High School Economics: Part 2 (Flex)

This 10-week course will cover the second half of the National Standards of Economics for high school students. Students will learn through engaging and real-world problems while learning about the global economy. This course is taught by Mr. Kenneth who has a degree in economics and is a certified educator by the National Financial Literacy Council. 

The following topics will be covered: 

STANDARD 11: MONEY AND INFLATION
Money makes it easier to trade, borrow, save, invest, and compare the value of goods and services.
The amount of money in the economy affects the overall price level. Inflation is an increase in the
overall price level that reduces the value of money.

STANDARD 12: INTEREST RATES 
Interest rates, adjusted for inflation, rise and fall to balance the amount saved with the amount
borrowed, which affects the allocation of scarce resources between present and future uses.


STANDARD 13: INCOME
Income for most people is determined by the market value of the productive resources they sell.
What workers earn primarily depends on the market value of what they produce.


STANDARD 14: ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Entrepreneurs take on the calculated risk of starting new businesses, either by embarking on new
ventures similar to existing ones or by introducing new innovations. Entrepreneurial innovation is
an important source of economic growth.


STANDARD 15: ECONOMIC GROWTH
Investment in factories, machinery, new technology, and in the health, education, and training of
people stimulate economic growth and can raise future standards of living.

STANDARD 16: ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND MARKET FAILURE
There is an economic role for government in a market economy whenever the benefits of a government
policy outweigh its costs. Governments often provide for national defense, address environmental
concerns, define and protect property rights, and attempt to make markets more competitive. Most
government policies also have direct or indirect effects on people's incomes.

STANDARD 17: GOVERNMENT FAILURE 
Costs of government policies sometimes exceed benefits. This may occur because of incentives facing
voters, government officials, and government employees, because of actions by special interest groups
that can impose costs on the general public, or because social goals other than economic efficiency are
being pursued.


STANDARD 18: ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS
Fluctuations in a nation’s overall levels of income, employment, and prices are determined by the
interaction of spending and production decisions made by all households, firms, government agencies,
and others in the economy. Recessions occur when overall levels of income and employment decline.


STANDARD 19: UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION
Unemployment imposes costs on individuals and the overall economy. Inflation, both expected and
unexpected, also imposes costs on individuals and the overall economy. Unemployment increases
during recessions and decreases during recoveries.


STANDARD 20: FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICY
Federal government budgetary policy and the Federal Reserve System’s monetary policy influence the overall levels of employment, output, and prices. 

Students will be given homework each week to reinforce the weekly lesson. A final project will be assigned towards the end of the course. 

Weekly activities will include interactive lessons through nearpod with accompanying videos, interactive games with classmates including gimkit and kahoot, class discussions, real-world application activities, and project presentations.