss the market clearing prices (MCP) of tickets to a concert. What can you assume if the concert is sold out? (MCP is too low.) If few tickets are sold? (MCP is too high.) If you were a concert promoter, what criteria would you use to set ticket prices?

Use Lesson 2: "W Is for Wages, W4 and W2" at www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/assets/lesson_plans/paycheck/IYP_lesson2.pdf to learn about gross pay, net pay and the different deductions that are taken from paychecks.

Discuss this quote: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket," and relate it to diversifying, or having a variety, of stock investments. Why is diversification a good strategy?

Why is a bank holiday not something to celebrate, and why did President Franklin D. Roosevelt establish a national one in 1933? Find out in the Boston Fed's Closed for the Holiday: The Bank Holiday of 1933. http://bit.ly/11I1W4r

Many supermarkets have non-food services such as floral departments, pharmacies, banks, dry cleaning and DVD rentals. Why do you think supermarkets offer these additional services?

Write and perform a skit that explores the concept of fair trade, which aims to help producers in developing countries receive higher prices for their goods and improve social and environmental standards. Include advantages and disadvantages to fair trade policies.

Play the online game Pursuit: On the Trail of Economic Growth from the Boston Fed with a small group or individually. This game traces the economic growth of New England throughout history. What events shaped the growth of this area? http://bit.ly/190VJ2L

Discuss the meaning of the following quote: "Budget: a mathematical confirmation of your suspicions." - A.A. Latime

Brainstorm the skills and knowledge that will be needed in the future to work as a bank teller. Write a job posting that might be used by a local bank describing the characteristics that banks will be looking for when hiring tellers.

View a short clip depicting a bank run from the movie, It's a Wonderful Life. Describe in a paragraph or two how depositors make poor decisions when they fear their bank is failing.

Use the Recession Lesson "Navigating the Fear of the Unknown" (http://kansascityfed.org/publicat/education/teachingresources/RecessionLesson-EconomicUncertainty.pdf) to learn about the role that economic uncertainty played during the recent recession for businesses and consumers.

Cut magazine or catalog pictures of natural, human and capital resources and place them randomly into paper bags. Divide students into groups and give each group a resource bag. Ask them to create a new business using their resources and share how each resource is used within their business to produce a product.

How do high levels of employment affect economic growth?

Discuss that many economic scenarios can cause either a shortage or surplus of used cars. Ask students to brainstorm situations where a used car shortage might develop and where a used car surplus might develop. If you were a used car dealer, what would you do to avoid a large surplus or shortage?

Research the meaning of marginal cost and marginal benefit. Businesses think on the margin, deciding whether the benefit of producing one more unit would be greater than or less than the cost. Share an example of this marginal cost/benefit situation from your research.

Write about the problem that occurs when people do not recycle resources and the resulting opportunity cost on the environment.

Many students think about running their own business as adults. Ask students to brainstorm types of businesses that interest them. Invite a local business owner from an area of interest to speak to the class about his/her experiences. Prepare for the speaker by making a list of interview questions related to running a business.

Watch Katrina's Classroom from the Atlanta Fed to understand how natural disasters can affect banking services. Write a creative story about leaving your home due to a natural disaster and the steps you would take to be financially stable during this time.http://bit.ly/14C0lYK

Find auto loan 36-month interest rates for a used car from three banks. Record the rates and any additional fees or conditions from each bank. Discuss which bank you would choose to finance your car loan and give reasons why.

Ask students to keep a financial journal, writing down what they spendand save for 30 days. They should keep track of the amount they spendin one column and the amount they save in another column. At the endof the 30 days, ask them to total the amounts of each column and figurethe percentage of money they spent and the percentage they saved.

Imagine you are at a college football game. Brainstorm the different goods and services available in the stadium. What resources were required to create those goods and services?

The launch of the Air Jordan retro basketball shoe sale caused long lines, fights and store closings across the United States Discuss the concepts of supply and demand in this situation. Ask students to give reasons why these shoes sold out, even though their retail price was $180 a pair.

How does the following quote relate to today's rate of savings? "In the old days, a man who saved money was a miser; nowadays, he's a wonder." - Author unknown

Discuss what economists mean when they say, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." How does this quotation relate to costs and benefits?

Credit card bills now provide an estimate of how long it will take to pay off a balance making only the minimum payment. Paying more than the minimum can substantially decrease the total amount of the purchase. Discover the savings using the credit card repayment calculator at www.federalreserve.gov/creditcardcalculator.

Discuss the exchange rate of currency as the ratio at which a unit of currency in one country can be exchanged for that of another country. Research the exchange rate for bills from five countries by going to: www.xe.com and using the exchange rate calculator. Which notes were worth more than the American dollar? Which were worth less? Why do you think one country's currency is valued higher than another?

Research three universities you may want to attend. Evaluate each one using a decision grid with these criteria: size, location, fields of study and tuition cost.

Certificates of deposit (CDs) are accounts that earn interest at a fixed rate over a set of time period and include penalties for withdrawing money early. Ask students to research interest rates of CDs at local banks. Make a class list of the best rates for each of the following CDs: 6 months; 12 months; 24 months; 36 months. Discuss why banks and credit unions pay higher rates for longer terms. Ask students if they would invest in a CD and why.

Discuss the correlation between a country's resources and what goods they export and import. Have students choose countries, research their major resources, exports and imports, and share their findings. Discuss which countries might make good trading partners.

Your credit report is like a report card. It is used to calculate your credit score. You can receive one free credit report every twelve months from each of the nationwide credit bureaus-Equifax, Experian, and Transunion-by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.

Explain why the United States, Canada and Mexico all gain from voluntary trade among their countries.

Write a haiku on the importance of paying yourself first.

Compare three different credit card offers. Make a chart showing the similarities and differences of each. Decide which offer is best for you and present your information tothe class.

Develop a list of economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of developing a new city park. Develop another list for the development of a large chain store like Wal-Mart in the same area. How are the costs and benefits the same or different?

Discuss how this quote relates to entrepreneurship: "Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way." - Les Brown

Introduce stocks as shares of ownership in a company. Ask students to choose a company they are familiar with and follow its stock price online or in a newspaper. Have them record the closing stock price each Friday for a month. Ask them to give a presentation with the following information: the weekly profit/loss from shares purchased (subtractclosing prices from one week to the next); and the monthly profit/loss (subtract week one from four).

Research the purposes of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Hold a mock debate where two countries use the WTO as a forum to discuss their disagreements concerning a trade policy.

Become better informed about payment cards from the Philadelphia Fed's resource What You Need to Know about Payment Cards. Design a poster showing the advantages and disadvantages of the three main types of payment cards. http://bit.ly/18D0HGm

Visit www.bos.frb.org/entertainment to play the online game Show Business: The Economics of Entertainment and learn about economics in the entertainment industry.

What can happen when a person or organization doesn't face all the consequences of their actions? Learn about moral hazard and the role it played during the recent recession and financial crisis in the Kansas City Fed's Recession Lesson: Moral Hazard. http://bit.ly/11JIFss

What monetary policy tools does the Federal Reserve Bank use to regulate the money supply?

Review the credit scenarios from the Dallas Fed's Building Wealth in the Classroom, Lesson 9. Choose one and decide whether the teen described should borrow money. Write a short persuasive essay with reasons to support your answer. http://bit.ly/10IsJHM

Discuss the meaning of this scarcity quote: "There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there's only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen." - Wayne Dyer

Discuss the growing threat of identity theft. Ask students to write tips for consumers to follow in keeping their identity safe. (Example: Memorize your Social Security number so you won't need to carry your card with you.)

Imagine your school district does not have enough money in its budget to provide all the services necessary to run your local schools. Assuming the role of the president of the school board, brainstorm a list of all the benefits of a tax increase. Then consider the perspective of a taxpayer against the increase and make a list of the monetary costs. Use the lists for a classroom debate on the topic.

Discuss this quote: "America's support for human rights and democracy is our noblest export to the world." - William Bennett

Download the St. Louis Fed's Econ Ed Mobile App to explore the cost of using credit. Learn how interest is calculated, and then use the Credit Cost Calculator to see how interest ratesaffect monthly payments and the total cost of a purchase. http://bit.ly/11zNwSM

Why does it matter that the recent recession coincided with a financial crisis? Research from the Kansas City Fed that examined banking crises in Spain, Norway, Finland, Sweden andJapan found that when a recession is combined with a financial crisis unemployment increases are unusually severe and persistent. http://bit.ly/11m62Nt

Discuss the stock market as a public place to invest dollars in stocks, or shares of ownership in a company. Go to: www.essortment.com/invest-money-mutual-funds-stocks-17734.html to learn about stocks vs. mutual funds. Which type of stock would you invest in? Give reasons for your answers.

How does a recession affect the circular flow of income within the economy?

Look at the Federal Trade Commission's website: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm to learn about the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Discuss why consumers should order a copy of their credit report yearly.

What could happen to the price of gasoline if demand increases worldwide? Will prices increase or decrease? What could happen to the price if new oil pipelines add to the supply of gasoline? Will prices increase or decrease?

Trade barriers are costs that raise the price of traded products. Examples are tariffs, import and export quotas, and embargoes. In groups, research and make charts to compare and contrast these barriers.

Your credit card company sets your minimum payment at 2% of your balance. If you have a $1,000 balance on your credit card, what will your minimum payment be? (answer: $20). (Keep in mind, if you only pay the minimum balance most of your payment goestoward interest.)

Have students list all the extra-curricular activities they could participate in for the first semester, including sports, clubs and competitions. Discuss that scarcity of time forces them to choose between several activities they may be interested in.

Watch the Economic Lowdown video on equilibrium at: http://www.stlouisfed.org/education_resources/podcasts/economic_lowdown_video_3.cfm. How do the concepts of surplus and shortage relate to market equilibrium?