Economics for an 8th grader

[Karie]

I know that 8th is still considered middle school, but I couldn't find anything on economics for this age on the logic stage board. My son likes money/economics (the subject, that is :001_smile:). I would like to do something with him this coming year involving this subject, but i don't know what to do. I've looked at some courses that seem to be too old for him. Would any of you have suggestions for a light economics course that a 13 year old boy could do?

 

Thanks!

[klmama]

Have you looked at Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?

[Julie in MN]

Just a few random resources:

 

- John Stossel has materials along the lines of Penny Candy, i.e. really in favor of no government. He has free DVDs and such, and the one on Hong Kong is a favorite with the boys around here, used in the public schools & our homeschool. http://stosselintheclassroom.org/selectdvd.php Stossel also has an actual economics DVD but it's not free; it's part of Economics in a Box, which MFW uses for 12th grade, so it may not be young enough for you.

 

- We used to get comic books from the Federal Reserve, explaining some economic things. I see they are only available online now? https://www.newyorkfed.org/publications/result.cfm?comics=1

I do think we still get one other federal reserve magazine still on a very rare occasion, I could check our shelves.

 

- My son followed the national debt year by year when he was studying the most recent history (since not a lot of modern history is written yet, he wandered into what he found interesting).

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np

http://www.infoplease.com/yearbyyear.html

He also followed the stock in his brother's company, and places like the NYSE & NASDAQ will also have links to current news articles affecting the company's stock prices etc. They may even have educational stuff.

 

- I'd love to do a Dave Ramsey course.

 

- AGS workbooks tend to be on the easier side, as they are often used in "alternative" high schools, but still have real info. I haven't seen this in person but I've used their personal finance workbook: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/078543772X/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001QA50QM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17VGD9ZJW4V8JKXBFHKP

 

- They always have those "for Dummies" books. I also like the Barron's E-Z books, but I'm not sure they currently have economics.

 

Julie

Edited October 28, 2011 by Julie in MN

[Vida Winter]

The John Stossel free dvds are a good way to start thinking about and discussing economics without getting bogged down in charts and formulas.

[Karie]

Thanks! This is great stuff! The Penny Candy books and Stossel DVD's look really good!

[Mommyfaithe]

Life of Fred has a Pre-algebra with Economics book. It looks fun, but we haven't gotten to that one yet....

 

Faithe

[Sandragood1]

My son is really enjoying Thinkwell microeconomics. He is in 9th grade, but he started it in 8th (last March).

 

Sandra

[amtmcm]

I just bought "Thinking Like an Economist" from TTC (Great Courses) and it came in the mail today. I've already watched the first 3 lectures and so far they are excellent. I think they'd work well for an 8th grader with a strong interest in the subject.

 

My 9th grade DD will be doing Economics in the spring and we're using Penny Candy along with the Bluestocking Press Workbook (this would be overkill if you're not doing it for credit), John Stossel's DVD and this TTC course.

[lauracolumbus]

Economics in One Lesson. My dh thinks that's where Fred, from Life of Fred, got some of his info. My 8th grade ds got very interested in economics from Fred.

 

For fun look at this.

 

 

This youtube link has some of the basic ideas of the Keynes vs. Hayek debate included in the rap. I think it's hilarious. In case my link doesn't work, just type in Keynes rap on youtube.

 

Laura