Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Bring current events to life in your classroom with this resource that connects students with international events. Politics, economics, geography, and culture are addressed by lesson plans (aligned to national standards) that challenge students to think deeply about global issues. Articles are written at a fairly high reading level and issues are complex. This is definitely a high-powered resource for concentrated analysis and serious discussion.

tag(s): air (99), politics (118)

While currency exchange rates aren't part of every math curriculum, this site can illustrate both the changing relationships among currencies and the wide range of international currencies with which international traders must contend. Try this one as fodder for some interesting algebra word problems.

tag(s): currency (14), money (112)

This Michigan State University site provides a rich collection of resources for examining global economics with college or high school economics students. One section of the site has resources on the business climate and economic data of almost 200 countries. The site also lists resources for further research about international trade, financial markets, and business news.

tag(s): data (150)

While not specifically written for students, this introduction to the supply and demand for petroleum is a real world example of the numerous factors that can affect pump prices and make a fill-up more expensive. Secondary economics classes will have fun with this one.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): oil (22), supply and demand (5)

tag(s): advanced placement (26)

World cultures or government classes will find the multidimensional counters on this site a wonderful way to illustrate the growth (or depletion) population, resources, and other global activity. It's a very tangible illustration of the rate at which things are changing in our world. Teachers can be creative with this one.

tag(s): ecology (105), population (51), resources (83)

The Library of Congress has created a site which presents information and images from early American adverstising efforts - 1850-1920. The site uses the Library's standard HTML layout, and as usual, the stars of the exhibit are the archival images that have been digitized and included. If advertising is a measure of society's interests, this site offers a unique glimpse into the past.

tag(s): advertising (26), industrialization (12), news (225), newspapers (93)

Teach about the history of currency in different cultures and the basic economics concepts of barter and currency. Three lessons include activities studying past currencies as works of art and designing a new currency.

tag(s): currency (14)

This site offers a collection of economics lessons, some with reproducible handouts, for elementary and secondary students. The lessons vary in the detail they provide, but users can select by grade level, subject, or standard. This is a great source for hard-to-find lessons on economics for younger students.

tag(s): money (112)

Wonderful interactive lesson where students are asked to learn about budget debt and then take a stand by e-mailing the U. S. Congress. Well designed and most useful for middle school students. Sponsored and updated by Pacific Bell

tag(s): speech (68)

This site offers insight into the group's function; its strategies in the fields of human development, environmentally sustainable development, and private sector development around the world. This site would be useful when discussing global economic development policies.

tag(s): banks (8)

This is a web implementation of the popular computer game by the same name. Players must figure out how to operate their lemonade stand profitably, taking into account pricing, cost of materials, rent, and other economic factors. Students may want to try different strategies and see how they fare with their customers.

tag(s): money (112)

This site provides a scenario in which to learn about supply and demand and consumer markets. Uses a case study model of learning

tag(s): supply and demand (5)

This online exhibit from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco offers a history of American currency, complete with descriptions, images, and explanations about how the American currency system has evolved. It would be a great supplement to introductory economics or a lesson on, "Why is a dollar worth a dollar?"

tag(s): money (112)

Find Streaming Videos from John Stossel to engage your students in discussions about interesting and thought-provoking issues. Each month this site posts a new video for your use, and all videos come with suggested discussion questions and quizzes. Also, you will find lots of discussion topics in the archived section titled with categories like the environment, celebrities, and consumer issues, just to name a few. Registration is free; you need to log in to view the teacher's guide and discussion questions! There are some items of interest on the top menu bar: Both Sides of the Issue, Features, Video Library, and Teacher Resources.

tag(s): character education (82), endangered species (27), financial literacy (95), foreign policy (13), news (225), politics (118), video (267)

This site offers a wonderful list of X (formerly known as Twitter) feeds to consider if you are just starting out or if you are adding to your feed related to history. The list is categorized by General, Media, Eductors and Students, Departments and Publications, Military, Historical Tweets, and includes the X (Twitter) name with a link and a short description. Feeds include the Library of Congress, quotes and sayings from Thomas Jefferson, and HistoryDay (see what happened on this day in history), and many more.

tag(s): congress (39), history day (39), social media (50), social networking (61), twitter (13)