This resource through a flash drive device functions like a knowledgeable computer, providing teaching strategies, contents, and definitions for anyone teaching economics. It offers everything needed to teach economics or incorporate economic units into lesson plans for every level K-12. All materials are categorized for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. 

Virtual Economics

The Mad City Money Financial Reality Simulation is a two-hour experiential learning program for high schools students based on Mad City Money, a hands-on financial simulation developed by the Credit Union National Association. Students develop financial skills by getting a taste of the real world as they take on the role of an adult – complete with occupation, salary, family, student loan and credit card debts, and medical insurance payments. The challenge is for students to create a realistic budget while selecting housing, transportation, food, household necessities, clothing, day care, and other wants and needs. Students must also make payments on any debts they owe and decide how much to save. Students discover what it is like to budget for monthly expenses, manage debt and save for the future. Mad City Money provides realistic examples that highlight the connection between the decisions students make and the economic consequences of those decisions and the link between education and lifelong earning potential. Community volunteers, often from local financial institutions, serve as merchants during the simulation.  Mad City Money is approved as a financial education resource for students by the Jump$tart Coalition Clearinghouse, based on the National Standards in K-12 Personal Finance Education.

The Mad City Money Financial Reality Simulation is offered free to participating schools.  It can be done in approximately two hours and can accommodate a wide number of students.  Multiple sessions are possible for larger audiences.  It takes place on site at participating schools, increasing flexibility and reducing costs for schools.  Schools choose which students participate.  It is a great fit for students in personal finance, consumer math, business, and other subjects or for seniors preparing for life after graduation.  It can be offered any time during the year to best fit a school’s schedule.

Evaluations from participating students strongly indicate the program is effective in educating students and increasing their desire to practice wise money management.

For information about the Mad City Money Financial Reality Simulation, contact EEC@lindenwood.edu.

The curriculum combines learning marketplace economics with understanding entrepreneurship. It provides materials, applications and experience-based programs that explain how entrepreneurs influence our economy, innovation, profits, investment, credit. The curriculum also covers how government and other entities affect entrepreneurs and the markets. Students take goods and services produced in their economic activities integrated across the curriculum and compete in local marketplaces. Profits are invested in student programs, classroom supplies and activities, and instructor support.

The challenge organized by the Council for Economic Education applies the excitement of an athletic competition to academic excellence and encourages students to apply their economics knowledge and work in teams. Competitions are held at the State, Regional, and National Final levels. Teams of students answer rigorous questions on microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, and current events. The Missouri Economics Challenge is the qualifying competition organized by the Michigan Council on Economic Education. The center promotes, coordinates, and supports the participation of Missouri teams, crowning as Missouri champion the top qualifying team to the state finals.

The state champions compete in the regional competition and could qualify for the national championships.

Missouri and National Economics Challenge

The challenge organized by the Council for Economic Education. It is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge of Personal Finance by competing with other students across the state. This competition has the same format as the EconChallenge. The center promotes, coordinates, and supports the participation of Missouri teams. Crowning as Missouri champion the top qualifying team to the state finals.

Missouri and National Personal Finance Challenge

The poster contest was developed to make learning about economics fun. Students (Grades 1-8) design posters to illustrate one of the six core economic concepts, aligned with the Missouri Standards and Benchmarks: Scarcity, productive resources, opportunity costs, specialization, producers and consumers (both in one poster), and goods and services (both in one poster).

Money Smart Month is in April.  It increases public awareness campaign and is designed to help consumers purposefully manage their personal finances. This is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of hundreds of organizations across the country including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, not-for-profits, government agencies and the media. These groups come together once a year to stress the importance of financial literacy, inform consumers about where they can get help and provide free educational seminars and activities during the month of April.

Money Smart Month

The Center director and fellows are available to speak to various groups about how to make healthy and wealthy choices. This opportunity is directed to Lindenwood students and alumni, but open to the whole Saint Charles area. It brings internationally recognized speakers to lecture on issues of personal finance that relate to our students, but also on the state of the economy at the national and regional level.