Students will explore the recent American Stock Market decline. They will create a classroom stock market and experience the highs and lows of trading on the market. Students will identify why stock markets are so important to the economy of a country. This lesson can be followed by the 'Recession in the UK' lesson.

In this lesson the students will be identifying the areas where tax money is spent. They will be looking at the areas of expenditure and, working in small groups, will decide how they would spend the budget money if they were in charge of the budget for 2010.

Pupils explore the key concepts of the government’s energy-linked campaign for winter 2008. They create a factsheet about the campaign and then share their opinions about the worth of the campaign and the pros and cons of other potential government investments.

Introduces fair trade by looking at specific consumer choices close to home! Cases of economic exploitation around the world point up the ethical dimensions of consumer spending.

Enjoyable activity in which students create illustrated banners that demonstrate their understanding of the interlinking between different aspects of the economy.