In this module, superhero Jack of All Trades and his sidekick Andy are confronted by a villain that threatens to disrupt society and rob the world of the certainty people have come to expect. And this dastardly villain is...Inflation. Jack and Andy time travel to the period known as The Great Inflation to discover the truth about inflation. With the help of Dr. Equilibrium, professor of economics, they learn that inflation is the result of too much money chasing too few goods and that the Federal Reserve System plays a key role in maintaining stable prices. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

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.

Topics include:

Why Do We Need a Federal Reserve?
Board of Governors
Federal Reserve Banks
Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)
What Does the Federal Reserve Do?
Independence and Accountability

The Federal Reserve System is an important – but complicated institution. Make sense of the Fed in a format that is explained – In Plain English. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

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

Topics include:

Why Do We Need a Federal Reserve?
Board of Governors
Federal Reserve Banks
Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)
What Does the Federal Reserve Do?
Independence and Accountability

The Federal Reserve System is an important – but complicated institution. Make sense of the Fed in a format that is explained – En Lenguaje Sencillo. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

What is inflation? What impact does inflation have on saving? How can an understanding of inflation help you make more informed choices about saving? These are important personal finance questions, and this short module on inflation will help you answer them. A basic understanding of what inflation is and how it affects savings helps people make saving and investing choices. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

In this lesson, students learn about human capital. “Human capital” refers to the knowledge and skills that people obtain through education, experience, and training. People invest in their human capital through education, on-the-job training, and practice. Throughout their school careers, students make investments in their human capital. Introducing this concept to younger students can help them understand why school is valuable and will allow them to build on their initial understanding of human capital in later years. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

It's Your Paycheck! is designed for use in high school personal finance classes. The curriculum contains three sections-"Know Your Dough," "KaChing!" and "All About Credit." The lessons in each of these sections employ various teaching strategies to engage students so that they have opportunities to apply the concepts being taught. Each lesson includes black-line masters of the handouts and visuals needed to teach the lesson. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

Lesson 1: Invest in Yourself

Students solve word puzzles with varying degrees of knowledge. They discover that more knowledge (human capital) leads to more productive outcomes. The students identify ways in which people invest in human capital and the link between investment in human capital and earning income. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

All of the lessons are correlated with the National Personal Finance Standards and the National Standards in Economics. See the Lesson Correlation section (pdf) for more information.

Lesson 2: "W" Is for Wages, W4 and W2

Students compute the gross pay for a fictional character named John Dough given his hourly wage and the number of hours worked. They compare gross pay to net pay. They learn what FICA and federal income taxes are. They learn how to complete a W-4 form and what a W-2 form is. This content from Econ Lowdown also features alignment to national Financial Literacy and/or Economics standards.

Each lesson is accompanied by a SMART Notebook file that contains visuals and handouts (whenever practical), along with definitions of terms and review questions.

Students participate in an activity to learn about checking accounts, savings accounts and check cashing services. Students learn the components of a check, and they organize and enter information into an account register - in order to determine the balance. Students learn why maintaining account records is important. Students balance a monthly account statement.

Students participate in an activity to learn about checking accounts, savings accounts and check cashing services. Students learn the components of a check, and they organize and enter information into an account register - in order to determine the balance. Students learn why maintaining account records is important. Students balance a monthly account statement.

Students participate in "Beat the Financial Expert!," a game that illustrates positive and negative spending behaviors. They analyze the "Beat the Financial Expert!" results, identify effective and ineffective budgeting behaviors and create a budget from a transaction history.

Students participate in "Beat the Financial Expert!," a game that illustrates positive and negative spending behaviors. They analyze the "Beat the Financial Expert!" results, identify effective and ineffective budgeting behaviors and create a budget from a transaction history.

Students calculate compound interest to identify benefits of saving in interest-bearing accounts. They learn the "rule of 72" and apply it to both investments and debt. They learn that there is a relationship between the level of risk for an investment and the potential reward or return on that investment.

Students calculate compound interest to identify benefits of saving in interest-bearing accounts. They learn the "rule of 72" and apply it to both investments and debt. They learn that there is a relationship between the level of risk for an investment and the potential reward or return on that investment.

Students learn and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using credit. They read a scenario about a young person's use of a credit card and answer questions regarding repayment. They learn about credit history, credit reports and credit-reporting agencies.

Students learn and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using credit. They read a scenario about a young person's use of a credit card and answer questions regarding repayment. They learn about credit history, credit reports and credit-reporting agencies.

Students discuss key terms related to credit and learn how creditors use capacity, character and collateral as criteria for making loans. Students learn about credit rights and responsibilities and identify the rights and responsibilities of using credit.

Students discuss key terms related to credit and learn how creditors use capacity, character and collateral as criteria for making loans. Students learn about credit rights and responsibilities and identify the rights and responsibilities of using credit.