The Work We've Done in 2021
It's been a full year of educational programs in Arkansas. As we countdown the hours to 2022, we wanted to take some time to look back on some of our favorite programs of the past year.
Student Events
The Arkansas Economics Challenge
Econ Challenge participants with their economics teacher at Haas Hall Academy.
Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Council for Economic Education, through the generous support of the Calvin K. Kazanjian Economics Foundation, the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics and Economics Arkansas were able to bring the National Economics Challenge to Arkansas. Econ Challenge is a competitive program for middle and high school students around the United States looking to test their economics knowledge. They compete at various levels, from local city challenges through state competitions, for a chance to enter larger national events.
On April 8, 21 students from seven Arkansas high schools met virtually to compete in the Arkansas Economics Challenge. The competition was split into three parts:
• team testing on concepts from micro, macro, and global economics;
• a writing competition, where individual students submitted writing samples on the topic “Thinking Like an Economist”; and
• a digital design competition, where students created projects highlighting economic concepts.
The Biz@Bear Jamboree
Students toured campus, met faculty, and participated in various activities throughout the day.
ACRE partnered with UCA’s Biz@Bear Residential College at the University of Central Arkansas to sponsor and host the first ever Biz@Bear Jamboree on July 24. This day-long event of games and discussions provided a preview of the Biz@Bear college experience for high school juniors and seniors.
Seven high school seniors from El Dorado High School, Ozark High School, Prairie Grove High School, and Parkview Magnet High School participated in activities throughout the day. These included a reading discussion with an economics professor, a tour of the UCA Makerspace, and a networking panel with faculty from across the College of Business who shared information about their programs of study, scholarship and career opportunities, and their personal experiences and interests.
Educator Professional Development
Commemorating the 100 Year Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre
The Tulsa Race Massacre took place on May 31 and June 1, 1921, in the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. To commemorate and remember the 100 year anniversary of this event, ACRE hosted an in-person professional development workshop featuring speakers from the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum and the Arkansas State Archives. This workshop helped teachers learn the historical context of the Tulsa Massacre and what work is being done today to remember this history.
Personal Finance Day with UCA
Arkansas educators teaching Personal Finance, Quantitative Literacy, Economics, or another class that embeds Arkansas’s Personal Finance curriculum standards had the chance to learn a variety of new teaching strategies, receive free resources, and network with educators and educational partners from around the state at “Personal Finance Day.” Speakers included:
• Thurlo Cobb, a Vice President at Primerica, who discussed How Money Works
• Dr. Mike Casey, who presented his curriculums on Building Wealth and Mastering Interest Rates
• Marsha Masters at Economics Arkansas, who discussed state competitions for the Stock Market Game and Personal Finance Challenge
• Dr. Kathryn Carroll, who discussed Budgeting Basics and led participants through a hands-on financial management simulation
New Curriculum
Right in Our Own Backyards: Exploring Arkansas Connections in the Social Studies
All around the state, there are educational experiences for Arkansans of all ages. Arkansas is full of parks, museums, and historical sites you can visit for yourself, many that offer educational programming for teachers, students, and families! This curriculum guides learners through 11 different locations around the state and explores the many social studies connections you can make in the classroom!
We are so excited to continue to create new opportunities in 2022! Sign up below to stay up-to-date on all of the resources and events we have to offer in the upcoming year.
