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Students participate in a trading simulation to learn about barter and the benefits of using money. Working in pairs, students receive information cards on different forms of money used during U.S. history and identify specific problems with each.

Learn the story of the growing economy on Planet Novus and focus on the concepts of barter, currency, and banking.

A ¥en to Trade is a set of lessons for students in the middle grades—grades 6-8. These lessons are written to help students understand the basic rationale for making trades, the gains that are possible from trade, and how trading is done between people of different countries. Each lesson teaches fundamental economic concepts such as scarcity, economic wants, resources, goods and services, opportunity cost, and money, as well as international trade concepts such as exports, imports, tariffs, quotas, exchange rates, and trade routes. Most lessons employ simulations and other active-learning strategies to engage students in the learning process and to provide experiences to help them discover why things happen as they do. Students do everything from taking on the role of traders in the real markets to jumping hurdles (to learn about trade barriers) and tossing a ball (to learn about trade routes). Activities integrate other curriculum areas including math, language arts, and geography.

This simple trading activity demonstrates a key economic idea: Voluntary trade can make both the buyer and seller better off. Students first receive a piece of candy randomly.

GDP is a useful measure of the health of the economy, and it’s among the most important and widely reported economic data. However, the current “textbook treatment” of how international trade is measured as part of GDP can lead people to misunderstand the role trade plays in the economy. The September 2018 issue of Page One Economics intends to correct misconceptions and provide clear instruction on how imports affect GDP.

Use these questions with children 7 to 9 years old to discuss the following economic concepts in Potato: A Tale from the Great Depression: barter, consumers, goods, services, income, and wants.

In this lesson, students hear a story about a fox who must make a series of trades to get something he wants. The students complete a worksheet tracing the various trades the fox makes. They then are asked to complete a puzzle activity with a group but are not given all the necessary components. They must barter with other groups to obtain the pieces and supplies needed. Finally, the students complete an assessment using a text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world format to compare the story One Fine Day with a new story about trading. Students should have basic knowledge of the following economic concepts prior this lesson: trade, goods, services, and money.

Is international trade good for Americans? The November 2017 issue of Page One Economics provides the ins and outs of trade, including some history, the costs and benefits, and policy choices.

As Adam Smith said, everyone lives by exchanging. They exchange—buy and sell—to make themselves better off. Does the same principle apply to international trade? Do nations benefit from importing and exporting? The November Page One Economics explains the basics of international trade and its importance to the economy.

As Adam Smith said, everyone lives by exchanging. They exchange—buy and sell—to make themselves better off. Does the same principle apply to international trade? Do nations benefit from importing and exporting? The November Page One Economics explains the basics of international trade and its importance to the economy.