Hamlin School - Cross-Curricular Economics

In the 8th grade, Hamlin students are immersed in a four-month cross-curricular economics course involving the social studies and technology departments. Students are introduced to the basic concepts of microeconomics; build their basic softw...

Hamlin School - Cross-Curricular Economics

In the 8th grade, Hamlin students are immersed in a four-month cross-curricular economics course involving the social studies and technology departments. Students are introduced to the basic concepts of microeconomics; build their basic software skills and ability to research using the Internet; gain in media literacy; and learn basic principles of economics and a sense of the value and function of money.

 

Each student is given a job description (including a salary and monthly pay after taxes). Students must find an apartment and furnish it. Periodically they are given unexpected financial windfalls or downturns to cope with. Students create their own spreadsheet detailing monthly income and expenses and learn how to calculate and balance their budget

 

In addition, they are 'given' $5,000 to invest in the stock market. They research on the Internet and select two companies. At the end of the course they analyze the returns on their stock portfolio and couple that with other aspects of their net worth

 

To enhance their knowledge of microeconomics students create their own small businesses for a competitive free-market bake sale. Each team develops a prospectus and then gives 'live' advertising spots during weekly school assemblies. After the bake sale, all aspects of the market are evaluated including pricing, location of vendors, products, inventory and marketing. Net profit produces a 'winner' and the money earned goes to the class graduation gift to the school.