The second lesson in the Economics and the Great Migration curriculum teaches about the Harlem Renaissance, of which Jacob Lawrence was a part, as well as the economic and societal challenges Harlem faced over the years.

This lesson follows the rise and fall of Harlem in New York City, New York, from the promise of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s to the neglect after WWII that that led to declines in residents’ quality of life. Today, Harlem is experiencing a revitalization, and this lesson traces the evolution of its social, economic, and cultural history.

In this lesson, students learn how businesses use advertising to influence the choices consumers make. Using magazines, students see that advertisements use a combination of facts and opinions to influence tastes and preferences. Students also listen to a story about a Korean-American family that owns a food cart. They learn how the business changes as a result of competition and how business owners can influence consumers’ tastes and preferences. Working in groups, students create print advertisements for the food cart in the book to see firsthand how advertisements can influence consumers’ choices through tastes and preferences.

In this lesson, students participate in a simulation using the idea of herd immunization to investigate the concept of positive externalities related to market failure and the role of government. The lesson also introduces the concept of negative externalities.

Drivers may wonder whether the most recent spike in gasoline prices is temporary or will be longer lasting. Will prices eventually decline—maybe even to below $3 per gallon? Or is it time for drivers to alter their driving habits, maybe by buying a hybrid car? Be sure to read the September 2012 issue for a discussion of factors that might influence that decision.

This unique activity features a primary source from the Fed's online archive, FRASER. 75 Years of American Finance: A Graphic Presentation, 1861-1935, is an 85-foot long detailed timeline compiled in 1936. The activity reviews the document layout and provides historical inquiry questions divided into four sections: observe, reflect, question, and analyze. Students can evaluate any given year(s) of the timeline, and the document may be used to introduce historical inquiry and/or to support study of historical themes, years or eras noted in the timeline.

Historians are experts at assessing and analyzing documents to build a narrative but may be stymied by numbers. Charts (tables, graphs, maps, diagrams, and so on) provide a graphical view of information and can be a powerful way to display evidence. This toolkit provides a series of resources for students to read, interpret, and think critically about charts in textbooks and historical documents.

This activity reveals a snapshot of declared church affiliation in 1870. It provides historical inquiry questions for students to evaluate the chart. The questions are divided into the following topics: observe, reflect, question, and analyze. This activity may be used to introduce and engage students in the process of historical inquiry and/or to process and reflect about the influence of church affiliation in the United States.

This activity allows students to compare and contrast U.S. occupational categories and school attendance in 1870 across genders and states. It provides questions for students to practice historical inquiry and evaluate the chart. The questions are divided into the following topics: observe, reflect, question, and analyze. This activity may be used to introduce and engage students in the process of historical inquiry and/or to supplement study of workforce participation in the United States.

This activity features a primary source from the Fed's online archive, FRASER. The activity allows students to see maps depicting the best data available for the U.S. population at the time and to practice historical inquiry skills. The activity may be used as a way to introduce early migration or as a supplemental activity.

This activity features a primary source from the Fed's online archive, FRASER. The Statistical Atlas of the United States Based on the Results of the Ninth Census, 1870 includes a "Chart Showing the Principal Constituent Elements of the Population of Each State" that details U.S. population distribution by race. This activity reviews the layout and format of the chart and provides historical inquiry questions divided into four sections: observe, reflect, question, and analyze. The chart may be used to introduce and engage students in historical inquiry and to reflect about race in the United States.

“How Daniel Got What He Wanted” is the fifth video in the Explore Economics animated series. It will help students understand that people have to save to get the things they want. Daniel wants a new bike helmet and must earn income and save to reach his goal.

GDP is a useful measure of the health of the economy, and it’s among the most important and widely reported economic data. However, the current “textbook treatment” of how international trade is measured as part of GDP can lead people to misunderstand the role trade plays in the economy. The September 2018 issue of Page One Economics intends to correct misconceptions and provide clear instruction on how imports affect GDP.

The Federal Reserve has a congressional mandate to promote maximum employment and price stability. The May issue of Page One Economics explains how the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) conducts monetary policy by setting the target range for the federal funds rate and how the Fed uses its policy tools to steer the federal funds rate into the FOMC’s target range.

When regulating pollutants, is it more important to consider the science or the economics of the environment? Using the booming shale gas and oil industry as a case study, find out in the March 2019 Issue of Page One Economics how an understanding of the STEM fields and economics can be combined to create environmental policies that balance firm profits with environmental health.

The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee conducts monetary policy to promote maximum employment and price stability in the U.S. economy. Monetary policy is made at the national level, but it’s important that policy reflects the economic voices beyond Washington, D.C., and Wall Street. The November issue of Page One Economics explains how Federal Reserve Bank presidents ensure the voices of “Main Street” are reflected in monetary policy decisions.

In this lesson, students act as buyers with a fixed amount to spend on beverages. They identify a favorite beverage from a list of beverages offered for the same price. They then react to changes in the price of that favorite beverage. Students use the data collected from this activity to describe the relationship between price and quantity demanded. They analyze other examples and learn that the relationship between price and quantity demanded holds for most goods, and that this relationship is called the law of demand.

To be considered for any type of aid—grant, scholarship, or loan—all aspiring post-secondary students must complete a FAFSA. This video provides a general overview of the Free Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA.

In this lesson, students listen to a story about a little girl who wants to make an apple pie. When she finds the market closed, she travels around the world gathering natural resources to make the pie. Students will follow along with the story by connecting each natural resource to its country of origin and pointing out those places on a globe or world map. They will also identify the capital goods used to transform the natural resources into ingredients by examining the pictures from the book. Students will take part in two rounds of a trading activity, collecting the ingredients required for vanilla ice cream to go along with the apple pie. They will learn about trade and how middlemen, such as grocery stores, help make trade easier.

There is a lack of diversity in the field on economics, which limits the range of perspectives during research and policy discussions. Without diverse perspectives, economists are in danger of not identifying key parts of a problem and not considering a full array of solutions. This Women in Economics special issue of Page One Economics presents the case that diversity among economists is needed to gain a wider perspective during economic research and policy development.

Want to learn about the Federal Reserve? Have no fear! In Plain English describes the structure and functions of the Federal Reserve System in an easy-to-understand interactive format.