Description
Economics Course Description
This class is approved by the NCAA.
Almost every aspect of our lives has economic implications – which means the study of economics should be both relevant and fun! Have you ever wondered how the dollar got its name? Or why seashells can’t be used like “real money”? Why were your grandparents able to buy their first house for $10,000, while that same house could cost you $250,000 or more to buy today? Why does an iphone 16 cost $1,000 while that old flip phone is about $20? Want to know how banks – and companies – make money? What if money actually became worthless? What would you do, and how would you provide for yourself and your family? What are taxes, and why do they matter? And what’s the big deal with how the government spends money?
Economics presents the foundational concepts, major ideologies and practical topics in the field of micro and macro economics through a combination of traditional textbook, fictional examples, independent projects and current events. Class lectures are fun, interactive discussions, and homework, while rigorous, includes textbook assignments, supplemental reading, and assorted video clips of movie and TV programs that demonstrate economic concepts in a way that make topics come alive.
I am committed to my students’ success – so come and let’s learn together!
Grade Levels
- 10th – 12th grade
Prerequisites
- None
Economics Curriculum
- Exploring Economics Student Textbook 2016 or later editions by Ray Notgrass (textbook only, resources bundle not needed)
- Noah’s Castle by John Townsend (Kindle or hard copy, used, on Amazon)
- Whatever Happened to Penny Candy 6th edition or later by Richard Mayberry
Economics Course Outline
- Superstars of Economic Philosophy and History of US Economics
- Economics In Light of Faith
- Limited Resources and the Choices We Make
- Economic Markets and Supply and Demand
- What Is Money and How Banks Work
- Inflation – What It Is, Why It Matters and How To Manage It
- Trade – Economic Activity Between Countries
- Business – Economic Realities of Entrepreneurship
- Labor – Jobs, Employees, Wages and Unemployment
- The Role of Government In the Economy – Policies, Regulations, Taxes, and Spending
- Measuring the Economy – Business Cycles, Gross Domestic Product, Inflation and the Stock Market
- Big Topics In Economics – Health Care, Social Security, Energy and the Environment, Transportation,Technology, Real Estate and Agriculture.
Estimated Workload
- Appx 45 minutes/day outside of class.
Testimonials / Reviews
“Thank you so much! We appreciate you pouring so much into our kids. You are Joshua’s favorite teacher!”
“Thank you for tackling such a hard class for high school students to understand. This class has truly prepared me for college econ.”
“My greatest takeaway is that the economics of our country are far more complex and affect our economy far more than I realized. I will miss the class times the most, and I appreciated the grace Mrs. Westcott showed us when we were very busy or turned in work late.”
“You are such an amazing and wonderful person and I love how enthusiastic you are about learning! Thank you for taking time to teach us about how the world works. I learned so much about economics and I feel so much more prepared for life! Thank you a million times for being an incredible teacher!”
“The richness you have imparted to us through this class has been a tremendous blessing. You have been one of my favorite teachers that I had in how open, genuine and interesting you are and how you’ve enriched economics to be so much more than I thought it would be.”
“This class has been fun and challenging, which is good for me. I really appreciate your teaching style especially compared to other online classes I have taken. I’m going to miss this.”
