The Real World: Economics

In this unit introducing macroeconomics students will learn about economic systems, GDP, inflation, monetary policy, fiscal policy and more. It culminates in a cooperative activity where students design an economy for an island nation.

The Real World: Economics Unit Guide

All the links below in one document complete with step by step lesson plans.

PowerPoint Presentations

While these presentations will technically function in Google Slides, they work much better in PowerPoint. Download the file as a PowerPoint and run it from your Desktop for best results!

1. Market Types - Market vs. Command. One works. One doesn't. Come on people, this isn't that difficult to comprehend.

Activities and Lessons

1. Introduction to Capitalism - Capitalism is great. I'm not afraid to say it and neither is this article. Help to counteract the growing narrative that, somehow, free markets are a problem by reading this article about Capitalism Facts and then comparing the U.S. economy to others around the world.

2. Capitalism Facts - Enough nonsense. Let's look at some facts about capitalism's impact around the world.

3. Is Socialism Cool? (PearDeck) - no, but this lesson is!

4. Socialism in Cuba - What does socialism look like when it is put into play?

5. #EconomicGoals (PearDeck) - analyze and rank the major goals of an economy. 

6. Goal vs Goal - What happens with a nation's economic goals come into conflict? Choices and trade-offs of course. This is econ, what did you expect? Take a look at the difficulty balancing growth and security as we discuss A.I. and job replacement.

7. Economic Health Check Up - How do you know if an economic system is working? Go to the doctor and check their vital signs. You know, the GDP, unemployment and inflation rates of course. Time for a check up!

8. Economic Treatments - Our patient is sick! What tools do we have to heal him? Fiscal policy? Monetary policy? Let's save him!

9. Tropico! - students create the economy for a new island nation to demonstrate their understand of market goals and types. Then, they solve some problems using their newly created system!

10. What in the World is Interest? *Highly Recommended* - Interest can be your friend or your enemy. In this lesson we learn from Futurama, The Simpsons and Dave Ramsey in order to make interest our friend and become multi-millionaires! 

11. The Game of Loans (and Credit) - If you're going to play the game of loans you need to know the rules. What is ROI? What is a credit score? Learn it and remember, "An econ always pays their debts."

12. 20 Beans Budget - Spend your 20 beans wisely! Then, read some budget diaries of real people and share their stories.

13. Careers Presentation - What are Holland Codes and how can they help me hone my human capital?

14. Career Spotlight - A career research project where students use data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to learn more about careers they may not have considered before.

15. The Wage is Right - A class game show where students learn about the potential incomes and growth of various careers.

16. CYOA Learning Menu - learning menu based on this unit.