TOP PICKS | 17 TOOLS
Best Economics Websites and Apps for Students
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BrainPOP Jr.
Top-notch educational videos 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 3 devices. School access is $1,450 per year and District access varies based on the number of schools.
Khan Academy
Missions boost learning with balance of focus, freedom to explore
Bottom line: A solid resource for Common Core math instruction as well as foundational knowledge in a number of other 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.
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 From $220.
People's Pie
Federal budget game's challenge delivers powerful message
Bottom line: Federal budgeting -- and its unique ethical and mathematical balancing act -- fits game-based fiddling and strategizing well, but expect a challenge.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
TED-Ed
Support kids' sense of wonder with outstanding short videos
Bottom line: Excellent, engaging videos and support for flipped-class lessons with an incredible community of thinkers and doers.
Grades: 4–12
Price: Free
Biz Kid$
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
EconEdLink
Epic econ and financial info resource could use some jazzing up
Bottom line: EconEdLink includes an accessible, comprehensive list of topics but is too text-heavy for all but the most finance-focused kids.
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
Zinn Education Project
Resources, lessons help teach a more inclusive version of U.S. history
Bottom line: Free downloadable resources encourage critical thinking and active learning in search of a more accurate picture of American history.
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.
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