Economics and FUN
Karsten Walker
[email protected]
MVHS
https://sites.google.com/a/alpinedistrict.org/karsten-edu/
Engaged Learning - Activities
 Tennis Ball Activity – Marginal Utility
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m32KqKBJZE
 Rounds of Production – Cartels
 http://www.fte.org/teacher-programs/eflprograms/
 Skittles and Math – Supply and Demand – Labor Markets
 http://councilforeconed.org/wp/wpcontent/uploads/2014/06/high-school-economicssample-lesson-13.pdf
Tennis Ball
 Marginal Utility – Thinking on the Margin – Diminishing
Marginal Utility
Production Costs
& Diminishing Returns
Demonstrating Diminishing Marginal
Online Stopwatch
Product
7
 Your aim is to transfer as many tennis balls as possible from one bucket to the
other in 30 seconds. This process is then repeated with an additional or marginal
worker added to the labor force each run. The work that each successive group
completes constitutes one point on the production function. From this we will
calculate the marginal and average products.
 Rules:
 No throwing of tennis balls.
 Each of the balls must be placed in the 2nd bucket
 Only one person may take balls out of the 1st bucket and only at a rate of one at a time
 Each student must handle every ball on each run, the balls should be passed from hand
to hand.
 For every tennis ball that is moved from the 1st to the 2nd bucket $400 in
participation points is earned. However, $200 is charged per worker and there is a
$500 fixed cost for playing.
 Cast your vote by predicting the number of workers (2,4,6, or 8) that will earn the
highest profit. Each dollar of profit equals one participation point.
Excel File
Tennis Ball Production
$400/ball
Q labor TP
MPL
0
0
1
6
6
2
11
5
3
14
3
4
18
4
5
20
2
6
21
1
7
18
-3
8
16
-2
9
14
-2
10
0
-14
Memes
VIDEOS
We the Economy https://wetheeconomy.com/
ACDC Economics
Cliffordhttps://www.youtube.com/user/ACDCLeadership
EconPop https://www.youtube.com/user/econstories
Drop Box – Econ Videos
Economist Raps
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQnarzmTOc
Class Debate
 Economic Pros and Cons of Universal Pre-k Education Social Impact or Benefit Bond – Pay for Performance
Opening Affirmative
Opening Negative
First Affirmative
First Negative
Second Affirmative
Second Negative
Break, Research, Preparation
Closing Arguments/Rebuttals
Gamification
 www.getkahoots.com
user name MVHSMrWalker
Quizlet
San Francisco – “Chair the Fed” Monetary Policy
http://sffededucation.org/chairthefed/WebGamePlay.html
Game Theory – Prisoner’s Dilemma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Uos2fzIJ0
Checks for Understanding  Exit Tickets
 Think Pair Share – Mingle Pair Share
 Writing Prompts
 1 or 2 minute – quick writes
 Sticky Note Storm
 Quiz, Quiz, Trade
 Flash
 http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2015/08/28/5fun-alternatives-to-think-pair-share