Whether you are a seasoned Econ teacher or preparing to teach the subject for the first time, Retro Report can help. Here are three economics resources for you to incorporate into this year’s Economics curriculum. Each comes with a short video, a standards-aligned lesson plan and a student activity printout.

Our videos connect curriculum content to real-world events and offer interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Research shows that interdisciplinary instruction strengthens students’ abilities to recognize bias, think critically, tolerate ambiguity and engage with ethical concerns.

Make sure you have a free teacher account to access our resources and get ready to explore! 

For Teaching About the Loanable Funds Market and Federal Intervention in the U.S. Economy, Try…

The 2008 financial crisis created the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. In this 10-minute video, we examine how risky loans, regulatory gaps, and Wall Street practices contributed to the 2008 financial crisis and ultimately led to the Great Recession. Through the related lesson plan and student activity, students will learn about the 2008 financial crisis and explore how to evaluate the relative liquidity of financial assets.

  • C3 Framework for Social Studies Alignment: D2. Eco.1.9-12 |  D2 Eco.3.9-12. | D2.Eco.7.9-12 
  • Partner with: Civics and Government and U.S. History Classes 

For Teaching About Policy, Law and Regulation, Try . . .

This 10-minute video offers an example of how market failures, externalities and government contracts can shape outcomes in systems meant to serve the public interest. The lesson and activity ask students to review the economic principles of Profit and Market Failures, learn ways a business might raise profits, and examine how incentives might influence choices made by for-profit prisons.

  • C3 Framework for Social Studies Alignment: D2.Eco.1.9-12 | D2 Eco.2-9-12 | D2 Eco.3.9-12
  • Partner with: Criminal Justice and Civics/U.S. Government classes

For Teaching About Labor Markets And Competition, Try . . .

Baseball players did not always have a say in where they played or for how long, working under a court-protected “reserve clause” that gave team owners full rights over contract renewals. This 12-minute video introduces Curt Flood, a major league center fielder who challenged the system in a lawsuit that wound up before the Supreme Court. This lesson asks students to formulate an argument on how free agency changed the economic market in professional sports.

C3 Framework for Social Studies Alignment: D2.Eco.1.9-12 | D2.Eco.2.9-12 | D2.Eco.3.9-12 | D2.Eco.4.9-12 | D2.Eco.6.9-12 | D2.Eco.7.9-12 | D2.Eco.8.9-12 | D2.Eco.9.9-12

Partner with: Civics/U.S. Government, African American Studies and Ethnic Studies classes

For Teaching About Cost And Benefit Analysis, Try . . .

In the 1990s, the film “Free Willy” chronicled the fictional efforts of a 12-year-old boy who helped to return a captive orca to the wild. But when activists and fans campaigned to free Keiko, the orca that played Willy in the film, things got complicated. In this lesson, students will identify the costs and benefits of freeing Keiko from different perspectives and determine whether the effort was worthwhile.

C3 Framework for Social Studies Alignment: D2.Eco.1.9-12 | D2.Eco. 2.6-8

Partner with: English Language Development classes

For more videos and Economics resources, explore our subject page, which features dozens of videos and related classroom-ready materials.

ISADORA VAREJÃO is an engagement producer.

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