It’s Economics Education Month!
It's Economics Education Month and we are celebrating! Here in Arkansas, social studies educators have access to a wealth of resources for incorporating the economic way of thinking across the social studies content area! From enriching PD, field trip opportunities, and interactive student programs, Arkansas learners can explore the economics that's all around them.
Arkansas Economics Standards:
The Arkansas learning expectations for economics students consist of 5 key learning strands: Economic Decision Making, Exchanges and Markets, Personal Finance, the National Economy, and the Global Economy. Students can explore these topics not just in their required one-semester economics course, but in all of their social studies classes. Students learn about resources and trade in their geography classes while playing the Trade Game, an economics game where students visualize how expanded trade markets lead to larger varieties of goods and services and the ways in which trade creates wealth. In U.S. and World History courses, students can explore choices made by individuals and groups while analyzing the historical impacts of those decisions. Students can examine data to learn how institutions work to influence economic outcomes in their civics and government courses and discuss intended and unintended consequences of market intervention. Whether in quantitative literacy, home economics, or a personal finance course, students practice making financial decisions and learn how their choices early in life can have big impacts on their future.
Educator Support:
Educators looking for resources and opportunities don't have far to look in Arkansas. The Arkansas Center for Research in Economics at the University of Central Arkansas has a social studies resource library full of interdisciplinary lesson plans, activity options, discussion prompts, and more that teachers can fit into many social studies courses. ACRE also co-hosts the annual Arkansas Economic Challenge with Economics Arkansas.
Arkansas's Council for Economic Education, Economics Arkansas, provides regular professional development opportunities to educators as well as student programs like the Stock Market Game and the $10 Challenge.
Through the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Arkansas educators have access to all of the economic data and research available through their educator portal at econlowdown.org. Dr. Kris Bertelsen, senior economic education specialist with the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, helps produce economic and personal finance education materials including videos, lesson plans, and online modules. He speaks frequently to a variety of audiences and conducts professional development for educators!
While we all celebrate economic education everyday, we are excited to have a dedicated month to share more about the economics in the world around us! Follow along on social media using the hashtag #EconEdMonth to see ALL of the great organizations participating this month, take advantage of teacher incentives, and build your network of passionate economic educators.
