This paper describes the acquisition of basic economic concepts by two fifth-grade classes in an elementary school through the use of a school store. The paper contains: (1) a review of the literature relating to economics education and the use of simulations; (2) a discussion of two teachers' approaches to teaching economic concepts; and (3) a…

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;…

Described is the development and evaluation of the Micro-Place Social Studies Curriculum, an instructional system for teaching economics and law concepts at the fifth grade level. The curriculum is based on a miniature market economy that requires students to provide food, clothing, and shelter cards for simulated families. Students own businesses…

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…

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…

This study applied brain lateralization research and a model of generative teaching and learning to economic education. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of verbal-only, imagery-only, and integrated (verbal-to-imaginal) strategies on fifth graders' proclivity to use economic reasoning (i.e. cost-benefit analysis) in personal…

Combining reading, language arts, and economics, this interdisciplinary project involved fifth grade students in studying three units dealing with (1) an auto liner named the Karinita; (2) the port of Wilmington (Delaware); and (3) international trade. Specific unit lesson plans are provided in this project description. In unit 1, students learned…

A third-grade class and fifth-grade remedial reading students gained a positive attitude toward contemporary economic problems by studying economics as a puzzle in this award-winning project. The following concepts were each approached as pieces of the puzzle to be solved: money, wants and needs, income, goods and services, scarcity, consumption…

In this award winning project for incorporating economics study into the curriculum, a fifth grade class studied economic interdependence as it applied to their community (Barling, Arkansas). Class readings of several books dealing with the development of an economic community preceded the students' creation of a mini-Barling with elected…