Classroom Mini-Economy

The Classroom Mini-Economy, developed by the Indiana Department of Education and adopted by the National Council on Economic Education, is a hands-on form of instruction that prepares students to function in today’s rapidly changing and independent society. Students experience entrepreneurship and real life by operating their own classroom economy.

If you are already using the Classroom Mini-Economy, be sure to take a look at these other great resources:

• Classroom Mini-Economy Banking Program
• Pre/Post Tests
• Attitude Survey
• Mini-Economy Power Point Presentation

Playdough Economics

The unique feature of Playdough Economics is the use of modeling clay, which provides motivation through a concrete learning experience. The lessons are activity-oriented simulations which stress an inductive approach to learning, whereby students derive an understanding of the concepts from examples and data generated in the simulations.

Be sure to take a look at these other great resources for Playdough Economics:

• See Playdough Economics in Action
• Pre/Post Test
• Attitude Survey.

Teaching Economics Using Children's Literature

Using children's literature to teach economics is an excellent strategy to economize on scarce instructional time. ICEE has worked with the Indiana Department of Education to revise the popular Teaching Economics Using Children's Literature curriculum, which is distributed by the National Council on Economic Education. The curriculum is available free to Indiana teachers at in-service programs. For training opportunities, contact your local Center for Economic Education.

This curriculum has interdisciplinary lessons on 24 popular books, such as The Doorbell Rang, Uncle Jed's Barbershop, and Holes. Five additional lessons from the first edition are also available on line. See below.

• Learn more about Teaching Economics Using Children's Literature
• Additional lessons from the first edition.

Energy, Economics, and the Environment

ICEE, through the support of Indiana Michigan Power, offers workshops each summer on the important Energy, Economics, and the Environment (EEE) curriculum, originally developed by the Indiana Department of Education. This newly revised curriculum offers basic information on key topics such as water and forest resources, renewable and non renewable energy sources, solid waste, and global warming. The curriculum at each level revolves around age-appropriate case studies, which help students apply sound economic reasoning to important energy and environmental issues.

• High School Curriculum
• Middle School Curriculum
• Elementary School Curriculum

Indiana Stock Market Game

Get your students excited about learning! Using actual data from the stock markets, teams of students are given a hypothetical $100,000 to create and manage a portfolio of stocks and mutual funds. Before they know it, students are learning about financial markets such as the New York Stock Exchange, understanding the basics of personal investing and enhancing skills learned in math, reading, and technology.

• Program Information
• State and Regional Rankings

Entrepreneurship Youth Institute

The Entrepreneurship Youth Institute is a workshop for students and teachers to introduce them to entrepreneurial thinking and decision making and learn about starting a business from real entrepreneurs.

• Click here to view photos from previoius Entrepreneurship Institutes

KidsEcon Posters

Posters illustrating economic and financial literacy concepts give teachers innovative teaching tools to teach not only economics, but also other subjects in the curriculum. You will find a literature connection on the web site that list some great children's books that illustrate economic concepts from the posters. The posters can also be supplemented by great activities such as KidsEcon Bingo, KidsEcon Activity Cards, and the new Herschel's World of Economics DVD.

Grant Opportunities

EconomicsAmerica Grants

IDOE Economic Education Grants

International Grant Opportunities