Economics in U.S. History

Middle School
This kit is designed to integrate basic economic concepts with media literacy and critical thinking skills into U.S. history through decoding of print and audiovisual media materials. Media materials include posters, popular and documentary films, news articles, editorials, and excerpts from TV shows. Each lesson includes a student reading and worksheet, with core content and vocabulary tied to the NCSS and NCTE learning standards.

All materials are classroom-ready, including: teacher guides, student readings, and student worksheets.

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Download each unit's teacher guide, slide show or video below.

NOTE: To view the quicktime clips provided below, you may need to install the free media player Quicktime on your computer. Visit Apple for download instructions.

click a unit title to view/close list of downloads Units

• Lesson 1: Introduction to Capitalism

  

  • Teacher's Guide
  • Student Reading
  • Student Worksheet
  • The Power of the Market
  • The New Rulers
  • Supplemental Resources
    
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    Links to Supplemental Resources from Federal Archives Lesson 1

    
    

    
    

    - Vid Clip: The power of the market

    Resource: Library of Congress: Finding Aid: Resources by and about Milton Friedman
    
    

    - Vid Clip: The new rulers of the world

    Resource: Library of Congress: Article on Reforming Global Capitalism', George Soros Reflects on the World Economy
    
    

• Lesson 2: The Value of Trees

  

  • Teacher's Guide
  • Student Readings
  • Student Worksheets
  • Supplemental Resources
    
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    Links to Supplemental Resources from Federal Archives Lesson 2

    
    

    
    

    - Map: Lumber Production

    Resource: Library of Congress: Photo series on Lumber industry in the West and Northwest United States
    
    

    - Text: John Muir

    Resource: Library of Congress: Exhibit on John Muir and the Sierras
    
    

    - Text: John James Audubon

    Resource: Library of Congress: Photos of 19th century lumber mills
    
    

• Lesson 3: Imperialism and the Panama Canal

  

  • Teacher's Guide
  • Panama Deception
  • The Yankee Years
  • Supplemental Resources
    
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    Links to Supplemental Resources from Federal Archives Lesson 3

    
    

    
    

    - Vid Clip: The Panama deception

    Resource: Library of Congress: Political cartoon criticizing Roosevelt's imperial role in Panama
    
    

    - Vid Clip: The yankee years

    Resource: Library of Congress: Photo of President Roosevelt running an American steam-shovel at Panama Canal
    
    

• Lesson 4: World War One Through Posters

  

  • Teacher's Guide
  • Powerpoint
  • Student Worksheets
  • Supplemental Resources
    
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    Links to Supplemental Resources from Federal Archives Lesson 4

    
    

    
    

    - PPT Slides A-C, Introductory slides

    Resource: Library of Congress: Bibliography on World War One posters
    
    

    - PPT Slides 1-5, Raising funds for the war

    Resource: Library of Congress: Article providing background on World War One posters
    
    

    - PPT Slides 6-10, Labor and industry in wartime

    Resource: Library of Congress: Audio recording of labor leader Samuel Gompers speaking on "Labor's service to freedom"
    
    

    - PPT Slides 11-15, Resources and energy for war

    Resource: Library of Congress: Poster: "Order coal now"
    
    

    - PPT Slides 16-20, Food for war

    Resource: National archives: Lesson plan on "Sow the Seeds of Victory!, Posters from the Food Administration During World War I"
    
    

    - PPT Slides 21-25, The cost of war

    Resource: Library of Congress: Statistical charts on the financial costs of World War One
    
    

• Lesson 5: Perspectives on Labor & Management

  

  • Teacher's Guide
  • On the Waterfront
  • Modern Times
  • Norma Rae
  • Why Play Leapfrog?
  • The Simpsons
  • Supplemental Resources
    
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    Links to Supplemental Resources from Federal Archives Lesson 5

    
    

    
    

    - Vid Clip: Modern Times

    Resource: U.S. Department of Statet: Article on the U.S. economy
    [Scroll down to paragraph on "An Industrial Nation"]
    
    

    - Vid Clip: Why play leapfrog?

    Resource: Library of Congress: Photo series on General Motors labor-management relations circa 1942
    
    

    - Vid Clip: On the waterfront

    Resource: Department of Labor: Article on Unions and Rights in the Space Age
    [Scroll down to paragraph 16 for labor leader George Meaney on union corruption]
    
    

    - Vid Clip: Norma Rae

    Resource: Library of Congress: Themed resources for students on labor
    
    

    - Vid Clip: The Simpsons

    Resource: Bureau of International Information Programs: Profile of "The Simpsons character, Montgomery Burns
    
    

• Lesson 6: Living Wage

  

  • Teacher's Guide
  • Student Readings
  • Student Worksheets
  • Supplemental Resources
    
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    Links to Supplemental Resources from Federal Archives Lesson 6

    
    

    
    

    - Text: Living wage

    Resource: Library of Congress: Text of Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act
    
    

• Lesson 7: Health Care and Wal-Mart

  

  • Teacher's Guide
  • Wal-Mart: The High Cost
  • Why Wal-Mart Works
  • Supplemental Resources
    
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    Links to Supplemental Resources from Federal Archives Lesson 7

    
    

    
    

    - Vid Clip: Health Care & Wal-Mart

    Resource: Department of Health and Human Services: Report on "The Effect of Health Care Cost Growth on the U.S. Economy"
    [Scroll down to 1st paragraph p. 19 for reference to Wal-Mart]
    
    

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