Six-day Economics Institute for those involved with the new required high school class in personal finance and economics (grades 9-12), starting July 9: Find out more or register. (Update: This institute is near or at capacity, but since there may be additional seats available, go ahead and register if you don’t mind being wait-listed.)
Three day Mini-Economy workshop for teachers of Grades 3-8 on August 6-8, 2012: Check the details or register.
This year, 2012, marks the 100th year since the tragic loss of the steamship Titanic in the North Atlantic. The disaster has been portrayed in fiction and film, and has entered the popular culture. JMU-originated lessons that help students understand the Titanic disaster and its implications are now available. Authored by JMU’s Lynne F. Stover, these lessons are offered without charge for classroom use:
Why Did People Travel on the Titanic? A Push or Pull Factor Scenario (Grades 5-9)
Why Did the Titanic Sink? What Do You Think? (Grades 4-8)
Titanic Extension Activities Using the Titanic Goods and Services Data Sheet
Bonus lesson (not specifically economic, but published and available online) Remembering the Titanic March, 2012 (published at http://www.highsmith.com/pdf/librarysparks/2012/lsp_mar12_ll_titanic.pdf)
Bonnie Berry
Bonnie Berry, who teaches kindergarten at Ottobine Elementary School, is this year’s elementary Teacher of the Year for GATE, the Global Association of Teachers of Economics.
To find out more about Bonnie’s award and catch up on other economic education news, see our September newsletter. Also in the September issue: information on free workshops, links to workshop registration, information about a new American economic history project at JMU and complete coverage of awards to be presented to local teachers in October.
The spring workshops offered by the JMU Center for Economic Education have a broad range, from children’s literature to the Titanic. Each workshop features materials and instruction that coordinate with the Virginia Standards of Learning. Registration is free and materials are free. When you participate, you receive a certificate with details of topics and hours for your recertification. To register online now:
The GEM Fair is an annual entrepreneurship fair for kids. Check out video from a previous GEM Fair, below. The 2012 GEM Fair is currently being planned.
Here’s a link to materials created at JMU in 2000 on the role of money in an economy, for elementary students. The Standards of Learning have been revised and renumbered since then, but the activities hold up well.
Our teacher outreach is a sponsored program of Shenandoah Valley Economic Education, Inc.
