Past Workshops
2012-2013 Workshops
Economic Resources for Grades K-12
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
An interactive, hands-on workshop that helps participants gain a greater understanding of the most important concepts in economics and personal finance. Each participant will receive two books, each containing six lesson plans for students from elementary to high school. Lessons range from problems with barter and the benefits of money, productivity in making origami cups, making clothes from grain, causes of economic growth, gross domestic pizza, writing and record keeping using Babylonian texts, federal budgets, public goods and services, and the free rider problem.
Using Dragons Decide: A Free Enterprise Coloring book to Teach Economic Concepts
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
"Dilroy and Diana were Dragons. They lived in a nice little castle at the top of the hill. For many years they worked hard to buy things they needed. Even dragons have needs..." Dragons Decide, a combination story and coloring book, is a popular tool designed to reinforce some basic economic concepts, including scarcity, choice and decision-making, opportunity cost, saving, producers, goods and services, resources and specialization and interdependence. Each teacher will receive a set of coloring books courtesy of the Virginia Housing Development Authority.
Risky Business: What Every Teenager Needs to Know about Living Smart and Financing Their Future
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Are today's teenagers well-equipped to confidently face life's challenges as they move into adulthood? In order for our young people to become productive and successful members of an increasingly global economy, they need the skills to make sound decisions and plan wisely for their futures. This workshop will help you show your students how sound decision-making can empower people and provide greater opportunities for success, fortune, freedom, and overall well-being. Each workshop participant will receive curriculum valued at over $150.
Mathematics and Economics: Connections for Life (Grades 3-8)
Monday, February 25, 2013
This workshop, based on the teacher resource books of the same title, focuses on the use of mathematic concepts to each economics and personal finance skills. Featured are interesting, hands-on, and dynamic mathematic lessons for grades 3-8. Lessons will help students see the relevance of mathematics and economics to everyday life. Activities will tap into their natural creativity as they explore the basic economics concepts that will prepare them to be better citizens, consumers, and workers. Each participant will receive the featured appropriate grade level curriculum book.
Economic iPad/iPod Apps and Uses
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Does your school use i-Pads or iPods? Are you wondering how to adapt your instruction to take full advantage of these electronic resources? This workshop will help set your students up for success. I-Pads/iPods can be used at each level of Blooms Taxonomy. Multiple economic SOL related applications will be shared. Bring your i-Pad and be ready for a fun yet informative experience.
The Stock Market Game: Empowering Students to Invest in a Secure Financial Future (Grades 4-12)
Thursday, January 24, 2013
In addition to being a true-to-life playing field for buying/selling stocks and teaching about the U.S. economy, the Stock Market GameTM (SMG) is correlated to the SOL in math, business/marketing, language arts, social studies, and technology. Teachers DO NOT need any knowledge of the stock market to attend this workshop or play the game! Teachers begin the workshop by learning (or reviewing) basic investment terms and strategies for personal and classroom use. After observing the SMG website navigation, teachers practice navigating the website on their own using a self-guided tour. Game participants gain access to a wealth of online curriculum materials designed to make playing the game almost effortless.
Seas, Trees, and Economics (Grades 3-7)
Monday, December 10, 2012
The lessons in Seas, Trees, and Economies describe how the environment and the economy jointly provide us with goods and services. This session will equip teachers with tools that students need to recognize fundamental trade-offs, to explain how and why choices are made, and to explain how people can make better choices regarding the use of natural resources and the disposal of wastes that production and consumption unavoidably create. Each lesson teaches fundamental economic concepts such as scarcity, resources, goods and services, opportunity cost, trade-offs, value, price, and incentives. Most lessons employ simulations and other hands-on activities engaging students in the learning process and providing experiences to help them discover why things happen as they do. It is hoped that these lessons will not only develop a greater appreciation of the role of the natural environment in providing satisfaction for people, but also a deeper understanding of how the economy works to ensure that result.
Learning, Earning, and Investing
November 29, 2012
Learning, Earning and Investing introduces students to the world of investing, its benefits and risks, and the critical role it plays in fostering capital formation and job creation in our free market system. Learning, Earning and Investing is a comprehensive investor education program focusing on the benefits of and strategies for investing for the long term. Lessons covered in this session cover basics such as the language of financial markets, reading the financial pages and financial institutions in the U.S. economy. The 16 lessons in the middle school volume and the 23 lessons in the high school volume provide students with the active-learning experiences.
Each participant will receive a copy of grade appropriate Learning, Earning, and Investing. Electronic resources are available for each lesson. Lessons are a great supplement to the Stock Market Game Program.
Money, Math, & Make Believe: Teaching Economics & math Using Storybooks (Grades K-5)
October 23, 2012
Teach Math and Money-Smarts with Kids Stories! Join us for a 2-hour event to help you to teach math, economics and personal finance topics to elementary-age students. This session will focus on using children's stories to teach math and "money-smart" economic concepts.
Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Ethics (Grades 6-12)
October 11, 2012
The nation's economy will increasingly rely on entrepreneurs to stimulate economic growth. The skill set needed to succeed in the 21st century workforce-one that values opportunity, creativity and agility-is quite different from the skill set needed during the last century. The key to success is an economic way of thinking.
This session will also take into consideration an ethical dimension to economics in the tradition of Adam Smith, who believed ethical considerations were central to life. The workshop utilizes innovative instructional materials that illustrate the important role ethics and character play in a market economy and how, in turn, markets influence ethical behavior.
This workshop will help you get students involved through simulations, group decision making, problem solving, classroom demonstrations and role playing. The lessons encourage students to think critically about entrepreneurship and ethical dilemmas.
The Stock Market Game: Empowering Students to Invest in a Secure Financial Future (Grades 4-12)
September 20, 2012
In addition to being a true-to-life playing field for buying/selling stocks and teaching about the U.S. economy, the Stock Market GameTM (SMG) is correlated to the SOL in math, business/marketing, language arts, social studies, and technology. Teachers DO NOT need any knowledge of the stock market to attend this workshop or play the game! Teachers begin the workshop by learning (or reviewing) basic investment terms and strategies for personal and classroom use. After observing the SMG website navigation, teachers practice navigating the website on their own using a self-guided tour. Game participants gain access to a wealth of online curriculum materials designed to make playing the game almost effortless.
