This document provides teaching guidelines and student material for a unit intended for use in fifth and sixth grade social studies and economics programs. Time allotment is from four to six hours. The objectives are to help students identify the difference between wants and needs, to distinguish between items that are scarce and abundant, to…

Describes a lesson plan which was used successfully to teach the basics of investment to students in a fifth-grade social studies class on economics education. Projects included in the unit included selling stock, pre-sales preparation, selling, profits, and investment. (DB)

This guide is designed to assist fifth and sixth grade teachers who are basically following the New York State curricula. While an effort has been made to include ideas for teaching every concept found in the state's outline, additional concepts have been included for the benefit of those who might go beyond the outline, and for teachers in other…

Describes a stock market investing project for fifth graders. (SJL)

Discusses "Economics Is FUN-damental," a collection of six musical skits designed to address economic concepts in a manner meaningful and relevant to elementary students. The skits, performed by fourth and fifth graders, are designed to relate economic concepts such as scarcity and supply and demand, to real life situations. (LS)

Illustrates a fifth grade teaching unit on international economics. Gives suggestions for use at the lower elementary and primary grades and points out that incorporation of economics into the elementary education curriculum can produce economically literate citizens in a cost-effective way. (GG)

Three recurring themes are found in "Choices and Change in Life, School, and Work" lessons for fifth and sixth grade students: human capital development; personal decision making; and participation in the labor market. The teacher's resource manual contains 15 lessons grouped into units, linking 3 lessons to a broad generalization about…

Describes the use of a token economy in a fifth-grade classroom that teaches students economic concepts and helps develop their decision-making skills. States that students learn about scarcity, savings, price, inflation, insurance, rent, and utilities. Includes additional resources. (CMK)

A 2-phase project in which fifth grade students create their own country is described. The project offers a strategy for teaching a comprehensive, interdisciplinary unit on economics. In the first phase, students and teacher create an imaginary country. Separate sections outline the teaching procedure involved in this phase: locating the country;…

Describes a student teacher's experiences using a classroom simulation to teach fifth graders about the world of work. Summarizes the economic concepts and principles that were illustrated through the simulation of a candy factory. Discusses student activities and reporting in the five-six day lesson and includes a list of resources for teaching…

Geographic, economic, and social/cultural understandings related to the United States, Canada, and Latin America are emphasized in this fifth-grade social studies program. The syllabus contains a teacher notebook that elaborates key features of the program and suggests relevant classroom applications. The notebook includes: (1) the program's 10…

Research and study of economic discoveries, inventions, improvements, and man's use of natural and human resources and capital goods from the Stone Age to the present helped fifth graders understand and appreciate the foundation and structure of the U.S. economic system and today's standards of living. The year-long study, which was integrated…

Developing financial fitness requires developing a knowledge base and then applying it. This teacher guide and student workouts package contains 15 lessons from students at grades 3-5, divided into 4 theme areas of earning and income, saving, spending and borrowing, and managing money. The development of knowledge for use in the everyday life of…

An award winning project for teaching economics at the fifth-grade level is described. Content is based on the theme of the economic repercussions of petty crime. As an initial activity, students examine the economic effects of local vandalism on the community and the taxpayers. Throughout the year, rap sessions provide a vehicle for class…

Designed to help upper elementary education teachers develop economics lessons as part of the social studies program, this curriculum guide introduces fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students to the study of: (1) economic institutions; (2) scarcity; (3) choice and decisionmaking; (4) specialization and exchange; and (5) economic systems. A…