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TOP PICKS | 17 TOOLS
Best Economics Websites and Apps for Students
Top Picks
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BrainPOP Jr.
Top-notch videos and activities a boon for elementary school teachers
Bottom line: BrainPOP Jr. sets the bar for top-quality online learning supplements.
Grades: K–3
Price: Paid Classroom access is $175 per year for up to three devices and school access is $1,450 per year. Coding activities require additional subscription fees.
EconEdLink
Flexible, deep financial resource a starting point for all grades
Bottom line: EconEdLink includes an up-to-date and comprehensive list of economics and finance topics, but it will take some browsing to find the right lessons for your classroom.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free, Paid Some of the lessons include references to materials that are available for sale on the site.
Khan Academy
Missions boost learning with balance of focus and freedom to explore
Bottom line: A solid resource for math and science instruction as well as foundational knowledge in a number of other high school subjects.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Teaching Tolerance
Thought-provoking classroom resources support diversity education
Bottom line: It's an invaluable teacher tool to help reduce prejudice and encourage tolerance in schools, as well as within society as a whole.
Grades: K–12
Price: Free
Motion Math: Pizza!
Serving up valuable economics lessons with an extra helping of fun
Bottom line: Fantastic math game gives kids a taste of what's needed to run a profitable business.
Grades: 2–5
Price: $3.99
BrainPOP
Clever animated hosts Tim and Moby masterfully tackle complex topics
Bottom line: Cartoon videos in this extensive collection break down ideas in clever and thoughtful ways.
Grades: 4–8
Price: Paid Teacher plans start at $230 and go up through school and district pricing options.
People's Pie
Federal budget game's challenge delivers powerful message
Bottom line: Federal budgeting -- and its unique ethical and mathematical balancing act -- fits game-based fiddling and strategizing well, but expect a challenge.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
TED-Ed
Support kids' sense of wonder with outstanding short video lessons
Bottom line: TED-Ed includes excellent, engaging videos and support for flipped-class lessons with an incredible community of thinkers and doers.
Grades: 3–12
Price: Free
Biz Kid$
You can bet on business and finance being interesting for teens
Bottom line: Biz Kid$ is a great introduction to financial literacy, with linked activities as well as frequently updated interactive video clips and a blog.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Enercities
Environmentally-minded city sim models sustainable building
Bottom line: It carves out a useful niche in a popular genre, showing how city planning, technological development, economics, and quality of life intersect with sustainability.
Grades: 6–12
Price: Free
Build-a-lot
Financial management made fun via real estate-themed building sim
Bottom line: Fiscal responsibility, city planning, and budget management are taught in a casual and engaging way.
Grades: 7–12
Price: 19.99
Spent
Provocative, first-person look at poverty builds empathy
Bottom line: It'll need some scaffolding, but for students ready for the subject matter it's a great -- if sobering -- way to illustrate to students the daily realities and struggles of poverty in America.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Stop Disasters!
Slick sim explores global natural disasters
Bottom line: Few other browser-based sims better illustrate the potential of gaming for learning about serious issues in our world.
Grades: 7–12
Price: Free
Layoff
Bejeweled-style gameplay adapted to build empathy, critique downsizing
Bottom line: An easy, instantly engaging, and fascinating starting point for deep conversations about the economy, business, government, and workers.
Grades: 8–12
Price: Free
Democracy 3
Nuanced political sim about the balancing act of government
Bottom line: This is a grown-up civics sim, full of tough choices, compelling cause and effect relationships, and controversial issues that will work best for older government students.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Paid $24.99 for individuals; educational licenses range from $99.95 for 40 students to $900 for 1,000 students.
WE THE ECONOMY
Explore big questions about the economy with collection of short films
Bottom line: Detailed films can help raise awareness about economic issues that are often ignored or misunderstood.
Grades: 9–12
Price: Free