Entry Points: find a way to engage your students and hook them from the beginning. Find out what they know and what they are curious about!
- Something Cool Watch this story about Mikaila Ulmer, an entrepreneur, activist, and educator who appeared on Shark Tank at only nine years old! Then check out the website for her company, Me & the Bees Lemonade. Check out the “Our Story” tabs and Mikaila’s blog!
- Something Funny Use one of these funny, punny, and educational comics to start conversation. Display a comic and discuss. What background knowledge do your students have? What experiences do they have? What vocabulary do they know? What do they wonder? What issues are referenced? What point of view is the comic expressing?
- Something Important Happening in the News: You can always find important things happening in economics news; finding things that are understandable, relevant, and appropriate for your students may be more difficult. Check out this article, “Financial education stalls, threatening kids’ future economic health,” that specifically calls out the impact of poor economics instruction on students’ lives in the state of Ohio. Check out local news sources for stories about development and economics growth–you’ll find students have lots of ideas about these places and issues that impact their lives.
Essential Questions: use these big picture wonderings to guide your students to deep understandings as you research, experiment, read, and create.
- How can I become an entrepreneur?
- How can I make wise economic decisions?
- How can I find a wise balance between saving, spending, and sharing?
The Integrated Curriculum Classroom 